Mic & Family - August 2007

Who: Anderson family, Mic & Jeff, Sean (12) and Sarah (9)
When: August 2007
Trip: Cocoa Beach and Kennedy Space Center, 5 nights at Disney, followed by a 7 night Magic for Less group cruise out of Miami, and then 3 nights of free dining at Disney.

DAY 12:
Today's report: Freedom of the Seas Day 4, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

We had signed up for The Original Canopy Tour thru RC, from a lot of reports I have read it's the best one and they only book thru the cruise lines. So we got up early and went and had breakfast in the dining room this time. We were seated with another family and 2 other ladies. The other family was also doing the canopy tour. Their kids were older than mine but had a good conversation with them about books and movies they enjoyed.

After breakfast we were to meet Mike and Linda at the kids club. Sarah was going into the club and we were hoping to be able to move their youngest DD up with Sarah and their older DD. No luck, but they did allow Sarah and Deanna to move down so they could all be together. Sean was going to spend the day hanging out with Jill, so we gave her a call and instructed him to wait in the stateroom for her, told him to read for a while as he hadn't really all vacation.

When we met at the kids club we decided to give the 3 girls the privilege to check themselves out while we were gone. So I ran back down to tell Sean as he would freak if he went to check his sister out and she wasn't there. Also we had asked him to make sure she got another coating of aloe vera during the day (did I mention she is FRIED, she had 50 spf on but the areas where her new swimsuit don't cover got just burned as can be). Sean was gone and our stateroom attendant told me he had left with his "aunt" (works for me) to go to Hard Rock Café. ROFLMAO. We had read several places that we needed our Sea Pass, passports and picture id to get on and off the ship. So we had our passports and had made sure Sean (or rather his Aunt) had his.

So finally we are off, the elevators are not going to the first level again today, as I assume they want to use the stairs to get people to que up. So we get off on 2nd and blend into the line. They were selling water as we were getting off so we got a bit bottle to share and headed out. We were all directed into one building (looks like the others may have gotten some storm damage) and found our "area" to stand in. Oh my, the Andersons are finally early for something. It worked good though as those of us there were led to an air conditioned bus to wait. Ah much nicer to be sitting in AC. Although the leg room left a bit to be desired. Hard on the knees to be squished that much. Our driver was Garfield and he was great. He did a nice little tour on the way, telling us much about Jamaica and different things we were passing. He told us there were 3 words we needed to know. No problem being the first, as there are no problems in Jamaica, only situations. The second was Irie, which means I am good, my day is good, all it well, and the third was Yaman, which means yes, regardless of wether you are talking to a man or a woman.

We first had to stop at the tour company for a restroom break and to sign a waiver. Then we hopped back on the bus and headed onto the 1 lane 2 directions road. Wegot to see some communities (probably what I would call villages or small country towns, except we are in the mountains). The horn is used more as a greeting or warning in Jamaica rather than a "pissed off" type of gesture like where I come from. So the horn was used quite often to say hi when passing someone Garfield knew, or to warn other's on the 1 lane 2 way road that we were coming around a corner.

We arrived at the jungle drop off and were suited up. We had grabbed some bug spray at the gift shop where we signed the waiver as the girl there said, because of the hurricane the bugs are worse. When dropping us off Garfield says because of the hurricane the bugs are gone, but if you want to spray some on do it before harnessing up. (eye roll, yep we got suckered) So since we had bought it we all sprayed down before harnessing up. Then we were given a little demonstration on how it worked, how to go hand over hand if we get "stuck", and we headed off on the "short" trail. (there idea of short and my idea of short are not the same thing). We went down, down, down many large steps (I couldn't go from step to step, had to do 2 feet on each one) til we got to the first platform.

Oh my, they have us clipped with a caribeaner to a rope now. Oh did I mention I am afraid of heights ? Like bridges wig me out. But I am on an adventure and going to do this just so I can say I can. (the waiver I signed said I could not pass out, hyperventilate or puke on the platforms).

Alright the first zip was fairly long, and they push you off (probably necessary for many of us). I twisted halfway and came in backwards but one of the guides was there to pull me in. I have decided these guides have to be very very fit, and secondly, it's a perfect job for an adrenaline junky. LOL. All of ours were very nice and helpful, friendly and talkative. If this is the norm for Jamaican's, I like it here.

We next did a short steeper zip, than a bit of a longer one, after which, suddenly without warning there was a STRAIGHT DOWN ZIP. This one really freaked me out, the girl asked if I was okay, but the guy at the end was totally in control of how fast you went down and when he stopped you. WHEW, made that, now I can take on the world.

We waited for the next one quite a while, but it was the best in my opinion. It wasn't really one but three in a row, that you moved from quickly, off one and onto the next, by this time they are not pushing us off just telling us to go. To me this was the best part. We then had a hike down a rather long trail and a bit of a wait before the final one. This was another long one and very fun.

Off we went to wait for the rest of our group to finish. Then we headed down a trail in what must be a park, and oh my the flowers, I saw some of the most gorgeous flowers I have ever seen in my life. And waiting for us at the end was Garfield with our bus and some ice cold water. We headed back to the tour area where we could view our pictures. Instead we headed for the little bar and ordered some Red Stripe and some yummy frozen drinks (with or without the rum). We also had some jerk chicken. It was soooo good. Yum ! It came with some sort of a pepper dipping sauce, but the chicken itself was flavorful and I just tipped the end into the sauce (as it was a bit spicy).

Back onto the bus much too soon and heading back to Ocho Rios. We had to show our seapass to a security guard to get the bus in, but the glance they did was quite cursory. The area around the port is fenced with the curly security type wires I expect to see in a compound. When we were heading to the bus, there were several boys, all in just shorts, calling out Hey Lady, I am here, please give me a dollar for food. (fyi 1 US dollar is worth 65 Jamaican dollars).

We hopped off and debated running back to the ship, trying to track down our children and take them to Island Village and Margaritaville, but decided there wasn't time. Mike and Linda headed back as they wanted to try for ressies for Chops (see what Jill did ?) Jeff and I headed to Island Village, we were only "bothered" by one man who wanted to take us on a tour, shopping to the best souvenir shops and for the best Jamaican food. A "no mon" got us on our way and he headed for the next group. When entering Island Village there were a lot of taxi drivers wanting to give us rides (we are 1 block from the port). Ummm no thanks. LOL.

We headed in through what looked like a turnstile that may have required admission at one time (there is a big sign now that says free admission), and a metal detector that is not turned on. So we headed in, there is of course a Del Sol shop and we do not stop even though I think their products are kinda cool (they change color when they hit the sunlight, nail polish, clothes, sunglasses etc.). There are more shops and restaurants, we popped into one where DH found some jerk sauce he wanted, I picked up some beads for DD (wooden with purple in them, similar to the ones the guy was trying to sell us at Labadee), and a small turtle for DS whose head is on a spring and keeps moving.

Margaritaville is just across the "street" (it's all pedestrian areas), and we head over. They have a waterslide and a pool for the kids, which is why I wanted to bring them there. I had pretty low expectations of Margaritaville as the one in Key West really felt more like a sports bar than a place to belly up and blow out your flip flops. But I am in for a surprise, as the Jamaicans have the whole belly up and blow out your flip flops down. We head to the bar, order some Red Stripes (I get a light) and then order some Conch Fritters. I am not too impressed with the fritters and let Jeff finish them off. Our bartender is teasing with us and we are having fun when the DH starts singling out 3 girls that walked in and were sitting next to me. He starts talking how we have to go to Margaritaville in Grand Caymen tomorrow and ask the manager for lap dances. He then gets one of these girls out there for a lap dance. The girls were having fun and great sports and it was all very funny to watch. I have sworn to silence on "who" even though I know the name of 2 of them. (wink).

So it was time to head back to the ship, we popped into the gift shop and picked up some tshirts that say "no shirt, no shoes, no problem". It seemed fitting. We get back on board again by just flashing our key pass and having our bags searched twice. (once is a hand search, I think they were looking for booze, the second was onboard and a full out security screening, take all your metal off and run it through the machine.)

We head back on board and try to track down our kids as we have booked the Ladies Night special massage (nope it's not just for ladies!). We let them know where we will be and head over to the spa. Wow, awesome back massage, then we flip, get a facial, a scalp massage, a foot and ankle massage (too short and not as good as DH does), then we come out of our massage coma to a glass of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. I did buy a product, although we had wrote on our form, no sales pitch please. I have really dark circles under my eyes, always have, so I bought some (way out of my budget) cream that she had applied and I really could see the difference. Honestly this morning one of my "under" eyes looked like there was a varicose vein popping in it. She said I am not to use it more than 2 x a week. We will see if it continues to work.

We tracked down our kids, touched base with them and are soon going to dinner. Since I am caught up on trip reports, I guess I can sign off for a bit.

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