Fifteenth Anniversary in Jamaica

We wanted our 15th anniversary to be special. We looked at places we could go and wanted to go to Hawaii but with the pandemic we knew that wasn't an option. Then we decided it would be fun to go back to Moon Palace in Cancun. We went there a few years ago and loved it! It is an all inclusive resort and you can't go wrong with that. We looked it up and found a good deal. We also noticed they had a location in Jamaica. We checked with Jamaica's regulations with the pandemic and decided it would work to go there. So we got everything booked. The week leading up to the trip was super busy and crazy. It was the week of fall break, my aunt Pat was in the hospital and we had to do COVID tests and some fill out some other documents required to enter Jamaica. Each day was so busy and stressful. We kind of made it more crazy by making plans for fall break. We didn't want our kids to miss out on fall break just because we were going to be gone the next week. We were blessed that week before to get everything done in time and our COVID tests were negative. Our flights got changed a little which did add some stress and frustration but everyone worked around it and made it possible for us to still go. 

Our first flight went to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday afternoon. We had a long layover in Florida so we had to get a hotel that night.

Our motel was super cheap and near the airport. We worried it would be scary but it was totally fine. We took this picture out by the pool.

Our flight to Jamaica left Monday morning and we got to Jamaica by 11:00am. We went through a checkpoint at the airport where they took our temperature, asked us health questions and they checked our COVID test results. Then we went through customs. We passed and they let us in!

The airport was in Kingston which was an hour and a half from the resort. The resort driver was so friendly and told us all about Jamaica.

We were so relieved once we got to the resort.

It was a holiday Monday in Jamaica called National Heroes' Day. There were a lot of locals at the resort. We felt like we were the only Americans but as the week went on that changed. We met a lot of fun couples from the states.

The view from our room...

We were so hungry when we got there at lunch time. We ate every last crumb.

It is rainy season in October in Jamaica. A huge storm came in as we finished lunch. It was so cool to watch it come in and it really came down. You couldn't even see across the bay because it was like a wall of water.

Even though it rained almost every day it didn't rain the whole day, just parts of it. It always stayed warm and depending on how hard of rain most things stayed open and kept going like normal. That night we went to the Japanese restaurant and walked around the resort. Then watched a concert put on by the resort band. I love live music so it was nice. After, we went to the arcade. They had basketball shooting hoop game that we couldn't get enough of. Every night we would go play at the arcade.

Tuesday we got suckered into a time share presentation. Doh! I don't know how we get roped into those still. After the last one a few years ago we promised we would never do another one. We didn't mind it when we were first married because we got free trips but now we keep saying we will never go to another time share presentation again and then we end up at one. I feel like they tricked us into it. They said we got to have a special VIP breakfast and it ended up being breakfast at the normal buffet with an employee who told us all about becoming a resort member. It was pretty awkward but we survived and got a resort credit for our time. After we went kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, snorkeling and swimming in the pool. We didn't see many sea shells but we saw a few starfish. We saw lots of little fish. The sailing was fun because it was a Hobie Cat. They took us out for a ride and showed us how it was maneuvered and then we got to go out a few times by ourselves during the week. Marshall was a great captain! 

Tuesday was our official anniversary. We went to dinner, watched a Jamaican dance show, and walked along the beach. The resort surprised us with a yummy cake.

Marshall tried the duck. I stuck with salmon. The resort had about five restaurants and they each served salmon and it was soooo good. I ate a lot of salmon.

Wednesday we got to swim with dolphins. Dolphin Cove was part of the resort so we didn't have to go far. It was so cool! We got to dance, give them a hug, hold on it it while pulled us through the water, and then it pushed our feet while we rode a boogie board.

This look on my face was one of trying to enjoy it and look like I'm enjoying it even though the Dolphin's noses hurt my feet. My feet are so sensitive, I still have a bunion on one foot and plantar fasciitis on the other foot so it did not feel good to have the dolphin's noses press on my feet but it was cool to be propelled through the water and they were fast.

 

The whole experience with the dolphins was better than we expected. So cool!

We spent a lot of time at the Flow Rider. At first I didn't want to do it because of a time I did it years ago and got whiplash when I fell. Marshall tried this one and said it wasn't as strong of jets so falling wasn't so bad. I'm glad I gave it a try because I had so much fun! I stuck to the knee board and by the end I could go from belly to knees and back, jump, go to sitting position, and do a barrel roll and get back on the board. It was a blast. Marshall was already expert so he coached me. He became a pro on the surf board. One afternoon there were some teenagers that we taught some tips to and helped them figure out how to do it. It was a lot of fun.

The thing about all inclusive resorts is that everything is covered. We made stops by this little cafe every night for ice cream,  cake, truffles, chouxs, or cookies.

Thursday night we ate at the Japanese restaurant and sat at the grill. Wow, the food was so good. They had a really yummy teriyaki sauce that the put on everything.

Friday it was raining in the morning. We were worried our snorkel tour might get cancelled but thankfully we still got to go. We were the only ones signed up so it was like a private snorkel tour. There was a reef just a few minutes away that they took us a on a boat to. We started on the east side of the reef and snorkeled west for about forty-five minutes along the reef. We had to wear masks all over the resort unless we were swimming or eating.

On Mondays and Friday you can get coconuts from one of the cafe's. I've always wanted to try coconut water. It looks so good when I see others drink it. So we each got one and we didn't like it at all. I  didn't want to waste it so I drank mine. Definitely not sweet like I was thinking it would be.

We spent the afternoon at the Flow Rider. For dinner we ate at Pier 8 and enjoyed their seafood fondue and mango pineapple juice. One thing that we liked about Jamaica vs. Cancun was that they had a lot of non alcoholic beverages. In Cancun they only knew of strawberry daiquiris and pina-coladas. In Jamaica they had so many yummy juices to try that were non alcoholic. We were playing pool at a lounge and the bartender made us a non alcoholic drink that was grapefruit, pineapple and something else. It was like a challenge when we told him we  didn't drink alcohol. He wanted to make us something good that we could have. We also liked this resort because it felt like there were less drunk people around and people drinking starting first thing in the morning.

We spent a lot of time in the arcade each night shooting hoops. Marshall was so much better and could always get up to Round 3.

The lounge where we played pool.

Saturday we went to Konoko Falls. There was a band playing in the lobby while we were waiting for our shuttle.

In our group were two couples from California, and a couple and their teenage daughters from Minnesota. They were all so nice and fun. First we went on a tour of the botanical garden and zoo. Then our tour guide lead a hike up the falls. The water was colder but not too bad. Definitely warmer than Utah lake water temperature.

 

The view of Ocho Rios and Caribbean.

 

We were suppose to fly home Saturday but our flight got changed to Sunday morning. Thankfully we were able to arrange to stay one more night at the resort. 

We got a picture with Ralph. He worked at the outdoor activities. He took us out on out on the Hobie Cat the first time. We had to social distance in the picture so he wouldn't get in trouble. The workers were so friendly and fun at the resort. Always asking if you were having a good time and everyone there says "yahmann" all the time. I couldn't get enough. I wish we would adopt that here.

Saturday night we went back to the hibachi grill. The food was just so good.

 

This was our last view Sunday morning. This was the bay.

This was the view inland out our window, to the left.

 I was ready to get home by Sunday. I was worried we would get stuck in Jamaica or Fort Lauderdale. Thankfully everything worked out and we got home around midnight.  I did love Jamaica and I would definitely go back.