Manda's first trip to jamaica sept 2011
The day had finally come after much anticipation, planning, re-planning and panic, I was finally getting on a plane alone and travelling to Jamaica. Alone ..ack! I was nervous and surprisingly ill prepared as I had forgotten my e-ticket at work. I woke up in a haze unfortunately it was from the one too many Jager shots I had done in celebration of the beginning of my vacation the night before.
Note to self, do not get drunk again before your trip. Rushing around in the morning getting the last little bits together and out the door.
It wasn’t until I was on the plane that I had a moment of clarity and calmness that I looked down at myself and thought,
"WHAT IN THE HELL AM I WEARING???”“ A baseball cap tank top with a sweater over it and track pants?? Track pants that I don’t normally wear outside of the house. Good job Amanda and to think I was going to meet an old friend I hadn’t seen in 13 years.. No make up no hair done track pants??? Thank god it would just be me and a Taxi.
Just before take off my phone starts buzzing, it’s my sister “I know this isn’t the best time but I just wanted to let you know that Midas (my dog) is gone” I looked out of my window seat and the sound of the jet fuel washed a heavy feeling over my body as we picked up speed I silently shed a tear for my puppy that I had just rushed past on the way out the door and had forgotten to give him just one last hug.
Got off the plane, check. Went through customs, check. Weird look #1 for travelling solo, check. Luggage, check.
I walk out and think what am I doing where do I go.. I see two exits a man approaches me taxi for you?? Ummm.. maybe? I B Line it for the exit try and make it through a crowd and awww heat, sun, commotion. Where are my cigarettes? God look what I’m wearing!!!
"Taxi for the beautiful girl??" Umm I’m just going to have a smoke firss… “Amanda???” Wait what? Someone just said my name.... "AMANDA!! OVER HERE!!"
Manda's first trip to jamaica-day 1 part 3
Driving down Norman Manley Blvd now and I’m sitting right up on the edge of my seat with this enthusiasm that I’m not sure I’ve exuded since Disney World when I was 9 years old. ”Look there is Mariners!” Swwooosh we’re going a bit fast and I feel like I’m giving myself whip lash but there is “Yellow Bird! I know that place I watched the sunset there like last week!!”
Hold up, you said it’s your first time in Jamaica you been down here before?” I tell him about Negril.com and all the wonderful people and all the help and before I can finish he’s laughing at me and tells me you sound as if you know more about Negril than I do and I stop because I feel like I’m talking a mile a minute while viciously whipping my head back and forth trying to catch every sign and I smile .. What? Why are you looking at me like that?? I hit Andre on the arm with the back of my hand, “Andre I’m really here!” “Ya Mon” he says, “You ARE really here but since you know so much can you please tell this man where we are going?”
"Coco La Palm please it’ll be right up here on your left hand side” and I can’t stop smiling.
Andre pays the driver, I stroll into the office, check in easy breezy no problems and off to the room. Big room 2 double beds, the biggest shower I’ve ever seen, small table with 4 chairs, fridge, safe, TV, Air Conditioner, Bingo!
Andre tells me he needs to go buy papers. I’m alone in a big room at Coco La Palm in NEGRIL and I start jumping up and down on the bed, a happy dance just for me, because again I just realized I’m finally here and I say to myself “Once you go, you know” and I can’t help but laugh.
