10 Years, 12 Nights, 6 Hotels, ONE LOVE - April 2012 Trip Report

[Fun in the sun]

i think its time for more of this...Im ready to hear more~

[Clarity]

Thank you Ralonzo, Mavmaiden,Seveen, Spottycatz, Negrilaholic, Juli, Eden, Sisse, Tizzy, Gerryg123, Guirigay, sbeth, Wilteddazies, Fun in the sun, for your comments and for coming along on this journey with us! Trip reports are so much fun to write because it takes me back to this really special trip and I get to re-live it for a little while. I'm sorry for the delay in-between updates, I was out of town for a while but I'm back.

Wilteddazies – your remark about the plague had me cracking up! I didn't realize that typo! Lol!

Eden – That was a Grand Aunt

It's late and I have to be up early for work tomorrow - so this next update will be a short one. Longer one coming tomorrow though.

[Clarity]

Trip Report Continued....

We drove up the hills of Mandeville into an upper class residential area and stopped before big iron gates. A guard emerged and slowly swung open the gates for us. We drove inside to a big curving drive way.

I knew The Mountaintop villa was going to be beautiful, but I wasn't prepared for how huge it was. It was like a mansion. 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. My cousin manages the property and rents it out to groups. Luciano stays here when he performs in Mandeville.

My Jaw dropped...I was in awe. We were going to stay here?!



We unloaded our luggage and the guard brought it into the foyer. This was surreal.

Diana gave us a tour of the property.. the different rooms... the entertainment area...huge kitchen...the lanai and backyard pool with a view overlooking Mandeville...

“You can choose any room you want”, She said. “We have no other guests tonight, so the entire Villa is yours to enjoy”

“Surely I'm dreaming right now. “ I whispered.

My cousin left for a few hours to give us some time to get settled. I immediately fell asleep on the big comfortable bed in one of the top floor rooms...I was just so exhausted and overwhelmed by everything I had experienced. Markus was too excited to sleep, he stripped down to his bathing trunks and jumped into the pool.

I woke up when Diana returned. She had brought her laptop and a bottle of wine. We cracked open the bottle together and went through some video footage from one of my cousin's recent weddings (the one at St. Andrews church) and some family pictures. It's really amazing how you can feel so connected to family you just met for the first time. She really made me feel at home and shared so much. The best part was when she put on some music and we all danced. She has some moves that I really wish I had.

[Clarity]

Eventually she retired for the night, leaving Me, Markus (and of course Manda) alone in the Villa.

So we gave Manda the grand tour of the villa and we all had a party together. Here are some pictures:







Manda crashed in the pink bed on the second floor.



Hey Manda, if you're reading this. Hope you enjoyed this little trip up to the mountains. I look forward to meeting you someday in person in Jamaica.

[Clarity]

Afterwards, we stood together on the balcony overlooking the pool and the sparkling lights of Mandeville. I felt such a sense of disbelief, like I was in a movie.



“Can you believe this day?” I whispered.

Markus just laughed and shook his head “No I can't. I can't believe we are in this huge villa, I can't believe we just met your family... I'm just blown away by ALL of this, but I'm really really happy for you. All these trips to Jamaica and now the pieces are falling into places. Everything happens for a reason, it all led up to this.”

I thought of my brother and smiled.

I did it Jared.
And I know you were with me every step of the way.


My amazing brother...

I slept really well that night.

To be continued...
Middle quarters, Belmont and the Bellyflop contest.

[Angel]

Wow Clarity thank you for sharing, your brother is good looking. Glad you still have him in your heart and soul. Sorry he was never able to officially go with you to Jamaica and he is gone too soon. That made me sad. Looked like Manda had fun with you. Good to see you back posting was wondering were you were. Hope all is well.

[marley9808]

<3

[TizzyATX]

Daisy You're brother is so handsome....I can see such a resemblance. And like you said, I have no doubt he was along for this journey. Love ya!

[garysteph1018]

Clarity... seriously! I'm supposed to write my grammar school report while you've got this thing going on!

It is lovely. Your experience was just amazing!

And you really think you would miss this place.... Heck no! Go live in Jamaica!!!!! I know, easier said than done!

[sbeth]

Your brother is beautiful Clarity!