Can Jamaica fix it?

[Accompong]

Thanks JohnG for the confirmation. What made me wince a likkle at what you wrote was the idea that Ian Flemming, Errol Flynn, etc. "discovered" anything except a cheap place to live like a king. I hate using the word "discover" when writing about Jamaica. Especially the idea that Columbus discovered Jamaica.

I appreciate your photos and your recollections of a much earlier Jamaica that I first visited in 1983. Hearing your stories and seeing your pictures, I so wish I would have gone earlier myself. Nuff Respect.

Peace and Guidance

[Wisconsin gal]

Ameripress:
I wish you a joyous, relaxing vacation. I hear you about stress, daily life, kids, etc. all taking their toll.
If I had one wish for you in JA (or on any vacation) for you it would be to NOT look for what things used to be like. You have both changed. Life has changed you and your relationship.
Rather, look for what you now can love and appreciate that you may not see in daily life. Our annual vacations mean slowing down, taking walks, and talking. Yes, we do these all year, but......It just is not the same. I try every vacation to find something new that I appreciate/love about hubby. We have been together for 10 years, so we have been through A LOT of changes - including some really stressful stuff (death of a child).
By finding something new to love, it is like rediscovering him all over again.
Good luck, and enjoy the vacation.

[johng]

Well,

Like I might say I discovered Negril, meaning I became aware of it not that I was responsible for doing anything. In the same way I meant those guys from the 40's and 50's became aware of the beauty and tranquility and the close proximity to the eastern coastline of the US which makes it easy and quick to get to unlike say Tahiti which is 2/3 of the way around the world. Many have at the Jamaican's expense made fortunes off their backs and continue to do so now. But that is universal and I have no way of impacting that other than how I live my life and treat others. Do one to others, so how any of those rich guys lived is not my cross to bare.

[DaRev]

One thing I can say about Jamaica and relationships.. If STRESS is the thing bringing tension to your relationship, then Negril is the antidote. I am the kind of guy that holds on to stress.. When my wife of 37 years and I would go on vacation it would take me tow days to de-stress - then we'd have our 3 days or so, and I would re-stress for the last two days preparing to return home.. It did NOT make for god time! The first time we went to Negril and I entered our room at Legends my stress simply disappeared.. dissolved.. evaporated.. We had our first TRUE vacation and the same thing has happened every time since.. Will you relationship be healed? I don't know - Will you be able to relax and really communicate? - ABSOLUTELY!

[*vi*]

Personally I don’t use the word “magical” to describe the effect(s) being in Jamaica has on one’s mindset. In the midst of the thick, thriving foliage surrounded by turquoise waters with intoxicating aromas hovering in the warm air, life’s realities outnumber the fairytales. While Jamaica can’t be blamed for a relationship’s demise, neither can it be credited for its success. But being immersed in the sights, sounds, smells, voices, and textures does fuel honest emotions from deep within one’s heart motivating them to act/react. In other words, as you stated, it’s up to the individuals to do some mending if needed.

Amerapress, your relationship sounds a little tender therefore you’ll be giving it a lot of thought while you experience Jamaica as a couple. Trust me, I know…I’ve been there. You will enjoy unexpected personal blissful moments when uncertainties become so clear. It’s during those moments you’ll find yourself face to face with questions then answers to how to ensure that inner calm feeling will continue beyond Jamaica.

I think your travel order is perfect. Negril’s pace will keep you both busy, while your steps in Port Antonio will be a lot slower and intimate. The scenic ride getting there, for starters, is tranquilizing.

I LOVE Port Antonio. If you can work it into your visit, try to go to Reach Falls. Wear a cute bathing suit and good water shoes. Wade in the still waters or let the force of the falls massage your body. Splash together or just watch him. I’m not a fan of disposable cameras, but get one and give it to the life guard so he can snap candid pictures of the two of you that you won’t see until you return home.

Jamaica provides an ambiance for any relationship in any stage or condition…the rest is up the couple and, IMO, that’s the easy part. Go with it honestly.

Please enjoy yourself. Enjoy each other. Remember what made you fall in love with him and say it out loud.

Seven more days..

[Seveen]

jamaica will make you "sweat"

if not ---- well there you go . . .

and don't plan too much -- sounds like you need some sand gravity bad :-)

[nutz4travel]

no matter where you are....try and wake up each day with one thought....what can I do today to make his/her today the best day she has ever had.....and work on it........

Well said Rambo! It's much easier to do that in paradise - Jamaica may help you reconnect, but unless you continue to work on it back in the real world...

[Fred Stripe]

My very first trip to Jamaica was with my 1st wife at Sandals Montego Bay for the same purpose as yours Amerapress. It was kinda forced and since I say my "first" wife so you know what eventually happened. We still had fun and that is when I realized that I should have come here a long time ago.

[Amerapress]

Lol well I've been down the road of "matrimony" once n have no intent on doing it AGIAN unless its certain its for good! That's the idea is to figure it out, of course not dwell on anything while on vacation but find what it is we need n bring it back w us to reality at home. Just all the excitement of leaving soon and having do much to look forward to is making us do better lol! Six days n time is moving fast we have so much to do between work n kids before we go! It's truly amazing what we have done in the short three years we have been together . Seems as tho anything we want we make an amazing to team to accomplish those goals. This trip , it took some talking, talking and then Deciding n sacrificing but we made it happen. Great decision !!!!

[Seveen]

My very first trip to Jamaica was with my 1st wife at Sandals Montego Bay for the same purpose as yours Amerapress. It was kinda forced and since I say my "first" wife so you know what eventually happened. We still had fun and that is when I realized that I should have come here a long time ago.

memories! my first trip - 1974 - was with my first husband as a last ditch effort to see where we were "at" lol

stayed at The Montegoian in Mobay (went through many many name changes and is now a shut down eye sore on The Hip Strip)

had dinner at The Calabash (up on Queen's Drive) the first night and our budget was busted lol - driver probably drove us to Ochi and back and exchange rate -- what's that lol

fought like cats and dogs for a week - almost was tossed off the hotel balcony <rolleyes>

returned home and never went back to our house with him (after a short 9 months of marriage)

BUT I loved Jamaica! been every year since

and now this story is just a funny story . . .