Jamaica April 2010

[ECO]

This is sad......... when I cleaned out my closet a few weeks ago I packed most of my summer clothes in my large suitcase so I'm sort of packed for my trip.

Today I checked buying gifts for the kids in Jamaica off of my list. It's amazing how $50.00 at the dollar store can half fill a smaller suitcase. Some lucky kid will get the suitcase since my attic is full of them and I have no need to bring it home.

I guess I'll twiddle my thumbs for the next 70 days

[ECO]

I found a cheap airport shuttle service that has a ton of positive reviews all over the internet http://clivestransportservicejamaica.com/

$20US each way, on-line booking and a quick response to confirm everything....thumbs up in my book!

[jacque]

Dont feel so bad. My bag is packed also. You sound like you have been going for awhile. Taking the children things. My first trip 12 years ago.I took coloring books. We went to a village that the kids had never seen a coloring book. We stayed at blue cave castle for 45 a night. On the west end. We met our friend Byron who at the time had his own chicken shack. Over the years going two times a year. One time was xmas. Byron and his family have become very good friends. Going over there and watching his children open presents for the first time. Or when he went into a american gift store he had never been in one. We told him to pick out anything for his family. He got his wife pot and pans his children book bags. He is coming to visit us in June. It was something I will never forget. So everytime we go I always take things for Byron and his family and coloring book for the children I think it gave me good karma.Our daughter got married at Richmond Hills on Halloween that is in Montego Bay. Have fun!!!Jacque from Denver

[Wahoo]

Eco, if you went in July instead of April, you could cash in on all the bargains at the fireworks stands the day after July 4th and fill a suitcase with Screaming Rattlers, Killer Bee Fountains (my favorite), firecrackers, and cherry bombs for the kids.

[ECO]

Dont feel so bad. My bag is packed also. You sound like you have been going for awhile. Taking the children things. My first trip 12 years ago.I took coloring books. We went to a village that the kids had never seen a coloring book. We stayed at blue cave castle for 45 a night. On the west end. We met our friend Byron who at the time had his own chicken shack. Over the years going two times a year. One time was xmas. Byron and his family have become very good friends. Going over there and watching his children open presents for the first time. Or when he went into a american gift store he had never been in one. We told him to pick out anything for his family. He got his wife pot and pans his children book bags. He is coming to visit us in June. It was something I will never forget. So everytime we go I always take things for Byron and his family and coloring book for the children I think it gave me good karma.Our daughter got married at Richmond Hills on Halloween that is in Montego Bay. Have fun!!!Jacque from Denver

Welcome to the forum Jacque!

Is Byron still working out at the West End? I like that area much better than the beach area but when I added room cost and taxi cost I found this trip will be cheaper for me on the beach. The Castle seems like a cool place to stay but their cheap rooms are not really cheap anymore.

[ECO]

Eco, if you went in July instead of April, you could cash in on all the bargains at the fireworks stands the day after July 4th and fill a suitcase with Screaming Rattlers, Killer Bee Fountains (my favorite), firecrackers, and cherry bombs for the kids.

Lol, TSA would lock my ass up for exporting fireworks. Speaking of which, I have never seen them for sell in Jamaica I know they had professional fireworks in Negril for New Years Eve but I'm not sure if Joe Blow can buy them.

[Wahoo]

Eco, if you went in July instead of April, you could cash in on all the bargains at the fireworks stands the day after July 4th and fill a suitcase with Screaming Rattlers, Killer Bee Fountains (my favorite), firecrackers, and cherry bombs for the kids.

Lol, TSA would lock my ass up for exporting fireworks. Speaking of which, I have never seen them for sell in Jamaica I know they had professional fireworks in Negril for New Years Eve but I'm not sure if Joe Blow can buy them.

That's strange. I watched the fireworks the last time I was in Negril...and it was only April!

[Wahoo]

That's a shame if Joe Blow can't buy fireworks in Jamaica. One of the joys of youth is dropping a lit cherry bomb in a Coke bottle and watching it explode.

[ECO]

Lol, I think they are crazy enough with their aerosol cans and lighters not to even mention how they drive.

[ECO]

After finding my snorkel gear dead a few weeks ago I ended up buying a cheap set at Target. $32 for a mask, fin and snorkel set and it comes in a cute little bag. Since I will not have room in my suitcase to bring it back, I'll gift it away or try to sell it on the beach before I leave Jamaica.

Speaking of room in a suitcase, I just added my snorkel set and my tripod to my suitcase and had a horrible time fitting everything in it! I'm glad my carbon fiber tripod doesn't weight much but that sucker with it's giant head takes up a bunch of room! My suitcase can still hold 7 pounds before it's overweight....but there's just no more room

[Wahoo]

I've got a spare mask and snorkel I'd have been happy to give to you. Except somehow I lost the attachment that connects the snorkel to the mask, so you need to jury-rig it. I used a large rubber band to attach it last time, and that worked just fine. Necessity is the mother of invention.

[GhettoGurl]

I just came over here to say that I don't want you to go

[ECO]

Thanks for the offer Wahoo.

GG, I have to go......I need a break from life for 2 weeks.

So, today I decided to pack my 2 suitcases into one big one and everything fit! I placed it on the scale and it was just 12 pounds over weight Lol, I took out a giant pile of clothes and got it down to just 4 pounds over weight.....took out my tripod and it's a few pounds underweight For the life of me I can't get the tripod in it and find other stuff that I can go without It looks like I'm going to have to carry on my tripod, at least it comes in a case with a strap

[ECO]

Ok, I finally got this figured out, we have maybe 10 or so suitcases in our attic (we horde them in case there is a world wide shortage). I found one that is light enough to hold all of my stuff and almost large enough as well! With everything in it except my tripod head I have a few pounds to spare! Now I'm thinking about putting all of my clothes in a couple garbage bags to vacuum out all of the extra air so I can use up those last few pounds

I spend way too much time dicking around with luggage!

[Wahoo]

Our trips could overlap, Eco. I'll let you know what happens, but I'm close to brokering a deal for either the West End or the beach for 3-4 nights between April 17 and 30. I'm more determined than ever to spend my hard-earned money before Pelosi and crew get their grubby mitts on it. I know you have your own plans, but maybe we could at least meet someplace for a couple of drinks before my date for the evening arrives.

[Rose21]

ECO wrote
I spend way too much time dicking around with luggage!

Yes you do. It shouldn't be that hard

[Rose21]

ECO,do they have a laundry service where your staying? I would eliminate some of the clothes from my luggage. Wash them when they are dirty and put them back on.

[ECO]

ECO,do they have a laundry service where your staying? I would eliminate some of the clothes from my luggage. Wash them when they are dirty and put them back on.

I took out a giant pile of my clothes, about 4-5 days worth of stuff. Most of the bulk is stuff I'm going to donate to the kids/schools.

lol, I'm staying in a little shack of a cottage (I'm poor) so I doubt they have a formal laundry service. I'll end up hiring a local lady or kid to do my laundry twice for about $300 each time.....hopefully since $400 will break my budget!

[ECO]

In two weeks from now I'll be flying over Cuba while rolling my window down in order to let in some cigar smoke.

Once my airline stops changing my flights (4-6 times so far) I'll update my trip countdown thingy.

[ECO]

In two weeks from now I'll be standing in front of the customs man in Jamaica with my fingers crossed behind my back.