Easter Weekend

Planning a 4-day weekend with 7 strong personalities is no mean feat. But we did it.

Participants – 7 CUSO-VSO volunteers: Helen, Kimberley, France, Delphine, Rafael, Onyka, and Dominic (our token bwoy).

Destination – Duncans, small coastal town midway between Ocho Rios (Ochie) and Montego Bay (MoBay).

Accommodation – 3-bedroom / 3-bathroom villa, 30 yards from the beach.

Transport – supposed to be a rental van, but, in the words of Jerry Seinfeld “they know how to take the reservation, they just don’t know how to keep the reservation,” so we settled for 2 cars.

The 3 hour drive from Kingston was a harrowing experience – winding roads through mountains and valleys, potholes large enough to swim in, crazy drivers overtaking on blind curves, and people walking on roads with no sidewalks, all decked out in their Easter best. But arrival at our “villa” (vacation rental term for a house) with the Caribbean sea a stone’s throw away, and the treacherous journey was all but forgotten. It’s the windy season (Easter Kite festival in St. Anne’s Bay), so the waves were sizeable, and body surfing was mandatory, as was lying in one of the hammocks back at the villa.

Despite varying eating habits, our meals were a joint effort – vegetarian fare complimented with Hebrew National hotdogs. A visit from Varun (another DRF volunteer) and his girlfriend Jay-Jay resulted in a long, and at times insufferable, card game, but at least the rules (a twist on rummy) had finally sunken in for those new to the game.

A late start on Saturday, and 6 of us (France stayed behind to do some extreme beaching) headed for Rose Hall and a walking tour of Falmouth, a quaint, well preserved town, and quite different from some of the other Jamaican towns I’ve visited. I even managed to fit in some retail therapy with the purchase of a sundress (some things never change). The evening’s card game came to an abrupt halt when the salsa music began, and the living room turned into a disco. We danced until 2:00 am, and Dom and I are ready to embark on a world tour showcasing our perfectly synchronised dance to “Hungry Like the Wolf” – watch out Duran Duran, we’re coming to get you. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy dancing, and it’s the best workout I’ve had in a while.

Sunday was a continuation of extreme beaching for France, and my long-awaited start, as we headed to Time ’n Place in Falmouth. Huts on the beach, a bar and jerk pit, hammocks floating above the Caribbean Sea. A perfect setting for a movie – How Stella Got Her Groove Back. An added bonus to the magnificent setting was a litter of puppies. Tiny little mutts, nibbling at our toes, but infested with fleas – oh Delphine, why did you hold them in your lap – now we’re all scratching and itching. A quieter night of mellow music and cards, Rafael reigning supreme as the card shark of the evening.

And the weekend is over too soon. The return journey through the treacherous terrain, didn’t seem so bad – maybe we’re already used to Jamaican roads and driving habits? But will we ever get used to Jamaican “customer service?” We returned the cars as instructed, only to discover the rental place (Avis) was closed for the Easter holiday. Not thinking much of it, we drove the cars home, and first thing Tuesday morning showed up at Avis to return the cars, only to be told we would be charged for an additional day. No amount of ranting and raving could change the fellow’s mind, and his insistence that we should’ve known to return the cars to the airport only infuriated me more. Needless to say, Kimberley’s sweet talking powers of persuasion once again saved the day, and the additional fee was waived – a happy ending to a glorious weekend.

As soon as I figure out how to upload photos, I will do so – stay tuned...