Jammin In Jamaica!

Gill just got back from a trip to Jamaica and has decided to tell us a bit about it. Maybe one day I’ll go south myself. I often have family and friends tell me that I really need to hit an island during the winter, but I’m not so sure. Not because I wouldn’t enjoy myself (I absolutely would), but because when I got home and it was still snowy and freezing there’s more than an outside chance of me legitimately losing my goddamn mind. If you think I’m kidding, allow me to point out that here in 2016, I do not detest winter any less than I did when I was already getting upset about it in September of 2010. But enough about me…

You might just be wondering where I’ve been? Well, I, along with my family, headed south, to the Island of Jamaica. I was there for a week, and here are just a sample of the highlights of this latest adventure.

Food! Food! Food!

Aside from the buffets there were several different restaurants offering up a selection of delicious fair from Brazil, Japan, and Spain. On the Monday night, on recommendation of my sister, we tried the Brazilian place. At this spot you go get your first course, they bring over your main dishes, different cuts of meat, and they leave the sauces. I finally got to try Chimichuri sauce on chicken, which isn’t for the timid. I, wanting also to have the native experience, tried aki salt fish which is the Jamaican national dish.

Music in My Head

All through out the week I was treated to the music of the Caribbean. reggae spilled from stereos and steel drum bands, as well as the unique and large African influence of the tyko drums. On the Wednesday night the resort offered a local steel drum band, and during the time they were setting up I got to actually see what a steel drum looked like. It was sitting on a stand, about four feet off the ground. The larger sections of the drum give richer deeper sounds, and the smaller ones give the light and lively ones. You also could not go many places with out hearing Native son and revolutionary Bob Marley. His songs of peace and harmony still hold relevance today.

No Problem

Once I left Canada, and settled myself on Caribbean shores I noticed a marked difference in attitude. Here we live stressed and depressed lives, but there the philosophy of “No problem.” made my tensions and low feelings go away.

Other Thoughts

Spending a week away from my troubles was a great thing, and I hope to head back there again soon. I also have to say that the people of Jamaica were warm and inviting, so thanks to you all out there.