Get comfy.

The most helpful trip reports for me have kinda walked-through a day in the life of… and have addressed certain issues or "hot topics" of the moment. So, I’ll try to do both.

Overall? We had a fantastic time, in every sense of the word. We tried new things, we met some amazing people, we saw true beauty, and more; we really connected with each other…it was palpable.

As you can see from the dates of the trip (Oct 3 – 7), it wasn’t a long trip. In fact, it proved to be much too short. We only started to get to know some new friends.

Buffy and I arrived on Sunday the 3^rd in Montego Bay. We were originally booked at Grand Lido Negril, but Hurricane Ivan forced SuperClubs to ask us to relocate to Braco. We had been to GLN seven years ago on our honeymoon, and loved it. Definitely skeptical and conservative enough to know that "if it ain’t broke…" we really didn’t want to switch. But, we also figured it was the impetus we needed to try something new.

We hit the airport lounge and immediately starting sizing-up our traveling guests, six of us were headed to GLB, two were off to Breezes (poor souls). That check-in went smooth enough, and we were soon loaded onto a bus (we’d later see the Lidosine parked in the GLB lot –poooh). Of course, we made better friends with the couple headed to Breezes, as they were sitting in front of us, but on a stop for a Red Stripe, I did get to toast with another guest. I really didn’t remember liking Red Stripe so much seven years ago, but it went down reeeeal easy this trip!

The ride showed some damage from the hurricane, though not ever having taken that trip, I didn’t have a lot to compare. The poverty is always striking. If they were just able to improve the infrastructure; highways, networks, and such, it seems that the towns would improve infinitely. Alas.

As for the damage, there were a lot of billboards that were bent-over-backwards (or forwards). Many broken or stripped trees lined the roads (and the resort). And, they were obviously working on the new highway (parts of the road even had traffic lines painted!). But, that was only a short section; almost as long as the unpaved part.

We arrived! It was lovely. You could definitely see that trees were damaged, but any other issues had been cleaned-up –even if it meant cutting down a tree or shrub and leaving an open stump.

Of course, our room wasn’t ready, nor were several others’ rooms, and some people hadn’t yet relaxed into the "no problem, mon" laze that would set in shortly (there were a few steamed guests at reception). So, we headed to Nanny’s Jerk Pit for a drink and a sandwich. Checking back a couple of times, our room, #3041, was finally available, and we were escorted by a great bellhop (who had to stop and wipe his forehead a couple of times, apologizing each time).

Much to our dismay, our room had two full-sized beds, we’d booked a King. Buffy was more upset than I, and took to fixing it. No Problem, Mon was taking me heavily, and I wanted to hit the beach! A few phone calls assured us that after someone checked-out the following day, we’d be moved to a room with a King bed, #3038. (Turns out, it was two doors down from our two-bed room). We hit the beach.

It was around five o’clock by the time we got out there, so we just relaxed for a little while, walked and checked out the resort, and then went back and got cleaned up for dinner.

Monday, we hit the beach in the morning and the pool. I got a little too much sun, so I kinda chilled the rest of the day before our reservations for Munasan that evening.

Here’s where Buff’s mom needs to stop reading…and mine, for that matter.

Tuesday, I talked Buff into trying the A/N side (heck, that’s where our room was!). So, we started on the beach. She wasn’t real keen to it with our American values and all, but was a trooper. The beach was fine, and we enjoyed being in the sun (I more in the shade). Around lunchtime, we headed to the A/N clubhouse for some lunch. We covered up a little bit (I really didn’t want to sit naked on a chair that other butts might have "graced".) There, we met our first naked friends, Kathy and Mikey (sorry Mikey, you won’t be just "Mike" on my watch). We had a great time talking and learning about each other, and we carried our conversation into the pool. Here we met several other wonderful people, just floating and talking.

I hafta say, here’s where we really discovered the beauty thing. Yes, there were some physically beautiful people, both guys and gals. But on the A/N side, EVERYONE is absolutely beautiful. It’s difficult to describe. But, when you strip away the clothes, what you get is a person. You see them for them, no status, no taste (except, maybe for a little grooming choice), and nothing to hide. Everyone accepts everyone, and if you don’t you won’t be on that side long. I read in one post or trip report where someone recounted not being greeted by anyone on the textile side, but getting a "hello" or a "good morning" from every passer-by on the A/N side. This was absolutely true. If you yourself spoke up and introduced yourself on the textile side, most everyone was pleasant. But on the A/N side, it was never an issue of "speaking up" to start a conversation, everyone wanted to greet everyone. And everyone wanted to be your friend. Everyone.

It even came to be that this NY Yankees fan and Maryland Terrapins fan found friendship and pleasant conversation with Red Sox fans and Florida State Seminoles (or Criminoles, as I like to call ‘em) fans. I know! Cats and dogs living together! Total pandemonium!

Tuesday, we ate at the Italian restaurant for dinner. Great food. We made our way around the "town" and saw them handing out materials for the toga party that night. It’s hard to say no to Hioka when she’s flaunting that beautiful body and demanding to see you there at 10:30. Yes, ma’am.

So, we were outfitted and taught how to tie them. It was only 9:00-ish, so we headed to VM to check out the band. The singer was very Vegas-like and was having a blast. Carla dragged me onto the dance floor –another one to whom I couldn’t say no, with that toga "on". And, Rohan grabbed Buffy and got her feet moving. He danced his butt off, and while I was sitting watching, I loved to see Buff’s reaction and action as they tore it up! She always does attract my darker-skinned brothers. Too fun. Oh, and we won "best couple" at the toga party that night, which actually had a pretty good turnout.

Wednesday, we again started on the beach, nekkid. We moved to the pool for lunch and ate at the pool bar (my naked but on that stool, this time). We spent a while longer at the pool chatting and floating, reading, and napping, before we headed inside to get ready for the French restaurant.

Thursday; a sad day. We ate a huge breakfast and then worked it off packing. Our bus left at 11am. The ride to the airport was uneventful. Nobody really talked. And the driver dropped us off to begin our long journey home to PA.

Here’s the part where I’ll talk about certain topics and places I didn’t discuss above.

Buffy and I agreed that the food seemed better at GLB than at GLN. Of course, seven year does cloud memory. Presentation was always given attention (it was art at Piacere). At GLN, most of the meals in the Grand Terrazzo (their version of the Victoria Market) were served buffet style. At GLB, dinners come from a menu selection and are served by really wonderful wait staff.

And speaking of the wait staff, these folks have to be able to work some of the finest restaurants in the world. I didn’t get to talk with any of them about it, but if this isn’t their ticket to a better life (whether elsewhere in Jamaica or another country), I don’t know what is. Danian in Piacere could work the finest dining rooms in NY if he had the gumption. Their training is truly world-class.

Munasan, the Japanese restaurant was pretty good. I heard a couple of comments that people didn’t like it. We didn’t get to have any sushi (aside from the appetizer), I wasn’t aware that it was a separate reservation. But, the hibachi food was good, I had a little of everything. And, Ray, our chef was really fun. He let Buffy get up and cook (I have a picture to prove it). I even caught the shrimp he tossed to me in my mouth – following a fine example set by another guest, Tye. Nice catch, bro!

The pasta restaurant was good. I wasn’t really that hungry, but I was in the mood for some red sauce and red wine. The cannelloni satisfied that need. Author’s note: I can’t say Cannelloni without thinking of Burgess Meredith in Grumpy Old Men, "would you like to come back to my place and check out my cannelloni?" HA!

Piacere: Awesome. The food was fantastic, the service was world-class, I even fell in love with the wine….so much so that I don’t remember the winery. Uhg. We were also there the same night a young couple was celebrating their wedding. A group of close to 20 shared a couple of tables. They had their noisy moments, but it was kinda neat to sit there and watch the "reception". Of course, the bride was gorgeous, and in my opinion, should’ve gotten married in the bikini she was wearing when my team whooped her family in volley ball. And yes, I’ll expect repercussions from Buffy on that comment.

Other: We got room service for one breakfast. I had a bagel and smoked salmon. I absolutely loved it, and will be trying to reproduce that at home real soon. Of course, I’ll have to buy a tape of ocean sounds to play in the background.

The fitness center was sufficient. I belong to a six-month-old Gold’s here in PA, and nothing compares to it. So, I’m a gym snob. But, I was still sweating (and it had nothing to do with that young bride doing yoga close-by).

And at the toga party, dancing with Carla and Rohan was great fun. Obviously, they’ve got the moves. But they both made an effort to make sure that you were dancing and having fun right alongside them…no matter how much better they danced than me!

Never once did you even sense any tragedy or harm from the hurricane or personal loss. They really wouldn’t even talk about it –we shared breakfast with Hioka one morning and I asked her about it. She just shrugged it off, saying her plight wasn’t as bad as others’. We just can’t thank them enough for getting us involved in the pool games, introducing us to the A/N crowd, and making sure everything was above expectations. Seek them out and make sure the resort knows how much they mean to your GLB experience!

It might have been Kathy that said for the amount of money you could spend on marriage counseling, this is a heck of a lot better way to spend it! So, Buff and I have vowed that we won’t allow another seven years to pass before we make it back to the land of water and wood. So, when’s everyone going back?