Our much anticipated annual trip to Hedo II (SEPT 9-15) was overshadowed by the attacks in New York and Washington. We arrived monday afternoon, after a 19-hour trip from the west coast. Seems the Air Jamaica flight we were on was having equipment trouble, and was eventually cancelled. Delta quickly re-routed us through Dallas and Ft. Lauderdale. We were so tired after the trip that after dinner and a short dip in the hot tub greeting old friends and what not, we decided to call it an early night. The next morning we awoke to the tragedy. Like everyone there, were devastated by the news and video clips. When the US airspace was closed, we all realized we were, in effect, stranded at Hedo. Of all the places in the world to be stranded, Hedo II is one of the best. Most everyone took it in stride, and Hedo continued it's reputation, albeit at a more subduded level.

 

The most significant change at Hedo is all the new construction. They are building a new restaurant, water slides, more gym facilities and more. Although everything was still open during our week, with the possible exception of the prude pool, there are walls around much of the upper part of the facility, the prude beach and back towards the tennis courts. The sounds of heavy construction equipment have replaced the usual sound of reggae music. I don't know when the construction project is scheduled to finish. It didn't really make a difference in the fun of Hedo, but it did kind of change the ambiance.

 

As the week progressed and more flights were cancelled people got maybe a bit more tense. The staff were very sympathetic and understanding towards the stranded guests but seemed not to be able to get a handle on information from the airport. Most information was by rumor or word of mouth. By chance the staff of Go Classy Tours was stranded there with us and they did all they could to help. Still, most people had to figure out their own way back to the US.

 

Most of the days seemd spent relaxing in the pool  or hot tub trying to forget about what was happening. A famous rock star and his companion were there that week, and it was fun getting to know him.The night shows were fun, and I finally got up the nerve this year to bring my saxophone and enter the talent show. The band and I decided to do an upbeat version of "Somewhere over the Rainbow" which went off well. The disco was good every night, and the hot tub was hotter than I had seen it in quite a while.

 

The airport in Mo' Bay fiinally opened on friday evening, and most fights left on saturday, although many were delayed. We got real lucky in that our regularly scheduled flight back to the US did leave. Many of our friends who were supposed to leave before us were still at Hedo when we left.

 

Many thanks to our old good friends, Bruce and Jane, Rick and Suzy, Ron "Wood" :^), Chad and Sabrina--and our new good friends Jim and Heather, Jim, Rick and Lynn, Dennis and Lisa, and all the other expatriots at Hedo II that week. It was a helluva way to spend a vacation, but you guys made it fun.

 

"Doc" and Annelise