I discovered the evening before departure that several cards had fallen out of my wallet some time previously. Im missing my drivers license, car registration, and a couple of gun permits. What a great way to go off on vacation, knowing that stuff is lost. At least I have a passport, so the vacation can proceed as planned.
Wednesday 6/19
Arrived Newark Airport 5:15 am. Im randomly selected for special attention by the security people. Im escorted to the gate before it officially opens to everyone else. They go over me with the magnetic wand, my shoes are wiped and analyzed, and my checked luggage is opened and gone through. The idea here is that the terrorists, knowing that they may be picked for one of these especially thorough inspections, will be deterred from doing their evil. However, the existence of the program is not made public. Im reminded of Peter Sellers line from Dr. Strangelove: The entire point of the Doomsday Machine is lost IF YOU KEEP IT A SECRET! WHY DIDNT YOU TELL ANYONE??
The Air Jamaica lady scolded me for taking a photo in the airport terminal. I know this was always prohibited in East German train stations, but since when cant we take pictures in airports?
Air Jamaica flight 18 pushed back 2 minutes early, and landed in Montego Bay right on time at 10:05. Baggage claim and Immigration/Customs were no problem, but the Superclubs bus took a while to arrange. It left at 11:19, with only four other people on board.
The road to Negril is in good shape most of the way now, but we were delayed by construction in two places. We arrived at Hedo just about when I expected we would, 12:56 pm.
This was my first trip to Hedo since 1999. One thing I noticed on this trip is that the first thing everybody does now, immediately after the plane lands, is whip out the cell phones. Does it work here? Does it work here? is what they must be saying. I brought mine along, having read on the DennyP board that AT&T Wireless functions in Jamaica, and that the charge is only $0.50 per minute. My service is with US Cellular, but Im using the same signal as AT&T TDMA, in cellular speak. Alas, however, my phone wouldnt function. The screen registers a beautiful full-strength signal, but when I attempt a call, all I get is a fast busy signal. I guess AT&T has signed a roaming agreement with the Caribbean wireless company, but US Cellular has not.
I met up with Walt & Chris from Houston (my hosts from Castaways Travel) and Andy & Peggy from Richmond, people Id emailed with ahead of time.
Hedo was fairly empty. According to some people I talked to, they were at 40% capacity. The good aspect of this was that I had a private room all week without paying a single supplement. The bad part, of course, was that the energy level wasnt quite what Id seen in the past.
I took an aerobics class (attempting to be good about exercising on this vacation), supper, then bed.
Thursday 6/20
Beach walk (am), poured rain (pm). Toga party that night I didnt bother with it. A friend of mine was supposed to go along with me on this trip, but he backed out. Im a bit hesitant to join in with groups of people I dont know, so this vacation started out fairly quiet and not terribly fun. I did make friends later in the week, however, so things improved.
Friday 6/21
Took the bike ride into town and back with Taz the Entertainment Coordinator. Saw lots of dead crabs in the middle of the road apparently they try to cross and get squashed. More aerobics.
Saturday 6/22
Since my cell phone didnt work and calls from Hedo are ridiculously expensive, I decided to email home. The rate to use the Internet Caf is $3 per 20-minute block. Be forewarned, though the front desk will take a credit card imprint as a deposit. They tell you that they are merely putting a $200 preauthorization on your card, not actually charging your account, but when I got home I found out that theyd in fact charged me the $200 plus the $9 in valid internet charges Id accrued. Im disputing the $200 now.
Saturdays activities included a beach walk, sailing a Sunfish, and using the Stairmaster. The new gym truly is a huge improvement. Some of the other new features are questionable, such as the climbing wall (no one used it), the plastic ice rink (a real joke) and the hot tub above the disco (usually closed).
I met Mike and Linda, a nice couple from New Hampshire with whom I hung around a lot thereafter. Also Sandy & Mary, nice people from Mississippi.
Sunday 6/23
Tried to take the scheduled squash lesson, but no one showed up to teach it.
Monday 6/24
I picked up some kind of itchy rash on my feel and calves. The nurse called in a local doctor, who gave me a shot of cortisone and some pills to take. In case you need medical attention at Hedo, the house call will run you US$100 (plus medications). Well see whether my insurance company will cover me.
This day I did something out of character I actually struck up and maintained a conversation with Sondra, a beautiful single girl whod been sticking exclusively to the prude side. She turned out, however, to be a lesbian, proving once again that the Seinfeld character of George Costanza was patterned not on the life of Larry David, but on mine.
Tuesday 6/25
Pajama party. I win first place in the category Most Virginal. I win by wearing my Tweety Bird flannels. Sure, others are at the party in sexy, revealing outfits, but I follow my own strategy, and in this case it pays off with a bottle of Tia Maria.
That was it. I wouldnt call this a wild time, but Im not really a wild person. I figure if you can go away and relax for a week, and come home having made some good new friends, youre doing fine.