We got to the airport and waited in the very cold early morning wind for the bus to the terminal kept reminding ourselves in a few hours we would be in the warm Jamaican sun. Our flight was delayed by an hour and a half and getting through security into the terminal took longer than usual. At JFK you go past the xray security checkpoint before you actually get into the terminal and the line was out the door. Once inside we met some neighbors that were also going to Hedo and headed towards the gate for boarding. When we landed in MoBay, collected out baggage and cleared customs we headed for the Superclubs desk and checked in for the bus. We had decided to take the bus this trip since we had heard the new road was finally done and it was no longer the bus ride from hell. All the people on our bus were going to Hedo. There was one couple that did not speak much English so they were very quiet and one couple that were Newbies, he was so excited he had already lost his voice. We made one stop for Red Stripe for medicinal purposes so he could recoup his voice and since we did not want to make him drink alone we all had one. The bus took way less than 2 hours even with our stop. Check in was a breeze. Big Tony the man in charge of baggage greeted us with a warm welcome home as we got off the bus. We got our desired room in H block dropped our stuff and headed to Delroys. We were home!
The days all blended together after that. The first night I know we put up our Christmas lights, put our sign on the door and that was about as organized as we got. We tended to stay up too late and get up too early, eat and drink too much and laugh a lot. Isnt that what a Hedo vacation is all about?
Since we arrived on a Tuesday we enjoyed the grilled lobster dinner and some decent roast beef. The meals in the main dinning room were average except for Tuesdays. We always managed to find something we liked. In the morning I usually had one of Charlies omelets and Rupe went for the scrambled and bacon. Breakfast is still the best meal in the main dinning room. Lunch was usually something from Roberts grill and dinner we varied. We ate a few times at the Japanese restaurant and it was very good. We also had a few meals Pastafaris not the best Italian food but always excellent company and a lot of laughs. For chatting this is the place to eat. The house band tends to play too loud for normal conversation.
On Sunday night the WWW welcoming party was held in the disco without the air conditioner on so it was very hot but seeing that stage overflowing with the gifts the WWW people contributed was AWESOME! This has got to be the most generous and best group yet. Thanks to Diane for the stocking to fill and to Lana and Denny for organizing all those gifts.
Monday was the Magical Mystery Tour. I do believe Rupes Prude Bus out did Steves Partymob bus for fun. Thanks to Superman leading us in songs and our Lucky Bastard towels Shopping was good I like the Town Square shopping center. Margaritaville was definitely not as much fun this time as in the past, one place that needs to be dropped from the MMT. I think they lost their sense of humor there. Ricks caf sunset was GREAT! I did see the green flash when the sun went into the water.
Monday night was Patriotic night. Almost as many Canadian colors as red white & blue.
We did go on the daytime WWW catcruise. Rasta Ralphie was on board to entertain us, boy can that man limbo! It was a very full boat. Rupe collected so many nbhs that he wore the sunblock off his back and front. Of course he told me I just missed spots when I put it on him but the handprints on his back were a dead giveaway. We stopped and did some snorkeling at one of the reefs and then continued onto what I think is called Josephs Caves for some cliff jumping and more swimming. A few brave persons did do the cliff jump but jumping off the boat is high enough for me.
Tuesday night was the PJ party night more of a costume party than PJs but always fun.
Thursday night was toga night. We enjoyed dinner and the talent show with some special people at our table at the Japanese restaurant.
Some highlights of our trip were avoiding King Jims Jug of poison, while others were not so lucky. Did you ever get all the nail polish off? We raised a few glasses in toasting some of our favorite fellow WWWers that could not join us this year, you know who you are and we missed youse guys. Watching Santa in the Men in Motion contest what will he come up with to top that for next year? The ladies of the WWW that competed in the Wet T shirt contest. Congratulations to you all. The fun we had with Xs, making our own and marking some others too. I do have a small bruise on one hip from one last X that was left for us that I did not find until morning I must have been tired that night! I owe you J & L! You did manage to get us with the last laugh!
Watching Rupe try to walk into the piano bar into Ursellas dress and heels was very funny, I think he walks in heels better than I do. We were treated with some piano playing from some members of the WWW group. This was a nice change of pace. Dave is as entertaining as always. We seem to spend more time in the piano bar every trip. Thank you to a couple of men that actually preformed for the ladies doing a little piece by piece.
Some other highlights were the nude invasion of the waterslide while the radio station had their party on the prude beach. Do you think we shocked anyone? Playing nude volleyball with some very fun people. Lots of laughs and we actually had a couple of good volleys going. We always had plenty of players during the WWW week, so many that I dont think Denny even bothered to come join us for a game. Our cheerleading section of the non players was also a very large group Of course there was a sandgirl for the men but were was our sandboy for the ladies? Sleeping on the lounge chair? No one walking by in clothing was spared of the whistles and encouragement to join in the fun on the nude side. This was all in fun and we managed to convert a few that were not sure if being nude was for them. Superman even dragged a few back to the nude side with him one thanked him for doing so and wished someone had dragged him the beginning of his trip and the other decided we were too crazy for her.
Along with the many laughs we shared with so many we did manage to find time a little time to just float and connect with each other. This is not always an easy thing to do when there is so much going on and you dont want to miss anything. I did bring a few books with me with the intention of just relaxing and reading. NOT! I did not even get one book finished until after we got home. I was too busy having fun or sleeping to read. Life is good at Hedo.
Of course everything was not perfect but than again I dont live in a perfect world. Hedo is entertaining and a great place to people watch but some of the people that showed up late at night it seemed did not belong there. I dont mind single people hanging out at the hot tub but they need to be respectful of everyone. The single men in our group were wonderful, it is a shame that there is always a few that put a bad reputation on the single male. There was one individual, I think he was a local, that creeped a few of us out. He was like a shark in the hot tub and did some inappropriate grabbing and following some ladies to the bathroom. Security had to come and escort him out of the resort. I was comforted to see the amount of security that was around when requested. Of course traveling with so many good friends that kept a watch out for everyone else was also comforting. I knew if Rupe was not right near me there would be someone else I knew.
Some other things that bothered me aside from the public bathrooms not being clean, (piano bar & disco the worse) were the extremely slippery tiles by the gym and the main pool. These are a hazard! Some effort has been made near the entrance to the gym but be careful on the rest of them. One of the things that we have never had a problem with before, was the person or persons with the sticky fingers. Someone walked off with our baggie with our cigarettes, business cards & Rupe's 30year old zippo lighter as well as someone elses camera and 2 of the ladies that had carried dinner purses lost them. I am sure sticky fingers managed to score more than that but these are the few I heard about.
The new improvements to the grounds at Hedo are mostly good. I actually saw a couple of people use the rock climbing wall but never saw anyone in the new prude pool since it was too cold. The design and idea are good but it needs to have some kind of heating done to it so it can be used. The ice skating rink was a waste of space and money. The waterslide is a lot of fun. The 2 newest hot tubs are almost useless. The one behind the spa area was either cold or dirty whenever we went by and we have never seen the one over the disco working yet. Perhaps they should have just made the one by the main pool larger. The spa is wonderful except they do require clothing in the pools in there. The new gym is great. Newer equipment and working a/c, makes it much easier to complete a workout. The first week I was good about using it but the lack of sleep and sand gravity soon took over.
You have all heard it before but I will say it again The best part of Hedo is the people. All of the familiar faces from past trips and the many new people we meet and were able to spend time with. There never seems to be enough time to meet everyone that is a part of the WWW but to those we did thank you. I know we have made some lifelong friends from our many trips to Hedo. Some of the staff as well as the guests that we met starting with our 1st trip in May of 1999. Every time we go we meet new friends to add to our growing list of Hedo family.
We miss you and look forward to seeing everyone again next year! Have a safe and healthy holiday.
Maxim Respect Every Time!