Good morning! Reporting live, 6:00 AM, from sunny Jamaica. Oh my… It’s gorgeous here! We’re getting to know everyone on a first name basis, cats and lizards included. The picture above will give you a nice idea of the coastline in this particular part of St Ann’s Parish, very rugged with jagged volcanic rocks and low cliffs. It actually suits us perfectly, as we were never big “beach goers” and the through traffic is non-existent.
Janie and I prepped omelettes this morning for breakfast. Turned out great and so much fun cooking. The kitchen here has everything we could want, and we’ve been off to the grocery store several times to pick up recommended supplies. I’m guessing that the success of our Paris ’15 trip moved us to this style of accommodation, and the jump towards rentals where we feed ourselves as opposed to hotels or all-inclusives. It’s nature is very independent, we feel like we have complete control of our vacations and it is far more interactive in regards to the places we’ve visited and the people we’ve encountered (while very comparable in price).
So… we actually are going to do a little planning today. Snorkelling is definitely on the agenda, and with a little less wind today that should prove even more enjoyable. We hear there is a market close by, so we’re hoping Marcia can hook us up there. Some fresh fruits would definitely be a nice breakfast shake up! Further, we plan to pop over to Chukka Carribean Adventures, and see if we can price out a little horseback riding adventure.
Mark arrived at 11:00, in the heat of the day, and took Marcia and the girls to the local market. Speaking of heat, it’s been a steady 28-30°C, light winds from the North East and no precipitation. Forecasting does predict some rain and thunderstorms through the week however, so we’ll see how that goes. At least it isn’t snow! Regardless, I hunkered down out of the sun for a midday kink. It was super quiet… So I’m thinking others were doing the same.
I hoped the girls would get some pics and make a full report on their outing when they returned. They were successful in getting everything required, and had an “up close” tour of the market. By all accounts, it was no glitz and on the rustic side. I got the sense that there were points where the girls were somewhat intimidated by the ebb and flow of the space. However, in a moment when it was most foreign to how “we” access food, you could see a real pride in Marcia of her home and people. Janie and Eileen both noted that Marcia took charge and used her sharpest patois to barter and fend off chatter! From money conversion to the art of the deal… Lots of learning.
Then to the water. Great snorkel this afternoon… About an 1 1/2 in the cove. I fared better today, getting further afoot and, after watching where the fisherman was set up this morning, having a better idea of where the fish rest. Saw several more species. There were lots of 4-5 inch golden coloured fish, a bright blue tetra like species and I think I actually identified a group of yellow and black banded Sergeant Major fish. Lots of very healthy, spiny looking urchins on the bottom too. It was a perfect swim, except Monica lost her mask along the way. That will give us a little something to look for over the rest of the stay!
So, one of the things we really wanted to do was sample some authentic Jamaican cooking. It makes little sense to me that we wouldn’t take the opportunity to try something different… If we wanted to eat the same as home we should have stayed there! Marcia has been awesome and instrumental in helping make this happen. Our first night saw her prepare Chicken with Rice & Beans, and last night it was Curried Mutton. Both meals were perfect! The sauces she created have the girls asking for recipes. This evenings adventure… Oxtail! Well, although that may not sound too enticing, it sure as heck smelled awesome.
So… When Marcia left there was a mountain of food! The oxtail is in many ways like a stew meat, with a little more fat. As Mike Hinchey predicted, very tasty and flavourful the way she prepared it. As side dishes, the Rice & Beans complemented a spicy warm slaw and fried plantains. In all, a bounty of supper. Fun to experiment, try something new, and have it done by the hands of an expert! The remainder of the evening was quiet with poolside drinks and conversation.
Chris and crew…. enjoying the read already. How is it that as soon as your weather improves… ours deteriorates… every time!! Your new ‘home’ looks absolutely beautiful. All of that research work can sure pay off. Great to hear that you discovered the ‘stubbies’. It was always a treat to have one in our hand when we visited… and excited to see that we could get them back in Antigonish. Anxiously awaiting to hear the age of the rum that you first encounter. Although Appleton is usually the ‘go to’ Jamaican rum, I really enjoyed Blackwell. Check it out if you can. As usual, it seems like you’ve done a ton in just a short time… as I would expect! So neat to hear of all of the connections you are making with the people of the area. We can learn so much if we take the time to slow down and show a genuine interest in the lives of the local people. Looking forward to following along over the next week. Enjoy!!!
I hear there is a Nor’Easter arriving today! Batten down… I was listening to Kaelin and I think Antigonish will be spared the full wrath. Our digs are exactly as advertised. We’ve had a nice success rate with VRBO. The horses from Chukka Adventures just went by… Eileen counted 70 animals. Can’t imagine anywhere prettier right now, with plants in bloom, horses in the field, waves licking the coastline… Pretty sweet. We’re not big rum drinkers, but will have to at least give it a whirl next time to the store here. Thanks for the tip on the Blackwell! The locals here say that we should wait a day or two before trying excursions, as the cruise ships frequent this coast Mon-Wed and it’s a busier time. Right now I wouldn’t be fettered if we didn’t move an inch! That’s a great sign! Good luck with the looming storm Mike, and thanks for chiming in! Chris and crew…