Well everyone this trip is winding down. It’s bittersweet, I will be happy to be back home in the near future since I can’t just stay on vacation. I suppose it would be good to go back to work and start looking at what we will do for our next adventure.
We both tested negative for covid so we didn’t get contaminated while here, hopefully it stays that way. We have a direct flight back to St. Louis tomorrow, I’m curious as to how many people are in Jamaica going on our flight. We have seen a few people from Iowa here and a lot from the south.
I do want to take an opportunity to mention that our bags are holding up and that we were able to bring enough clothes for the trip. Emily did need to have some laundry done while we were here, she had planned on that. It is a good option to remember when you are traveling, most hotels will do laundry for you overnight. You don’t have to pack everything when you go!
We tried a new Coppertone Sport sunscreen, it works okay and stays on in the water well, I am not a fan. It is very greasy and worse when you are in the water. I like the Equate brand that is a knock off of the Neutrogena ultra sheer. It has kept us from getting bad sunburns. It’s nice because it is a stick so easy to put on and it doesn’t need to be put with your liquids. Sunscreen can be very expensive in sunny locations, it’s better to bring it with you.
Another product endorsement from me, Nexcare waterproof bandages. I recommend carrying these in with your travel items. They stay on! I would say extremely well, but that may imply that at some point the come off. So far the one I put on a blister from the flippers is still on. I have dove a few times with flippers, swam in the pool, sat in the jacuzzi and showered multiple times with it. Wearing shoes has not rubbed it off either. They were a bit more expensive than some of the other waterproof ones at Walmart, definitely worth it. Get several sizes and keep them on hand.
This morning after breakfast we took a kayak and went out to Emily’s snorkel spot and spent some time looking around. We seen starfish and a big ray that was hiding in the sand. I did see one lion fish. On the way back Emily swam the whole way!
We then hung out in the pool just to relax and not be pushed around by the waves before getting ready for lunch.
The Couple’s resort does not allow the staff to take tips and they watch the staff on camera and they will get in trouble if they are seen doing so. I know that the website says that everything is included, including tips. Hopefully they pay the staff well. The staff has been very friendly and helpful. They are very service oriented. I would like to see a better selection of snacks available all the time. Maybe that’s part of getting the minibar stocked? We didn’t need anything in ours and you have to contact someone to get things restocked. I know some hotels have snacks with the minibar. We should have gotten a list maybe.
Side note, we had the opportunity to chat with an employee here and it does not sound like they are paid well here. It’s possible the pay rate hasn’t changed for ten years. They get paid per day if what we were told is true. While we don’t plan on stopping our travels we do feel that we need to look at traveling more ethically, try and make choices that will benefit a local over a big corporation. There is a lot of money that gets spent here but it goes to the big companies that run the resorts which is not good in a place like this that is a very tourist centered economy.
This afternoon we went down and worked out. I did a chest and abs with a side of bi’s and tri’s while Emily was outside on the gym deck doing hers. It was good timing again as nobody was in the gym and I didn’t have to wait on anyone for equipment. My bandage was still stuck but the bottom had come loose so I did remove it. Since I won’t be wearing flippers anymore I should be go without it.
After Emily was supposed to be doing Spanish but the internet here isn’t good for streaming. We did talk with Sharon and David from back home and it’s cold there. I seen my friend posted that he was worried about his crops. Hopefully it won’t get too cold.
I will probably need to do a post after I get back to Iowa and can go through a bunch of videos and get some pictures from my dives. There will be more sea life to share. I may have to upgrade my camera situation in the future. I still recommend getting a cheap gopro knock-off for using on trips. Mine has worked really well for $20. I do think that it was not rated for whatever the maximum depth I was at. It has a little wiggle in the latch now when I get past 15 feet. It will probably pop open one of these days if I keep diving with it. I will use it for snorkeling and other water sports that don’t involve diving very deep.
Our dinner companions from the other night, Sally and Sean, they took a trip to Rick’s Cafe and Sally was injured jumping off the cliff. I’m not sure how she is, they brought her back here in the boat and took her out on a backboard and after a while there was an ambulance here. I know she was in a lot of pain. The resort makes you sign a disclaimer and tells you that they don’t recommend jumping off any cliffs. We never had the opportunity to do that but I am guessing that we would have if we would have taken that trip. We hope she gets well soon.
I have about finished repacking my Hynes Eagle bag. I just have a few things left to put in it in the morning and I will be ready to leave. We have to go get on the shuttle at 9:15, our flight is nonstop to St. Louis (thanks for lobbying for that flight to our other new friend Sean-Pierre!). We should be in Missouri around supper time!
After dinner we walked on the beach and then went for a swim. I got some pictures uploaded from our snorkeling adventure this morning. Emily got her packing done.
Hope everyone is well!!
Traveling with Emily! 