When My Vacation Went Left, I Ate My Way Through Jamaica

Ever make these big plans for a trip, and not one thing that you planned panned out? Yeah well that's what happened to me on my last visit to Jamaica.

I booked my flight to Kingston Jamaica about a month ago. I decided that I'd stay in the city for a change rather than going to the usual North Coast. I have a few friends and cousins in Kingston, so I thought it would be fun linking up with everyone to catch up.

I swear I think Jamaica hates me. If you remember my first blog, I flew into Jamaica the day before Hurricane Matthew (If you didn't know that, that means you didn't read my first blog ... care to mention why?? I'm sure we can come to the agreement that I am quite witty and charming. You probably should go back and read that blog. I'm just saying.) A few days before my trip this time, I started to get video clips of flooding happening in Jamaica.

It had been raining in Jamaica for about a week straight! I looked up the 7 day forecast for when I would be there, and it said rain every day! Why Lord? Why??? A few people told me that crocodiles were seen swimming in the flood waters!!! Now I like adventure as much as the next person, but I draw the line at swimming with crocodiles. But since this genius did not get travel insurance, guess who was still gonna take her chances?? This girl right here.

When I landed in Kingston it was overcast, but I had just missed some rainfall. I got in my ride and had to make the first official stop in JA...KFC. If you have never been to a KFC in the Caribbean, please plan your next trip around it. I don't know what beautiful medley of herbs and spices that they use, that they refuse to share with their North American counterparts, but it is delicious. You have not vacationed in Jamaica if you do not make this stop. Please consider yourself warned.

If chicken isn't your thing, make a stop for a patty at Tastee patties.

Next stop was to my very first Air BnB. I would be lying to you if I said that I didn't have a little anxiety about this. I'm accustomed to staying in hotels. It brings me comfort knowing that I'm surrounded by hundreds of people. When you stay at a private residence, sometimes it's just you. I know safety is a concern for a lot of people when they think about booking an Air BnB. I would probably suggest making sure that the residence is in a gated community, and do your research about the neighbourhood that you'll be in. I lucked out. I was staying in Norbrook. It's pretty much where rich people in Jamaica live. So there really wasn't anyone walking up and down the streets, it was quiet and no buses. That could either work for you or against you. It was nice and safe, but pretty much nothing was around that I could walk to. So if you were hungry and had no groceries (which was exactly my case), you'd have to either beg a ride from a friend or call a taxi.

When in Jamaica, you eat fish. Yes, you can get any type of food that you want there, but you're on an island, eat fish! If you really want good fish in Kingston you head straight to Gloria's in Port Royal.

They used to allow you to pick what fish you wanted, then they'd cook it the way you wanted. Perhaps because they've grown so large now, you still choose how you want it cooked, but you don't get to hand pick your fish anymore (Craven people would always choose the largest fish that they had; I however hate the sight of big fish so I'd always choose the small dainty looking red snapper.) I always get the brown stew fish, and you have your options of what sides you'd like to eat it with.

On the way back to my Air BnB from Gloria's, I saw this huge ship. When I asked my driver about it, he said it was Logos Hope, the largest floating book fair. It's pretty much a huge ship that has travelled to over 160 countries selling books. The ship is filled with books upon books upon books. For a book worm like me, that sounded like heaven. I asked the driver if we could stop to go in, and I'm pretty sure he nodded yes. I realized that he perhaps had uncontrollable head nods, when HE DROVE RIGHT PAST IT and I didn't get to go in. Sigh....

**Yup...that was my view as we drove past it!!!!**

My guess as to why my driver was in such a rush to get me back, was that the Jamaica International Invitational 2017 was on. Pretty much a highly anticipated track and field meet. Special shout out to Canadian Andre DeGrasse who won first place in the men's 200m.

**Sorry for the fuzzy picture but I literally took a pic of my TV. I was so proud!**

On my final day, I tried my best to get to a beach. However the rain just wouldn't let me be great. I packed 3 new bikini's to model for di man dem (Translation: To show off for the cute boys) and I didn't get to wear one! I seriously contemplated modeling them in the rain, or my bathtub, but then I said to myself "World Boss, if you can't model it here, looks like you're gonna have to book another trip to model them somewhere else ...yassssss please!" So I put away my cute bathing suits and decided to go for dinner with my cute cousin (Ladies, I'm willing to auction him off to the highest bidder....he has a good job, nice vehicle, man of God, respectable, a gentleman....I accept bribes as well.) He'd kill me if I posted his picture, so private message me and we'll make some deals! We ended up at Track and Field Star Usain Bolt's restaurant Tracks and Records.

Listen to me, if you are ever in the Kingston or Ocho Rios area, please go to Tracks and Records and order the jerk chicken spring rolls.. uuuugghhhh....delicious!

We shared the sampler platter which included Red Stripe BBQ wings, jerk chicken spring rolls, codfish fritters, jerk pork and jerk chicken quesadillas.

To end it off we tried the Guinness Cookies and Cream Cheesecake.

And that was pretty much my weekend. No parties, no beach, no skinny dipping...lol....just food and a beautiful island vibe. I got over my fear of an Air BnB, and I got some much needed relaxation. Now to figure out where next to model my swimsuits *logs onto travel sites* Any suggestions???!

Things to Know;

-If you can afford it, try and get travel insurance. Perhaps your ticket could have been refunded in the case of severe flooding.

-When using Air BnB, or any other site that rents private residences; Remember it is someone's personal space. And these people have neighbours. So some of the rowdy stuff that you may do at a hotel, won't work here. And uhmmm keep the hanky panky noise to a minimum...Neighbours can hear you.

-The oddest thing, I was at the pool and a sweet old lady came up to me and started to preach to me. Now I've grown up in the church, so I'm accustomed to the preaching. It was just kinda odd that she singled me out at the pool....hhmmmmm...maybe the neighbours can really hear! lolol Just kidding, not really....Seriously, I'm kidding!

-I have a full time job. Sometimes you have to figure out how you can vacation while conserving some of your vacation time. This past weekend was Victoria Day long weekend in Canada, so I went away just for the weekend! Gives me plenty of opportunity to book more trips.