Day 1 Montego Bay
Today I went to downtown Montego Bay, this was the local’s downtown. I walked around in the sweltering heat. I didn’t find any businesses I wanted to go in to but enjoyed the walking. There were tons of locals and I was the only white girl around. I of course got once overs all the time. I had changed some of my cash over to Jamaican dollars, so I had a lot of cash on me, so I didn’t want to get much attention.
My taxi driver, Lukey, talked to me for a bit, and I think was hitting on me. But he watched out for me, helped me cross the busy road with his taxi and directed me to the money changing place. Essentially you put your money into this square hole in the wall and then they give you Jamaican dollars back out. I’m not sure exactly if I got ripped off at all, but there was probably a pinch in there somewhere. But lots of Jamaican dollars came back out. On that plan, I only put in $100.
I would have preferred to have less on me. I met a cell phone vendor on the side of the street, Ricky, and I asked where he got his lunch. He said you had to call in your order and a guy would come and bring it to you on the street. So he asked if I wanted him to call it in for me, I said yes, so he did and he let me sit on his milk crate to wait. He asked me questions about how I liked Jamaica and where I was from. I told him America and he laughed. I guess that part was clear. I heard later, that they know I am American because of my accent. Just because I speak English doesn’t mean I am American but if I was from the UK I would have a UK accent, but I have an American accent. So I told him Washington. He and his stall mate, Shorty, talked to me and were super personable. Then I headed out, but came back for directions to the beach, so they directed me down the street.
I went to the Harbor Beach, and had a delightful swim in the sea. My bed and breakfast Proprietor, Lawrence, told me that yes, my stuff would get stolen if I left it on the beach, but at Harbor Beach there were lockers you could rent. So I rented my locker, and changed and went for a swim.
It was warm and salty and delightful. The Jamaican lifeguard told me I could put my towel and shoes under his guard station and that it was OK if the rain started, he would just get everyone out of the water if the lightening was close. At one point I heard the thunder and came in, but he said it was fine, he would let us know if it got close.
So I swam in the glorious sea, and floated on my back, and set free my past loves and got cleansed by the rain on my body while floating in the sea. It was delightful. I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced pounding rain, while floating in the sea. Then the lighting cracked close enough and the life guard got us all out. Then me and like 60 people stayed under the beach shelter until the storm had mostly passed. Then after a bit it didn’t seem to be letting up, so I walked back in the rain to the city center. I was wearing a skort and a tank top, so I got a mite bit wet.
I ate dinner at a restaurant downtown and then caught the taxi back to Mango Walk. All in all it was a great day. Tomorrow I think I am going to attempt to go to the beach.
I would like to get some shampoo and conditioner (there is none at my B and B), some dish soap or laundry soap to wash my clothes in the sink, maybe some slippers and I would love to find some tank dresses from Jamaica, and a present for my cub back home.
