We purchased the DVD that is supposed to have photos that we can download from it. I say supposed to because I don't have a device with me that I can view them on so I guess I'll have to trust them 🤷🏻♀️. So in the meantime, my words will have to suffice for painting you a picture. Here goes: Dunns River Falls is about a 15 minute ride from our hotel so we had to risk our lives, once again, with a Jamaican driver (named Clarence). Right out of the gate we almost got T-boned by an oncoming driver when pulling onto the road. I guess that's why there's a need for the sign that says "Use Caution When Entering The Road Even If Light Is Green." I snapped some pics of other signs along the way that are definitely necessary and for that reason, do nothing to make a tourist feel safe.
These were all in the span of a couple of miles. I missed the opportunity to capture the one that says "Infant Carriers Carry Infants Safely." Which makes me wonder if using them is a law or a suggestion. 😳
The good news is we arrived safely to take our next risk at the falls. Jamaica is not like the US in that there was no waiver signing when participating in dangerous activity. There was a big sign telling you who should not climb the falls: pregnant women, those with heart issues, etc. And we did write our names in a list on a blank piece of paper but I'm guessing that's so they would know who went missing if that should happen. (Spoiler alert: we all made it so that measure wasn't needed 😉). Clarence, our driver, briefed us on what would happen and then turned us over to our tour guide, KC. We walked to the bottom of the falls down some ill-spaced, wet steps (maybe meant as a preview of what's to come?). KC instructed us to form a "human chain" by lining us up, man, woman, man, woman, and so forth. He said in Jamaica it's ok to hold another man's wife's hand 😋. Up we went, pausing in several (very, very cold) places to take pictures. There was one big rock that had a smooth sloped side so we used it to slide into a deep pocket of water. The slope was steep so you went straight down and your feet came up as your head went under. It was amusing to watch other people and not so amusing doing it yourself. There was also a deep spot where KC had you stand with your spouse and go backward into a trust fall. I can't wait to watch the video for that one.
The entire hike took about 45 minutes to an hour. Then when you get done, the lions attack with their sales pitches: "Hey, where you from? Come look at my shop." "Cheaper than Walmart." "Hey tattoo, what's your name?" And my favorite, "Nice beard (to Phil(ip)) don't shave it. You want smoke?" Tallying our third offer for weed. Clarence warned us on the bus that Nothing Is Free, even if they say it is. Other tourists said they tell you it's free and then chase you down, demanding money. We all just kept walking and didn't have any problems. The couple in front of us did get suckered into a beef patty though. The husband said no but the wife was hungry so they brought it out to our van for her and they paid $2 for it. Not a bad deal.
That evening the resort served dinner on the beach and had an assortment of entertainment, such as machete jugglers, fire blowers, and a guy performing Acro Yoga, which was nothing like the Acro Yoga that Holly and I experienced at the retreat 😂. The lighting is a bit much but he's there in the middle.
The resort had vendors come in and set up around the pool with souvenir type goods. We looked around. They're really good salespeople. They'll tell you whatever you want to hear. I always buy a new keychain when we go on vacation and when I couldn't make up my mind, she said, " What? You don't like the palm tree? You don't see these much, they're very rare." So I got a palm tree bottle opener keychain, even though I rarely need a bottle opener and am unlikely to even remember having one on my keychain, should the occasion arise.
The bugs started attacking so we didn't stay out too long. We don't have any defense against the Zika virus and Jamaica's mosquito population is full of it 😳.
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