Greetings from Jamaica! Phil(ip) and I are celebrating our 9 year wedding and 15 (!) years together anniversary on July 27 and July 29. Jamaica is our favorite vacation spot so where better to celebrate than paradise?! Today is Day 1 of our journey so read on for all the highlights of our trip so far!
The Parking Lot: Every time we fly we park in Extended Parking so, like fools, we head to the first section and drive up and down each row searching for a spot. You'll come across several spots that get you excited, thinking you're going to get to park close, and then there's a Mini Cooper or Fiat tucked up in it 😡. Eventually, after we've spent the amount of time it would've taken us to just park in the back and walk to the terminal, we go park in the back and walk to the terminal 🙄.
Getting to the Gate and Boarding: I'm curious as to why children under 12 are not required to remove their shoes at the security checkpoint. As if someone couldn't slide some contraband into their child's shoes...I guess TSA has faith that all people are good parents 🤔.
Their liquid restrictions require you to pitch any drinks you may have before going through security. After getting your body scanned, you get to go the gate, but not before being tempted with $4 bottled water, which you have no choice but to purchase if you don't want to thirst to death. With those prices it's like going to the movie theater.
I will say that Gate C at PIT has made major improvements in the last couple of years. Every set of seats is equipped with outlets. There used to only be "charging stations" that were made for standing. I was also impressed with Swift Air's boarding process, which boarded the back of the plane first (after first class, of course 🙄 😝). I've been saying for years that it makes no sense to board front to back. However, I saw that it makes absolutely no difference what order they call the rows to board because people are either unable or unwilling to follow directions. I chose our seats online, row 8, with the hopes of not having to squeeze around people or wait in a line for 10 minutes to get to my seat that that is literally 40 feet from the door of the plane. Alas, my hopes were shattered. Someone even decided to go against the crowd to get to the front of the plane while 25 people were coming the other way in a very small space. But here's the best part (best if you have a sense of humor): my seat, 8F, "window" seat.....didn't have a window!
Phil(ip) usually asks me to switch him if he's in the middle and I have the window seat. Well I did..so he got a bum deal 😂 not really though because we just wants the bigger space to sleep. We laughed hysterically when we saw there was no window. Which may have been because we were awake since 4:30am. But none the less I cried from laughing. We have the same seats for the flight back so I'm stoked to return to my windowless window seat.
Arrival: the last time we were in Jamaica was almost ten years ago. Back then, the road was in horrible condition and the driving was even worse. They drive on the "wrong" side of the road to us but our shuttle driver told us "Left side is right, right side is suicide" and I have no doubt that he's right. On the two hour bus ride to our resort we witnessed several near death experiences, which is the norm to the locals. When someone is passing and doesnt quite make it back in their lane before the oncoming traffic nears, those in the oncoming lane just move onto the shoulder of the road and go on their way. They don't even honk or flip them off, like Americans are sure to do 😂. We stopped part way on our trek for a restroom and Red Stripe break. You can bring an open container on the bus because everything in Jamaica is "no problem mon."
When we finally arrived to our resort we were greeted with a cold towel and Rum Punch. We had been here for about 15 minutes and while walking to our room we were asked if we wanted to buy "ganga" in the hallway 🙄. (We didn't, just for the record 😝) I have no doubt this will be the first of many offers.
The Best Part: There's a burger bar with popcorn and nachos and ice cream available 24/7! 😂
We're totally exhausted from traveling all day but Im ok with being exhausted in paradise 😉. To be continued! Good night!
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