The Director and I booked the Lido Lottery six months ago and have gotten an enormous amount of information of this web site since. Thank you Denny. As a result, I hope this will aid many of you.

Friday April 9, 1999

It is time to find out where we were going. I was informed by my travel agent that the GL’s could not accommodate us in any one resort for the entire week. Thanks to a couple of posts in the last six months I was ready. Time for concessions. The agreement was…. One night at GLSS then six at Braco with the transfers included. GL’s were also to refund one night accommodation and upgrade us to the best available room on the A/N side. We are set and getting the room we want.

Friday April 16, 1999

It is time to pack and leave for Jamaica as we have to overnight in Halifax, N.S. prior to any early Sat. morning flight to MoBay. Houston we have a problem. I arrived home the night before from California minus my suitcases and most of my summer clothes. Mid morning my cases arrive and after a mad washing spree and some repacking we are off to Halifax. We go out for a pleasant evening with some friends.

Saturday

It is a 7:10 a.m. flight and we arrive in MoBay at 10:00 a.m. Sat next to John and Gwen who we had corresponded with over this web site and who were also doing the Lottery. They had drawn Braco. Through the airport rather quickly and off the GLSS. As stated in most trip reports our room was not ready. We went to the beach grill and then off to Sunset Beach. What a disappointment! There were about 20 couples there and only a small number of topless women and no nude men. The Director was most uncomfortable but I being my shy self stripped and went to the bar. That was enough for several couples, they left, too bad. Around 3:00 got our room, it was large but quite dated. Back to the beach and some more sun tanning. Here we met Charlie who was there with 75 of his employees. He was very friendly. Stayed at the beach until dark and then left for our room. On the way we took a wrong turn and almost became Jamaican dog food. He barked - we growled and we both backed off. In the room, showered and dressed for dinner then off for some pasta, the food was good the service was terrible.

Sunday

Up and off to the gym and then the beach. Had arranged a 1:00 p.m. transfer to Braco along with 2 other couples in the same predicament. Arrived Braco about 2:00 p.m., again no room ready, so off to the A/N pool where we draped our clothes over a chair and hit the water. Within minutes I knew I loved this place. Went back at three to check on my room and found out I was given a room on the prude side. This was not part of my agreement so off for a chat with the manager. We were given a room on the A/N side and taken there by a bellman. Low and behold the room is occupied. This is where the three countries, five hotels and many flights caught up with me. I lost my cool and was quickly upgraded to 3036, a luxury suite and the last room over, near Pebbles. From now on this start to go very right. We meet Kane & The Bride who are our age and have also been married for the same length of time. We become inseparable for the rest of the week. Dinner is at the Muna Hanna and the to our first every nude hot tube party. It was a blast. About 11:00 p.m. Tin Man & Ms. Wonderland from Canada arrive and now we are six musketeers. It’s now getting late the party ends and all hit the hay.

Monday

This was to become the routine. Up at 7:00, power walk at 8:00 beach by 9:00 and back to the pool for volleyball at 11:00. Two more couples have now joined our social group, C. Yeager & Alps as well as Flagman & Sly.

Spent the afternoon at the mixology class where Applebutt was the big looser. Everyone got pretty toasted. Off for a nap and then to Piacere with Tin Man & Ms. Wonderland. After dinner it is the hot tub.

We are starting to get the first inclining of the riots that are to become quite violent throughout the island.

Tuesday

You got the morning program by now. Kane has told us all, that unknown to The Bride he has arranged a renewal of their wedding vows for 5 p.m., but there is a glitch. He has shipped in a tux and gown etc. but the gown has yet to arrive. The wedding is postponed until Thursday. This afternoon it is body painting. After a liquid lunch things get silly. Pretty soon, The Bride has a gown of paint. Tin Man in his painted tux and Ms. Wonderland in a lovely purple bikini, again of paint. I have a collar painted on, flowers are picked for bouquet and I am performing a wedding ceremony in the nude before about 50 guests. It is one of the strangest and funniest moments of our lives. Ms. Wonderland was the maid of honor and The Director the photographer. Sorry none attached. Dinner was with the entire group at Victoria’s then off to the hot tub for a champagne party. Later we hit the smaller tub. C. Yeager and Alps were not there, C. Yeager came out to investigate the noise and not knowing of the smaller tub goes to bed thinking it is kids in the trees. Too bad C. Yeager, you missed one hell of a party.

Wednesday

The cleaners collected twenty empty champagne and two wine bottles up at the hot tub, we are now know as the Champagne Gang. The riots are taking their toll. The hotel is short on some items, staff is having a hard time getting in and all flights are canceled. The hotel has removed TV Jamaica from the selection and CNN is covering nothing but the tragedy in Denver. On the radio I hear all flights are canceled and that the embassies are advising their nationals not to leave the hotels. The death toll is nine. The afternoon is spent at the beach where The Bride wins the trivia contest. This is first of many wins for our group. Dinner is the beach party but it is moved indoors. We are told it is due to threatening rain but suspect it is due to some short staffing. A rather subdued crowd at the hot tub on off to bed early.

Thursday

We are all well rested and after the power walk Kane & The Bride, The Director and I grab 5 floats and a couple of bottles of champagne and head off shore. I wrap my leg around a buoy for anchorage and we float and kill the bottles. Little did we know that everyone on shore was making bets to see how long it would take us to dump the bottles? Oh yea of little faith! An hour later we float in with two empty bottles in the bucket and with smiles on our faces. Off for some volleyball lunch and then the beer drinking competition. Congratulations to Tin Man for the win, but it took its toll later in the evening. We had to take his pulse every hour to ascertain if he was still alive…thus the name. Today we said goodbye to Flagman & Sly. At 5:00 p.m. we all went to the real renewal ceremony for Kane & The Bride. It was a wonderful event that put a tear in a few eyes. There are quite a lovely couple. While Kane & The Bride went to Piacere for the wedding dinner the rest of us went to Muna Hanna for dinner. Kane was teasing about no wedding presents, so on the way I stopped at Piacere and went to there table where I gave The Bride a flower and Kane a strawberry condom. We sat with a girl from Toronto named Samantha. She sent back the first bottle of wine for breathing too long and the second for not long enough. You tried to come across as sophisticated but the tattoo on your neck did you in. By the way a Tuna is really bigger than 2 feet. You know as much about fish as wine. Get a life; the world does not revolve around you. We agreed to meet at 10:30 to get ready for the PJ contest. When we meet Kane is complaining the condom broke, I really think it fell off. Hope all is well next month. The PJ contest was rather a tame affair. It is called Dare to Bare but no one really did. The Bride and I were selected to enter the sexiest Braco Guest contest and again our team took the prize. The Bride, with more primping and careful shopping next year maybe it will be your turn. Back to the hot tub for another very late night.

Friday

Same as all days but instead of an early evening nap it was floating and drinking prior to the Street Party. Our group of six goes together. This made for a rather drunken affair. Saw John and Gwen for the first time since the flight down. They have also had a good time. After the street party it is the hot tub and off to bed early.

Saturday

Up at 6:00 a.m. for transport at 8:00 a.m. The Director and I have a champagne and OJ breakfast and head to front desk. Pretty soon C. Yeager & Alps, Kane & The Bride, Tin Man & Ms. Wonderland show up. All have gotten up to see us off. Tears are shared along with addresses and a commitment to meet again next year. Trip to MoBay showed signs of the violence of the week. Flight home was smooth except for snow upon our arrival and a very through inspection by Canada Customs with a lot of passengers being pulled aside. To the young guy in the Rasta hat, what did you expect?

Staff Whom Made a difference:

Tessa & Denton in the bar

Wendy, my security firm dancing partner

Carl and Renard from the social directors department

Amos and the boys, my jam session partners, love the Big Bamboo

Quinteto Fantasia for the private concert at the A/N bar, for flagman and I this may be a highlight, playing their CD certainly takes us back to the bar.

Muna Hanna: try the sampler

Champagne of course but followed closely by Dirty Banana’s and Red Stripe

Director, Remember you choose him

Kane & The Bride

Tin Man & Ms. Wonderland

C. Yeager & Alps

Flagman & Sly

We miss you already. See you in 51 weeks!!!!!!!

The evidence

Bracoman & The Director