And after the wedding...comes the honeymoon.....
Sunday Sept. 9
We said good bye to our friends Jan and Allison and headed off to Hedo III.
We took the shuttle and got there about 5pm. While we were checking in we were greeted by Jeff and Jen, fellow members of the J.W.S.T. (Jamaican Water Slide Team).
The J.W.S.T was started by Bill, Nancy, Chuck, Marci, and others last year. Although PhiI joined this year he seemed to be this years "unofficial organizer" . I think this was the greatest idea. Not only did it encourage you to meet other members and make friends but it was comforting at times to know that "you weren't alone". During the week you could find Phil welcoming/initiating new members, keeping the new comers "in-line", organizing group waterslides from the disco as well as group dinners. He and Terri kept the group happy, smiling and enjoying the day.
As we were being led to our room we noticed that it was near construction. It seems that they are building a Gift Shop near the Tennis Courts. Well, after a week of construction at Hedo II we said/begged "please more us somewhere else...anywhere but near the construction". They were very accommodating as gave a ground level suite with the back entrance facing the nude side. It was like having our own private villa with a private garden.
We made reservations for Munahana , the Japanese restaurant, took a nap, went to the pool area to look for the JWST members then back to get ready for supper. We were greeted by Mark and Becky, relaxed for a while and then got ready for dinner. During Dinner we ate with Lilly and her husband from CA.
Later that night we met the rest of the JWST group during the Mesh and Glow Gathering in the Disco. There was mesh... there was glow..there was fun.
The week itself was a hazy relaxing blur. The days were spent starting off with coffee and pastries delivered to our door...then the Scotch Bonnet..then the nude pool...making new friends..having dinner (at either of the restaurants or with J.W.S.T.)...a few songs at the piano bar...a few dances at the disco...and a few moments at the hot tub, then off to bed.
It was great to see some of the guests and staff from last year. And even better to make new friends this year.
We were very proud of Nola who used to work the bar on the Nude Side because when we returned she was Supervisor of the Staff at the Scotch Bonnett!!!!
Highlights of the week were:
Monday - We slept for most of the morning and afternoon. The rooms are sometimes just "too" comfortable at Hedo III and we had a lot of sleep to get caught up on after our 1st week at Hedo II. Al and Arlene called, from Hedo II, to say that they weren't going to be able to make it over so we made reservations for Pastafari's, for the two of us.
Tuesday - Shock day - September 11 I (Eric) turned on the news while Karen was in the shower. I saw smoke coming from NYC and thought that it must be a fire. As I turned up the volume I heard that a plane had crashed into the WTC. I was even more shocked to see the 2nd plane hit Tower 2. I'm confident that you know "the rest of the story" but was very weird being in Jamaica when this all happened. Random thoughts ran through my head. How are the citizens of New York? Will there be a war? Will me and Karen be able to return to the US...back to Boston? We spent the morning in the room in shock watching TV and the afternoon outside with everyone trying to understand what had just happened. All phone lines to the US were down but Karen was able to call her parents in Canada and get them to call the parents of a couple we had met to let the parents know they were all right.
I must admit that the staff at HIII were very supportive during this time. We even received a letter from Kevin Levee, GM, sending his condolences.
Later that night we went to PJ night and won in the category of bondage/leather ( we were the only ones who even qualified for that category). Scared a few people as we walked to the disco for PJ night. :-) Jen won "Sexiest" and Jeff was the "Big Sexy Pimp Daddy" himself.
Wednesday - We went in to Ocho Rios shopping and Eric met a friend from the US that was in from a cruise ship. ("What a small world"). The shops were nice and got a few good "Cubans" but we preferred shopping in Negril better. Later that night we had dinner with Ken and Jen (NH) at Pastafari's, enjoying bottles of Chilean Cabernet.
Thursday - Another day in paradise. Members of the J.W.S.T. had entered the Wet-T Shirt Contest and I am very proud to say that Jen (of Jeff/Jen) was the proud winner. Is Chuck still smiling?
Later that night we got ready and put on our Togas. Surprisingly enough, there were more people wearing Togas that we expected. Of course the J.W.S.T. was in full force and everybody looked great. But I'm still wondering if Chuck and Marci's grapes were edible "? For the talent show Eric performed his original song "the Hedonism Blues" and opened with "Time of your life" by Green Day. Hugh Heffner and Crew (Eddie, Laura, Larry Wendy) came over from Hedo II for a change of scenery while they were stuck, as did a few friends from Scotland. It was good to see them again!
And before the Toga Parade started the coordinators/guests had a "moment of silence" to remember the tragedy that had happened on Tuesday. It was very touching.
Friday - We were supposed to leave today but realized that we were going to stay a few extra days. We made the best of the situation during the day. Later that night we were back at Pastafaris again with members of the JWST. None of us had an idea when we are going to be able to leave but we made the best of it. We also started to spend lots of money on Internet cards to contact friends/family to let them know that we were OK.
Saturday - After a few "close calls" being "confirmed" on flights leaving Jamaica we were pretty sure at this point we will be able to get out by Monday. So we tried to make the best of it but we were starting to get tired. So, we left the resort to take a walk around the area outside the resort.,for a chance of pace and scenery.
Met some new people who had just arrived at the resort as we ate at the Japanese restaurant again.
Sunday was a quiet day, and our final day. We stayed at the piano bar until it closed then went back to our room to fight a battle with the "ants" that had invaded our room. Security came by to help our clear the room of the unwanted guests and then it was off to bed.
And on Monday we finally left and made our flight home without problems. We were supposed to leave on Friday Sept. 14 but do to the tragedy in NY finally got a confirmed flight for Monday Sept. 17. Although it wasn't free we did get charged a reasonable rate to stay the additional 3 nights.
As always, it was great to visit our “home away from home”. And what made it wonderful was all of the new friends that we made and look forward to seeing next year..and the next...and the next.
Until next year,
Hedo Hugs,