Hedonism 3
May 25 - June 2, 2002
After three trips to Hedonism 2 we decided on a change of scenery this year and headed for Runaway Bay. After reading hundreds of reports you have probably heard it all before but here it is anyway. The short story is, that even deducting points for wind, rain and occasional loss of consciousness, we had the best trip to Jamaica ever!
We arrived in Mobay from Atlanta on time and without a hitch. The bubbly served on the flight was a nice way to ease into what would be 8 days of more drinking than we had done in the last year! The bus ride was no problem and the traditional stop for Red Stripe let us know we were really in Jamaica! By the end of our ride, we did miss Tim Air but only for the love of flying.
Check in took about 10 minutes and by the time I turned around, Sandy was already at the main bar! Before meeting her there, I met Kevin Levee and the head of the entertainment staff, Bevon. Both we very nice and generous with offers to make our stay enjoyable.
By the time I caught up with Sandy, the differences between the two resorts were already setting in. Hedo 3 is obviously newer, but more importantly, it is smaller, more intimate and just feels more friendly. In the time it took me to walk from the main lobby to the bar, I met three couples and had two invitations for dinner. But as the Hedo gods would have it, dinner tonight would only be a dream. After lunch, Exhausted from the long day and little sleep the night before, Sandy and I decided to head to our room for a short nap and woke up nine hours later! Irie mon! We found the midnight snack to be much better than Hedo 2 and spent the early morning hours walking around, getting the lay of the land.
The next morning at breakfast, we started meeting others who posted on Grin and Bare It and Denny's site. Robin recognized our drink bottles and introduced herself and her husband John, two of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. Over the next few days we met just about everyone we corresponded or chatted with online and before you know it, it was like seeing old friends.
If you are planning a trip to Hedo 2 or 3, do not underestimate the web! Meeting people online gives you a big jump on your vacation once you arrive at the resort. It's like getting another day for free!
Well, you pretty much know how it goes from here but here are the highlights from our perspective...
26 couples in a steaming hot tub covered in rum cream and green sh*t; 10:30p water slide runs in the nude; A rainy morning in the piano bar doing magic tricks with our new friends; Where did Sandy go this time?; Lunches at the Scotch Bonnet; PJ night and a Karla sandwich (glad you're feeling better Pat!); 4:00 bubbles; read any good books lately John?; A lazy afternoon and a pair of pink dice with 4 friends; "Walks" on the pier; "Napping" on the beach (thank you Sandy!); More green sh*t; Jim on the trapeze; What were the rules to the dice game?; Micro naps (good idea Pat); a Jamaican man in camouflage with dildos for weapons; Nice to meet you too lady!; Sweeping the toga awards - the good, the bad and the ugly; English lessons with Lee and Joy; Rum cream shots with Lee and Cristina - (You cant eat just one!); One more green sh*t!; Falling in love with my wife all over again!
Obviously, there were many more moments and they come back to us when we least expect it! But the best memories are of the people we met and can now call our friends... Here's one more toast to all of you... Pat and Karla, John and Robin, Bill and Becca, Jim and Donna, Lee and Joy, Tom and Cristina, Jon and Tammy (See ya back home), Terri and Ed, Fred and Denise, Chad and Shannon... and to anyone else we are forgetting, blame DIF! If our paths cross again, it will be our privilege!