Pier View Ocho Rios

... the rock climbing on Saturday, if not sooner. <br><br>Supper was in the dining room again and was a surf and turf theme. Another amazing meal. Our waiter, Ernesto, is just awesome and really entertaining. I think he gets a real kick out of the kids and likes to show them tricks with flicking spoons into glasses and telling them jokes. Our assistant waitress is really nice too. She just started her first day on this cruise, so it took her a couple days to really get into the swing ...

The ship docks at Ochos Rios in Jamaica so we decided to just do a little shopping onshore .Jamaica is a fairly poor country so competition is very strong for any sort of business that they can get. After you leave the ship it's a kilometre walk down to a few shopping centres. About 15 different people asked if we wanted a taxi and then once in the stores the store ...

Ocho is an interesting city, divided by a straight line, on one side (from the center to the port), relatively safe area day and night, upscale boutique, restaurants and on the other side, the chaos and not so safe area. There are a few hundreds meters of beachfront.

... our safe in the room on the ship. Hah, made it easier to get through the madness. We were offered weed all along the way and even cocaine. Nada was the response to that. Nothing like a Jamaican jail I'm sure...we're not about to find out. When we got back to the ship we were both famished, so headed up to the buffet and had a nibble to hold us over until dinner. This was a semi casual night again so we were happy with that. Black jeans go a long way ...

... try it. <br><br>This trip was different from the experience we had in Maui as the guides in Jamaica operated this tour in a methodical and quick paced way. In Maui, it was a much smaller group of people and the pace was much slower. The guides in Jamaica were professional and nice and we felt safe, but the experience went by very fast. We had a good time but would have preferred ...

... miss him, big tall guy, with the heart and voice of a pussy cat. Chances are you might see him late at night in the piano bar, if so ask him to sing "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley. If you like Reggae, you'll be happy you did. <br><br>Dining <br><br>So, by now you should know that I'm a big fan of food. Fortunately there is plenty to choose from here. The brick oven Pizza at the Pizzeria Del Campo is to die for. Don't be afraid to ...

... that is all for now. Thanks for reading, as always. I will be returning to Wisconsin on December 20th for a month break, and this time there will be more snow and no appendicitis :) I plan to ski and ski and ski and have a wonderful winter holiday at my home sweet home. If you are nearby, drop me a line. Take care everyone, and please keep in touch. Look for an update after the half-marathon and hopefully I'll have some pictures to share too. In peace, Jennifer

... week I've been primarily at the desk, reading or doing research on-line, it doesn't sound like fun but I see how all the information I'm gathering will help me when I'm actually in the field. My supervisor is trying to get me set up at the Health Department with a Health Inspector, who will be my counterpart. Soon I will be following this person to communities that they provide health services to, they respond to complaints regarding water, sanitation, pretty much ...

Ocho Rios Hmm..not too much to say about Jamaica, except for that it is the ****. We had a nice bus ride between the airport and Ocho Rios...I think it was about a 2 hour ride, but we were able to view some beautiful beach scenes with crystal green and blue water. For some reason I felt like total **** when we landed, but I think I was ...

This was a horrible nasty little place I hope to never see again. When you walk down the street, it is filthy and taxi drivers nag at you and then throw insults when you refuse to take a taxi. I Came. I Saw. I LEFT! One almost saving feature of this hideous place was swimming in the water, but even that turned south when I felt what I believe to be a sewer pipe under my feet.