Virtual Jamaica: The Zoo

 We are spending the last day in St. Elizabeth Parish at the local zoo.

Started by the son of a veterinarian it is still tiny (...think those roadside attraction zoos of the 1960s and 70's...) but slowly expanding...every time they have enough money to obtain a new animal.

Zoo Tour

https://youtu.be/IGOdg0TOvsI?si=lN9yjY_nK5QcUVGb

Their centerpiece is several lions...one, of which, recently ate a handler's finger while he was teasing him...live...on camera...the man lost his finger and his job.

They have an interactive show, and a petting area with horses, a cow, goats, a donkey you can ride.

 

The show has pythons, young crocodiles, parrots and more...and is informative and fun.

 There are also monkeys, zebra, llamas, crocodiles, peacocks, a camel and the lions.

 

All in all...a nice way to end a great parish!

Found this yesterday at Jake's.

Which is patois for "Hello'!

Next week, we'll head to Westmoreland.
 

 

 

Virtual Jamaica: Lover's Leap and The Lighthouse

 

The view from Lover's Leap...

Looking down, I have to admit I have been in love several times in my life...and I am sure this is a level of commitment I do not (nor have ever) possessed.

Love story or tourist attraction tale?

 A bronze statue nearby depicts the slave couple...destine to be separated...as the story goes...they decide to plunge off the steep cliff to the sea and rocks below to their deaths.

Lover's Leap

https://youtu.be/1KSR3_qHjpY?si=YHDHoXNKxOel1LPA

 

https://youtu.be/PxOWTCCoAXE?si=Y9DAh2eX0rrGL3f4 

     

Whether real or made for tourism...a small industry has formed around the story...including photography at the point...a restaurant...and the lighthouse, standing over 100 feet tall.

 

 

and inside the restaurant...

Just a short trek today and I'm heading back to Jake's to poke through a few more of the endless shops before the storm comes!

Until next time... 

Month 21...Weekend at Mitch's

 ...and he's still MIA.

So...there is that.

And we are on week 21 of Trump Watch.

This month we have seen:

...gas and grocery prices rise, again...17 servicemen now dead from the war...okay it isn't a war...okay...it is a war...declaring a ceasefire to the ceasefire...Schrodinger's Senator...is he alive...is he dead...no one knows...the death of Lindsey Graham (and his ladybugs)...the draining of the reflection pool...again...no gash...just shoddy application...

and it goes on...and on.

At this point I think we all are chanting the mantra

"It's all temporary."

and seriously, as long as Mitch (...who I believe is dead...) doesn't vote...I don't care if they ever find him.

Only 30 months to go...

 

 

This Week...Bear Adventures...Jimothy

 Eating good in the neighborhood...

The salmon run is picking up...and so are the bears!

Almost every-bear is back.  So many that I don't know...and many of the usual suspects...Grazer, Gully, Chunk, Scuba Steve, Bucky,  Bean and Bead, Backpack, Wayne's Brother, 151 Walker, Studious and Social, Holly, Jolly and her Jolly Beans, 132 and her triplets, Electra and her twins, 806 and 806 jr and Biggie.

Conspicuous in their absence: 856 and 747...but they may show up later.

And cubs.

We are positively inundated with cubs this year.

I've counted 25 already!

We lost one to the river...but the rest are doing fine!

Gully is sporting a heart shaped scar on his foreleg that looks like it needs the word "Mom" tattooed over it.

Bucky is still the sheriff, for now...but there are many of the male sub-adults who are coming into their own.

Walker had a run-in with some-bear and has scars, now.

And Scuba Steve (...admittedly obnoxious with his belly-flop fishing technique and no sense of personal space...) has now been scarred up and bit in the butt pretty badly.

...he has not recognized the correlation and continues to flop...

The BEST news of the week....is JOHN!!!

Hitting all PT/OT goals they will soon discharge him to aftercare...and he is now 175 pounds...eating really well...driving short distances...and even having a Euchre Game today!!!!

...still completely cancer-free... 

Making arrangement for The State Fair in August with Eric and Melissa!

And planning our own get together, soon!

Life is slowly getting back to normal.

Except for Jimothy.
  

The Seattle Racoon who has short spine syndrome and looks a bit like a child's drawing come-to-life.

The neighborhood loves him...he seems to be doing fine, not in pain, thriving...and just so Seattle.

Wishing Everyone a Wonderful Weekend!

Love,

Carla  

 

Stay Safe...Eat A Doughnut!

Virtual Jamaica: Great Bay...Fish and Wildlife Preserve...Reef...Pelican Bar

 

Brought flowers into the Seaweed Cottage and had breakfast with the doors open to the sounds of gulls and waves.

Not a bad way to start the day.

I could live like this forever...or at least until the money ran out.

And we are off to Great Bay... 

Home to many things...Great Wharf and Fishing...The Reef...The Fish and Wildlife Preserve...and of course, World renowned Floyd's Pelican Bar!

Great Bay'

https://youtu.be/XAoGPm2LdcM?si=_LL_kbLLyX0V4Qbj

 

Wildlife Center

https://youtu.be/Uwx_zvIvzxY?si=qjqHXbS0jecF701a

 "Love dem little turtles...dem turtles what I loves to eat..."

Pelicans

https://youtube.com/shorts/G1pSlxP-KXM?si=jJ1Jtpa1Qh5OlPqc

Bay

https://youtu.be/WkZJFWxCKKI?si=5sqa7vj5tDbuE3YP

Panorama of Great Bay 

https://youtu.be/WnghjqnQlDo?si=hmORo7YfBLeT08EB

The reef provides an up close and personal view of colorful fish and corals...as well as the occasional shark!

and after fish and chips for lunch...

We head to Floyd's Pelican Bar.

This is Floyd.

This is Pelican Bar.
 

About a mile and a half from the mainland...accessible only by boat...people come from all over the world to see it...and Floyd.

Inside

 Video Tour of Pelican Bar.

https://youtu.be/FsDYCrCg8z8?si=bNwdOoZ8xmFuJPUb

They even have a gift shop online

https://www.greenapples.store/shop/

Back now to The Seaweed Cottage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time... 

Virtual Jamaica: Calabash Bay and Jakes

 

Planning a rather uneventful day to Calabash Bay...which I had been told was another fishing village when this happened...

 A sprawling Bohemian-type hotel/spa/restaurants/bars/hair braiding...and a whole lot more.

Jakes is a hidden gem on Treasure Beach.

A Destinatiion.

Come along...

Calabash Beach

https://youtube.com/shorts/ylfbu1njLiw?si=dFUvO-Let5YfkD42

Jakes

https://youtu.be/m2LWI-RVM3Q?si=hbWtPpcgFjOUDhiY

https://youtu.be/XqXNXvs8f3E?si=8rVx-vMh8gY1lO6j

https://youtu.be/4bdYRmuF17w?si=Vsdnyqt6_gpUFJ0J

https://youtu.be/_57dcoNPzB8?si=AqUrGUZeyBH6LKEl

 

Sell the house...sell the cars...sell the kids...I'm home!!!!

Okay, maybe not...but I am moving from Sunset Resort to Jakes for the rest of this parish.

I'll miss breakfast overlooking my tree...but this place is amazing!

They have villas...bungalows...cottages...ocean views...and garden views. 

The one I have selected is a thatched roof two bedroom beach-side cottage called

SEAWEED COTTAGE

 DECK

 

 But first a stop at Jakes Driftwood Spa!

 

Seriously...this place has everything.

 

 

 

 

 

Next: Great Bay 

Virtual Jamaica: Frenchman's Bay

 

Good Morning!

Beginning the day at Jack Sprat's at Frenchman's Bay...with a (virgin) Pina Colada.

Still a fishing village...but slicker and more touristy.

 

This is the restaurant

recommended

by

everyone.

 

 Frenchman's Bay

 

https://youtu.be/jEYHy6NtnDY?si=byhBaxWvh3xYE9ys

 

 

The Patio

 

Frenchman's Bay

is 

kind of a 

misnomer

as it

was actually

named for a woman

whose last name

happen to be

French.

 

 The beach is clean

The water is clear

and the rum 

is flowing

as we wait for

the 

Catch of the Day!

 

A nice place

to

spend a summer

afternoon!

 

 

 Tomorrow

we will

explore

Calabash Bay!