Virtual Jamaica: Portland~ Nonsuch Caves and Athenry Gardens

Back to Virtual Jamaica...

Today we explore Athenry Gardens and Nonsuch Caves.

https://youtu.be/LKzeQS0wOmg?si=mrYyBeUw_lNsi7F-

Once a beautiful coconut plantation...now spectacular gardens...lush rain forests and caves.

...the caves were a nice surprise...I never realized how much Jamaica had down under...it is literally riddled with a labyrinth of honey-colored limestone beneath your feet...

The gardens are lovely.
 

Dotted with flowers and waterfalls.

 

And the opening which will lead you to the 9 caves below...

 

Embedded in its walls, the shells...fossils of life from thousands of years back when the cave was forming.

Lanterns lighting the way...and the quiet chittering of the omnipresent bats, which we have come to expect.

The cool dampness contrasting with the humidity of the outside world.

Catching a brief glimpse of ocean and sunshine as we near an inlet.

All too soon, our under-the-earth tour is over and we stand blinking into the hot tropical sun filtering through the canopy.

I'm thinking a fossil in this yellow-tan limestone is a must as a souvenir of Nonsuch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

And found one!!!

 

Sister's Day...Loss...and Cinderella-ing

s

Yeah...no amount of bippity-boppity-boo is going to clean up this mess, today...

More about that in a minute.

 

Saturday was our Sister's Day.

A little bittersweet this time,as Tina lost Chad at the end of the week to Cystic Fibrosis.

He had been fighting for a long time...and it wasn't unexpected...but it still hurts like hell.

Harder for her, considering they were married 45 years and she has never ever lived alone before.

A Sister's Day to just hug and talk....and cry a bit...and vent...and plan.

Tina is a survivor.

She will get through this...and we will all be with her...until she does.

Their daughter, her niece and her father, SIL and his father, her grand daughter, friends and assorted family (including me & mine) reaching out.

She knows she is loved.

Took Sunday, and just recovered.

Which brings us to Cinderella.

There is trash to be gathered, laundry to be done, dishes to be washed, cat-box to clean, e-mails to be answered and business to be attended to...don't even get me started about dusting, a bathroom and kitchen that needs cleaned!

It's a mess.

And no helpful woodland creatures or fairy godmother in sight.

By the end of the day, however, order will be restored...and tomorrow we'll get back to Virtual Jamaica!

John is feeling and eating better...has in-home PT...gaining some weight back...and doing better!

 

 

 

 

 

I Have Achieved 66-ness!!!

Don't blink...

It's a slippery slope to 70.

 

Started the morning with Birthday Wishes from the boys...and strawberry-cheese danishes.

 ...I've realized that my hours of operation have changed in my old age...we are only open from 9AM-9PM with a short window closed from 2-4PM reserved for a nap/errands daily....

Getting things organized for Sister's Day, tomorrow.

Planning a deep bubble bath...a T-Bone steak dinner and a good movie, later.

No parts have fallen off...John is slowly improving and life is good!

Love,

Carla 

 

April Update

Here we are...18 months in....

Are we exhausted yet???

...it feels like its own LONG WALK...

 

To be fair...some of the players have started to fall off.

Not nearly enough.

In a month we have seen:

 

It's not a WAR...okay...it IS a WAR...it is done..we won...well, it will be done soon...can you help us...fine...we don't need your help...the strait that was open is now blockaded...we have now blockaded their blockade...

WTF????

...Tweeting the end of civilization...

 

On EASTER!!!

...picking a fight with The Pope...depicting himself as Jesus through AI...

 

And it just goes on and on and on.

STILL we preserve and resist.

33 months to go.

Less, if we can impeach and remove him after the election.

My HAPPY THOUGHT!

 

 

Virtual Jamaica: Portland~ Frenchman's Cove

 

Back to our Virtual Adventure...

 

Frenchman's Cove is 45 acres of paradise that used to be available only to the very wealthy.

In the 1970's when plantations were sold and broken up...it became available to everyone...for a price.

Today, it is about 1800 Jamaican dollars for the day.

Before anyone hyperventilates, that translates to $11.40 USD.

Tour

https://youtu.be/anAoCJv5_bg?si=efiFlTVJEYinwq4L

There are resort hotels, restaurants and villas on the property...rope swings...and, the crown jewel, a perfect lagoon and beach to relax.

 Beach Tour

https://youtu.be/ippoFOD0K00?si=O-ywTGMaOYk-FlrI

 So, come with us...and bask the day away!

 

Spring Brunch...The Long Walk...And Why The Hell is it WINTER Again?????

 

The season is just about over...

Having one final batch of Birthday Morels next week...then I'm done.

 

Enjoyed strawberry scones and butter & hot tea with honey this morning...and recuperating from our (Chris and Don and the baby)  Spring  Brunch.

Chinese and chat...literature and football...politics and catching up on life.

Some grandma and grandpa time.

...this is why we have children when we are young...because they would kill you off now...

 

John is recovering well...is back home...eating better...has PT coming to the house ...and has already regained a few pounds!!!

We are hopeful!

 

Relaxed Friday night

...movie night...

and watched 

A 1966 Bachman Book written by then 18 year old Stephen King as a commentary on the Vietnam War.

Set in a dystopian society where everyone voluntarily enters a lottery to represent their state in The Long Walk.

50 are chosen.

An unimaginable cash prize...and one personal wish granted.

And only one winner. 

The movie was gritty...shocking...graphic...traumatizing...

Amazing. 

Perfectly cast.

...perhaps the best actor was the kid who played Gary...who was horrible throughout and made you really really dislike him...until you realized that all of his life he had just been socially inept and an outcast...and the whole facade was a coping mechanism...

They took some liberties with the ending...but it was SK approved and actually better than the original.

Woke to 33 degrees this morning and freeze warnings until Tuesday...when it is suppose to return to 75 degrees.

Welcome to Spring in Indiana. 

 

I have pinto beans bubbling, and ready to make cornbread & sweet tea.

 

Have a Wonderful Rest-of-the-Weekend! 

 

 

 

Virtual Jamaica: Portland and The Palace Hotel

 

Today, our virtual trek takes us to Portland Parish.

Over the weekend I had the time to research the area hotels...and although there were many...the one name that topped the list repeatedly was

The Palace 

Opulent, nestled in the Jamaican greenery, all inclusive, reasonable at 200 USD per night, and nearby sights.

Timeless class.

https://www.expedia.com/Port-Antonio-Hotels-Jamaica-Palace-Hotel.h596970.Hotel-Information?locale=en_US&siteid=1&sl=ppp&semcid=US.UB.BING.PT-c-EN.HOTEL&semdtl=a1414680014.b11318315815412245.g1kwd-82395468258822%3Aloc-190.e1c.m1fe84f71875021fc76e3f9ec117793747.r141d148cfbe5aed4eb80f80764346639643c1c5ebbe9825c64135d1bc14c4954a.c1.j149426.k1142396.d182394955970291.h1e.i18177767248960.l1.n1.o1.p1.q1.s1.t1.x1.f1.u1.v1.w1&msclkid=fe84f71875021fc76e3f9ec117793747&pwaThumbnailDialog=thumbnail-gallery

Check it out for yourself.

  https://youtu.be/TH-LOARWepo?si=zwtJ3CsEmtFTaQJ_

And a little bit about Portland...before we start exploring this week.

https://youtu.be/HGkNgHqGjXg?si=DnywgpIbtL7ploPS

 

Come along on the adventure!

 

Morels...Splashdown...John and More...

 

But first morels...

Enjoyed the first grays this week.

Okay...actually I've eaten a half a pound already.  

Shipped directly to my door...1 day arrival...amazing stuff.

And every year when I fix the first skillet full and take that first-of-the-season bite, I am reminded that nothing...absolutely nothing...tastes better than fresh morels in real butter.

Not steak.

Not tiramisu.

Not even chocolate cake.

NOTHING.

This is last meal worthy!

 

 John and I watched the launch through the splashdown together!

What a time to be alive!

Incredible photos of both the moon and the Earth, sent back.
 

John is finally back home after his hospitalizations, surgeries, and subsequent rehab...a little rough around the edges...but recovering.

...we weren't sure this time...it scared both of us...

Spring is definitely underway here...rain...green...70 degree days...birds...and the mowing crew...which has the back looking like a golf course!

James is getting ready to drop the new stadium album...which I have been privileged to hear some of...and it is very good.

Lennon let all the Spring Breakers live. His patience cannot be understated.

Chris and Don and Lachlan will be here, soon, for our Spring Brunch together...where we get to spoil the grandbaby and catch up.

NFL draft is coming up (23rd) and The Raiders are already eyeballing Mendoza.

 

This season will be lit.

Have a great weekend! 

 

Update:

 

Chris, Tina and Lachlan visited last night.

It was wonderful...we caught up on life and I finally realized who the baby reminds me of with his wild ringlet hair compliments of Grandpa Brian...the heavy lidded eyes and chubby cheeks. 

A cherub from a Botticelli painting!

 

See?

 

John is doing better...eating better...and last night we watch the 1977 classic

together until late in the night.

Killer Car...like Christine...but without the great backstory.

...lol...

 

Virtual Jamaica: St. Mary's Catholic Church

 

Today, will be our last day in the tiny parish of St. Mary's.

Tour

https://youtu.be/BqRGYCLVKVk?si=udbppw2VL08blkC-

And we will end with the old Roman Catholic Church...surrounded by a cemetery that holds the graves of Jamaicans that died in WWI.

The church, unfortunately, is not open today...so we are unable to see the inside.  We know that the rules remain similar to other Catholic churches and that women cannot enter without head-coverings (scarf is fine) and that there is a font with holy water upon entrance.

Beyond this...we've no clue.

Aside from the roof, which has obviously been replaced, the exterior looks like it has seen centuries.

The clock no longer works on the tower.

Located near the ocean you can hear lapping waves. The setting is quite peaceful.

 

Monday, we will begin Portland, Jamaica! 

My coconut shell bracelet/necklace arrived from Jamaica today.

A lovely souvenir of our time here...I'll wear it on these travels!
 

Virtual Jamaica: St. Mary~ Banana Plantation and Samples

 

Today we explore a Banana Plantation...

Aerial Tour

https://youtu.be/S_kRrD78fKs?si=h_smSnf5N433Wq9s

Bananas

https://youtu.be/_jnU4E95XrM?si=23M3bNVI6fRvbbrP

https://youtube.com/shorts/DNFwfvtzhs4?si=O4Pujdu9XBTkDC8S

The above-mentioned banana plantation has literally miles and miles of bananas being grown...planted...tended to...or harvested.

And they even showed you how to begin your own plant at home.

https://youtube.com/shorts/tCXxmnMfMvg?si=tL7GYl9bjVj4guJj

https://youtube.com/shorts/q4iDPV9HeA4?si=fRZ3kF02aw1EI3Ve

And samples

The ones shipped are still quite green.

Also St. Mary's Banana Chips

https://youtu.be/If9U6ME3ycQ?si=Fp66_4pQqKjfWJLt 

 

 https://www.amazon.com/Marys-Banana-Chips-1-06-Ounce/dp/B00GLG0D1I/ref=asc_df_B00GLG0D1I?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80676876081673&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=95&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584276351805365&psc=1&msclkid=0ff5d64096331ed38210bf967d90c43e

Available on Amazon 24 one ounce packs for $22 USD.

https://youtu.be/4DHjU2OpnV4?si=J6DINvmtf1nPRutt

 

Lastly, on Friday, we will check out the Old Catholic Church.

 

See you there... 

 

 

Virtual Jamaica: St. Mary's~ Old Spanish Bridge and Fern Gully

 

And today we are (virtually) back...

 

A relic remaining from the 17th century when the Spanish arrived and colonized this island.

https://youtu.be/VZI5L7cZte0?si=YXHIqKtf5H1soXDj

Now, basically a tourist attraction complete with rope swings so you can cool off in the hot Jamaican sun.

And surprisingly...people are encouraged to carve their initials in its rocky face.

Nearby is Fern Gully...

A long drive into the rain forest that boasts an assortment of beautiful ferns and other natural botanicals.

 

A brief, but beautiful, excursion.

Wednesday, we will tour a Banana Plantation, and sample their wares!