This morning we met with a representative from Air Canada Vacations named Senior (even though he was young). He explained to us all of the options for tours and seeing Jamaica which we were both keen to do. Whilst we are staying at a lovely all inclusive resort, unless you get out and about on the island, you really don’t get to see much of the real Jamaica. Jamaica surprisingly, is a top destination for cruise boats here who mainly stop here for the day and otherwise for Canadian’s who come here to see the sun and warmth after a long and cold winter. It looks like we are the only Aussies staying at the resort.
We ended up booking ourselves on something for everyday for the next four days which gives us a nice combination of lazing at the hotel by the pool and getting out.
That afternoon, we hit the streets of Ocho Rios. We were told go right as the left side can be a bit dodgy. Within 10m of leaving the gate we were offered an assortment of drugs. Sadly, no takers here, but the offering was a persistent presence for the time we were on the street. It was mad out in the town, people trying to sell you an assortment of stuff, the occasional beggar, but lots of smiles. We picked up some tacky souvenirs and a few drinks. 
The turtle park, was an open grassed area where people generally hung out to read books and spend time with their families. In the centre was a pond surrounded by a moat full of carp (koi) and a small pond with turtles. We love the “travelers palm” which we have seen all over Central America. Some of the rules of the park were quite interesting – I wasn’t considering braiding Tan’s hair! 
On the way home, we walked past the hotel and went left. This one old guy with hardly any teeth was “trying” to offer us directions. We followed for about 5m and then two different guys yelled at us. “Don’t follow him!” We stopped a bit confused, and then we were told that the guy was a thief. That was a good time to turn around and go back.
We eventually wandered in to the main bar for a drink. We ended up meeting a great couple from Canada and we left the bar, hmm, about five hours later. Like Mexico, the effects of Dan’s endless Rum consumption in the Pina Colada’s kicked in and he talked in his sleep about “butter knives on ski’s” and then woke me and himself up to tell me that it looked like everyone had bailed (he thought we were at the pub – not in bed).
We ended up booking ourselves on something for everyday for the next four days which gives us a nice combination of lazing at the hotel by the pool and getting out.
That afternoon, we hit the streets of Ocho Rios. We were told go right as the left side can be a bit dodgy. Within 10m of leaving the gate we were offered an assortment of drugs. Sadly, no takers here, but the offering was a persistent presence for the time we were on the street. It was mad out in the town, people trying to sell you an assortment of stuff, the occasional beggar, but lots of smiles. We picked up some tacky souvenirs and a few drinks. The turtle park, was an open grassed area where people generally hung out to read books and spend time with their families. In the centre was a pond surrounded by a moat full of carp (koi) and a small pond with turtles. We love the “travelers palm” which we have seen all over Central America. Some of the rules of the park were quite interesting – I wasn’t considering braiding Tan’s hair! On the way home, we walked past the hotel and went left. This one old guy with hardly any teeth was “trying” to offer us directions. We followed for about 5m and then two different guys yelled at us. “Don’t follow him!” We stopped a bit confused, and then we were told that the guy was a thief. That was a good time to turn around and go back.We eventually wandered in to the main bar for a drink. We ended up meeting a great couple from Canada and we left the bar, hmm, about five hours later. Like Mexico, the effects of Dan’s endless Rum consumption in the Pina Colada’s kicked in and he talked in his sleep about “butter knives on ski’s” and then woke me and himself up to tell me that it looked like everyone had bailed (he thought we were at the pub – not in bed).
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