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Published: September 1st 2017
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Flying from Athens we had to overnight in South Beach Miami before taking our onward journey to Jamaica. Unfortunately due to a last minute cancellation of a British Airways flight from Athens to London we were transferred to an Athens - Newark - Miami flight increasing our travel time by 8 hours making it 2am in the morning before we finally reached South Beach. Although tired we were thankful for United Airlines getting us there after being stranded in Athens airport for a few hours.
We thought two nights before our cruise to Cuba and one night post our cruise before flying to Houston would be a great way to see a little of Jamaica. Little did we know because of Hurricane Harvey we would end up with three extra nights in Jamaica. Arriving in Montego Bay we were held up on our way to our accommodation due to a power pole which had caught on fire and was being put out with water, we were not sure if this was very safe but we later found it was an indication of the laid back Jamaican way. Walking past the power pole the next morning it was hanging by a
thread over the road, no one seemed at all concerned.
Our first two nights were spent at a lovely bed and breakfast called Polkerris in Montego Bay which overlooked the bay. On our first full day we walked to the main street in Margaritaville called Hip Strip along which we found Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville Bar, famous because of the song with the same name. We visited Doctor's Cave Beach Club, which was named after Dr. Alexander James McCatty who had founded a sanatorium in Montego Bay in 1880. He allowed his friends, including several doctors, to bathe at his small beach, which was entered through a cave. In 1906 he donated the property to the community, although a beautiful beach it was fairly busy and as it was so hot we decided a swim in our bed and breakfast's pool was more inviting. We felt very lucky to enjoy a dinner of lobster, delivered from a nearby restaurant, on the verandah of Polkerris while enjoying the sunset. On our second morning we boarded our ship bound for Cuba.
After our week long cruise and back in Jamaica we had decided to spend what was to be our last
night further down the coast at Negril, around a one and half hour drive from Montego Bay. We had booked the Spa Retreat which was located in a stunning location on the coast where we were able to jump into the sea from the resorts low cliffs or swim in the pool overlooking the ocean. The food at the restaurant was some of the best we had enjoyed on the trip so far, fresh seafood and wonderful Jamaican spices. Getting ready to check out the next morning for our flight to Houston we found that due to hurricane Harvey all flights to Houston had been cancelled. We quickly booked a second night at the resort while we waited to see what would happen, although disappointed not to be seeing family we at least were comfortable and not stranded at the airport as we later heard some people had been. In the evening we decided to try another resort for dinner and walked to The Rocks Resort, although not too far the walk was difficult as the streets are not lit and there are no pavements and the road narrow, we decided to get a taxi back and would suggest this
is the only safe way to travel around Negril at night.
Discovering we would not be able to get flights for another few days we did a quick internet search and found another resort Sunset at the Palms for the next two nights. The resort was located across the road from their private beach within a beautiful lush garden setting. At this larger all inclusive resort we were able to listen to a Reggae band each evening, amazed at the way they could turn any song into a Reggae beat. After having a second fight cancelled we were finally offered a flight via New York into Dallas which when the road were safe would only a four hour drive to Houston. We were lucky to have been able to find good accommodation while we waited and the opportunity to spend more time in Jamaica, we agreed while the resorts had been lovely we were glad to be on our way to see our family and blessed they had been spared damage from the storm unlike so many other unfortunate people in Houston.
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