Ya Mon, No Worries

Days in Jamaica: 6
Sunscreen applications: 23
Sunburns received anyway: 2

Yes, despite our best efforts Melissa and I both got slight sunburns while in Jamaica. However, sunburns were not enough to keep us down! We still managed to play rousing games of chess, eat lots of amazing food, and consume gallons of tropical drinks. My new life's ambition is to win the lottery, move to Jamaica, and live forever at an all inclusive resort.

Melissa can come too.

During this game of chess we had our first encounter with one of the locals. A member of the gardening staff approached us while we were playing chess and asked how we were doing. The conversation kind of puttered around for a few minutes: "How long have you been here? Are you enjoying your stay?" And then... "Do you smoke?" He asked this last question while flashing me the international toke sign.

Yes! A member of the grounds staff tried to sell us marijuana, pot, cannabis, weed, wacky tabaccy, Mary Jane (Hi Aunt Mary Jane!), reefer, dope! As stunning as this was to both of us it was not the last time a staff member tried to sell us something illicit. It was even implied that "samples" would be included if we opted to take the Bob Marley tour up one of the mountains.

We opted not to take that trip.

All in all we had a very enjoyable trip. We got a free room upgrade (which they tried to sell us for $300 two weeks before we arrived). Our only complaint about the room upgrade was the fact that it moved us out of the main building, which would have made meals much more convenient, and forced us go up and down the hill several times a day.

Our advice to anyone planning a stay at an all inclusive resort: go during the off season. You get an amazing deal on a room and there aren't near as many people there.

-Dave