My friend was up and out before me and her aunt was coming to meet us at the resort at 11:30. I went and had buffet breakfast at 10:00. It is nice that breakfast is open until 11:00 here. Yesterday I didn’t have much time for breakfast but today I noticed another symbol for on the vegetarian items that I think means vegan. I don’t know if they started making more vegan dishes because I’m here or they always had the symbols for breakfast. I know they didn’t for lunch and dinner so I will check that later. On the check in form there is a section for food allergies and I did write vegan there. At the cooking demo on day 2 chef asked if everyone eats fish I said I didn’t he asked if I was vegan so I think word got to him. I know there is a joke that you will know if someone is vegan because they will tell you but we have to. I learned in the past when I went to a two day conference day 1 there was another vegan who had filled in the questionnaire for dietary concerns. There was lots of vegan options that day. Day 2 was just me and I hadn’t registered so I didn’t get good vegan options. I’ve learned to always ask now.
They do have soy milk on the buffet which is nice but it is also the only non dairy milk option at the resort.
The birds also come into the restaurants and eat the leftovers. They seem to wait until you leave your table before going for the food.
My only issue for breakfast is if I want anything to drink that isn’t tea or coffee I don’t seem to get my drink. Yesterday I just left the buffet and went to the bar myself. Today my server came to me at the end and told me he forgot today was okay I had already had tea instead. It seems to be a breakfast only issue not a huge problem but out of the norm as service is usually excellent. I think it’s because the bar isn’t open earlier and I have been going for breakfast late. I like to go to the coffee shop after breakfast where they already know my order and even that I change my order slightly everyday.
After breakfast my friend met me and we went for a quick walk on the beach and then to ask about tours at the westjet desk. We then talked to the hotel tour desk and booked a river raft for tomorrow. They charge the room so it’s nice not having to worry about payment.
My friends aunt and her older friend I will refer to as uncle picked us up from the hotel. I didn’t take a lot of pictures on the drive but it was nice to be in the car listening to Jamaican chatter and driving down the beautiful road. My friend had been trying to get ripe plantains since we got here but they don’t seem to be around. Jamaica has been in a drought for two months so I think supply is limited. I bring rain everywhere so it will likely rain while I’m here.We stopped at a restaurant to ask if they had any plantains they didn’t the others got some blended drinks I didn’t. I asked if we could stop at a store I just wanted to look. It was a quick stop at a small grocery store but I got this juice that was really good. My friends aunt said they make it in her town.
We went to Groto Caves. When we arrived there is a sink to wash your hands before the entrance Uncle said it was because of Covid.
It was $20 US for entry with a 40 minute walk in the caves. Jamaicans with ID were cheaper and we did get a bit of discount for paying in Jamaican currency. This trip is interesting USD although still accepted is not preferred currency anymore. Jamaicans are losing to much on exchange so they now prefer Jamaican and they even accept Canadian at some places now.
It was quite the workout to see the caves. It’s a 40 minute walk going up and down steep steps with having to watch your head a lot. No food or drink are allowed in them and pictures were allowed but no videos. They give you hard hats which I did end up hitting the front on a rock so thankfully it saved my head other than a small bruise from the helmet.
When we first walked into the cave there was a bat flying around. The tour guide showed us all the bats in the cave. After that there was a lot of walking inside the cave.
The water area was nice. It reflected of the water. In the words of the guide Batman was from Jamaica as the shadow looks like it. There was also the face rock in that area.
Then there was 65 steep stairs to go down and later come back on. I was at the point where I didn’t care about the cave anymore. There was this map of Jamaica, a wishing well, and a lot more walking and ducking to avoid hitting your head and then we were finally out.
Next stop was food. The restaurant we went to earlier said we would get plantains at Sharky’s. We went there on our last trip but I didn’t realize we had come this far out.
It was nice and relaxing sitting near the beach waiting to eat. Although it is an extensive menu like everything else on an island half of the dishes they don’t have they didn’t have ripe plantains. There are only a few vegetarian dishes on the menu but they only had vegetables in coconut milk that came with rice and peas. It was a good plate of veggies.
We came back to the resort and I had a coffee while working on this post. Then we went for buffet dinner. The vegan symbols were there now and I checked the room service menu the symbol does mean vegan. I was extremely happy they had soy chunks which I wanted for lunch and the garlic bread was marked vegan. I ordered pasta at the pasta station. It was a good dinner.
Prior to dinner I watched the cat hunt a gecko. After dinner the one that had been at my door for the previous two nights was gone. Other than the one at my door I hadn’t seen any others at the resort. I don’t think it was the same one but the night noise that us either crickets or frogs was also gone. Later at night it rained and after the noise came back it’s constant like an alarm sound makes me wish the room was more soundproof. That was the end of day 3.
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