Day 5 Jamaica Trip April 2024

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 Today my friends aunt was coming to pick us up at 10. I went for breakfast at 9:30. My friend was there earlier and she got some plantains today but they weren’t very ripe. Breakfast was the same as yesterday for me so I didn’t take any pictures. In the morning I did call for some bottles of water to my room but it was too early I learned I could get some at the buffet.  My friends aunt was delayed so had time to sit at the coffee shop. This was the view from the coffee area. We chatted with security and the taxi driver at the hotel for awhile before we left. We didn’t leave the hotel until 12. My friends aunt got proper plantains we ate it in the car. Today we decided to go to Ocho Rios. I have never been there and it is not that far from where we are staying. We have a driver booked for tomorrow to take us around the area and Bob Marley house tour. My friends aunt wanted Pizza Hut we stopped in a plaza that had KFC, Starbucks, and Pizza Hut. Last time I was in Jamaica I saw the plan

How I celebrated my birthday in 2020 while most of the world is in quarantine

The area where I live is one of the lucky ones so far our health system has kept up with the number of cases but we are mostly self-isolating to prevent the spread of COVID19. I’m still allowed to go outside, grocery store, get take out. I work from home now but in the evenings so other people can work during the day. Now on to my birthday.

There is noisy construction near my apartment so that woke me up around 8:30. 
I often go to Vegas to celebrate my birthday and always stay at my favourite hotel there which is South Point. 
I put the slippers on while I checked my messages and social media.


I have been trying to do a workout in the morning. I really need this for stretch and not to sit all day. I have beachbody on demand which I have used for years. Shaun T is my favourite trainer so I did Rockin body it’s an old workout but feels like a dance party. 

I haven’t had a coffee shop coffee in almost two months there are a couple places near me that are open for take out. I am thinking about going to get a coffee but I have a Hamilton beach Keurig combo machine which I like. I really want a real espresso. I go outside for a walk everyday I am thinking about getting a coffee on my walk but first breakfast. 

I don’t have a microwave or a kettle other than my coffee machine. I do have an airfryer oven and it makes great instant oatmeal I added some dates. 

Usually I can get my prescription refills in an hour. This time I was told 2 days ago it would be ready today. My walk will be going to get the prescription then stopping at the coffee shop and walking home to drink it.

Lots of people were in contact today while I was on the phone it started pouring rain. The weather forecast says it will be sunny later so decided to drink my coffee and eat my cake at home. I don’t trust fresh bakery food right now read my previous blog post. My rule is always your birthday you bring the cake so I brought it for myself. If you haven't read any of previous posts I live by myself. I had bought this frozen vegan cheesecake from the grocery store the last time I went shopping.



A lot of people I hadn’t heard from in awhile sent me Birthday messages. My day went by with doing some work and talking to everyone virtually. I very rarely use video chat so by phone, messenger, and text I communicated with lots of people. Must see TV in my area is the provincial health officer updates at 3pm I like to listen to this we are fortunate to have competent leaders here. The rain cleared around 5 and I walked to get my prescription refill it took about an hour with walking there and back. I also bought a Lindt chocolate bunny that was on sale while I was there. After that I have a daily routine where I like to go to the fountains around my apartment complex listen to the water and relax sometimes I write e-mails on my phone. I am usually the only one there with a few other people walking around the area but there is lots of space.




At 7pm my neighborhood along with many other areas has applause for health care workers. Some people come out to the fountain area with their noise makers. I like to be in my balcony for that and I have called my mom daily at 7 for a couple years. I make sure I am in my apartment by 7pm. I am using the outside stairs as much as possible to get in and out of the building which is giving me a bit more exercise.

After I go inside I steam everything or disinfect then take a shower. Prior to the shutdown I had become a fan of lush shower melts. I decided to make some after looking at a couple recipes online I never follow recipes exactly. I couldn’t find critic acid but I did find organic baking soda the regular kind is out of stock like toilet paper. I had cornstarch and lots of peppermint essential oil. I like essential oil from Sage but seem to have a lot of peppermint oil that I do not use much now I have the perfect use. With some experimenting I added lemon infused olive oil and they actually turned out decent. A little soft buy I have tried it both as a shower melt (leave in the shower so you get the scent) and washed with it in the shower both were worked great. I made these the day before so I could enjoy a spa like shower.




Then it was dinner time. I have not eaten restaurant food for over a month so I figured it was time to get some take out. The number of cases in my local area have been going down in the past week so I was starting to feel a little safer. There is a local restaurant called pasta polo offering take and bake options which I think is fantastic. This way I can support local businesses while feeling safe to eat restaurant food because I cook it at home. I did not realize the portions were so big I have eaten there before and I felt these were bigger. I had ordered two dishes on the app and picked it up the day before my birthday because they are only open limited evening hours. I heated the eggplant Parmesan and the vegetarian lasagna in my airfryer oven not following directions incase you wonder why the cheese is so dark. Both dishes were excellent it has been awhile since I have had so many fresh vegetables I have been using frozen at home.




In a normal year I would go and collect all my birthday and free rewards. I do not online shop much so I had intended to do some virtual visits and donate the rewards. Some businesses have partnered with charities to enable this. I ran out of time so I will have to extend this into a Birthday week. That was a great day and as an added bonus...

I did get my first coffee shop coffee this morning in over two months. I poured it into my own cup before taking the picture. It was so good. This is another local place PappaRoti that has been open for take out its a big space with the door open I was the only one in there so it felt safer than the grocery store.

I hope you enjoyed this post on how I celebrated my birthday and  you for all the birthday messages. 

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