By Frances H. Bryce, October 24, 2019 — A family trip to Jamaica was filled with memorable events, some with experiencing the beautiful island, new food that I had never eaten, and the friendly natives of the islanders.
We were eager to eat at a restaurant that was not in the hotel, but one that was located away from the tourists and much like the ones we visit at home. A worker recommended one that we chose. Conch and [lychee] and rice, seemed to be something that definitely was not an American dish. My husband chose a dish that was made with goat. The waiter told him to be sure he only touched the sauce with his tongue, since it was very spicy, but very, very, hot. He did the opposite of what the waiter had warned him to do. His reaction was immediate, gasping for breath and a redder face, he knew that he was in trouble. He was given H2O and some other liquid that reduced the panic that he experienced. The end of hot and spicy for him during our time there. We stuck to the restaurants in or near our hotel.
The driving in Jamaica meant the opposite of our driving system, what we call driving on the wrong side of the road, the native [Jamaicans] drive aggressively, especially coming around corners, and we are on the wrong side of the road. [Driving there is] an experience that one never forgets at least one never forgot.
The men, at least a number of them, were more than friendly, they were interested in establishing a relationship that would enable them to get o the US.
We enjoyed riding to nearby areas where fruit was sold on the side of the road, houses that were without floors, we could see the sparse furniture as we drove.
The trip to areas away from the hotels gave me an understanding how fortunate we were to live in a place where the opportunities were not as limited as many of the Islanders experience, but the did not seem unhappy, as many of the people I had met, loved of plenty.