Hotel Riu Ocho Rios, Jamaica

By Michael

We flew from Chicago Midway to Montego Bay, boarding flight 1042 at gate A11. I had the window most of the flight and watched the wing the whole way, the water turning bright turquoise as we crossed over the reefs near Jamaica.

At Sangster International we found the Amstar transfer desk and rode a bus east along the coast. We drove from Montego Bay to Mammee Bay and reached Hotel Riu Ocho Rios by mid-afternoon, checking in and finding our room down the hall at 1034 and 1035.

By Michael

We were up early again, out on the beach a little after six thirty watching the sun break through the clouds over the water. Breakfast came with a look at the hallway doors on our floor, 1032 to 1035, then eggs, pancakes and fruit.

Kathy walked the beach at Mammee Bay mid-morning while the rest of us got ready, and by late morning we were all in the pool. Kathy, Lisa, Thomas and I toasted with red slush drinks, my hand making the ASL sign for I love you mid-toast.

In the afternoon we went out on the resort's own beach for a boat and snorkel trip. A local climbed one of the coconut trees before we set off, with the paddleboards, kayaks and the small Jamaican-flagged boat waiting on the sand. Lisa and I took the shared underwater camera out on the reef and came back up with shells to show for it. That camera alone brought back hundreds of photos: sergeant major fish, coral heads, sea anemones, even a flatworm drifting over the seagrass.

From there we went to Little Dunn's River Falls, climbing the rocks in our swimsuits with the water rushing past. Lisa worked her way up through the current with a guide's help while I found a quieter spot to sit.

Dinner that evening was steak, corn and a salad, finished with chocolate cake and ice cream.

By Michael

We stayed at Hotel Riu Ocho Rios again today, no drives anywhere. I was up with Kathy before six, walking the empty halls and lobby down to the beach as the sky colored up past two palms. Lisa was out early too, and found a shell washed up among the rocks.

After breakfast we walked the beach again, past the water sports hut and a sign marking the resort's own stretch of sand, rows of empty loungers under the palms. We kept passing around the waterproof camera for reef shots off the beach, the same one from the afternoon before.

In the afternoon the pool ran a foam party. Lisa and I had drinks at the pool bar first, then stayed right in the middle of the foam once it came over us, soaked and laughing. Dinner closed the day.

By Michael

We spent today at the resort, no side trips, just the four of us moving between the pool, the beach and the restaurant. Breakfast was eggs, sausage and pancakes out on the terrace, looking over the palms toward the water. By mid-morning we were down by the pool with drinks, and lunch was pasta, roasted potatoes and a pork chop, eaten poolside. Kathy and I spent a while together in the pool, and in the afternoon Lisa sat out on the wooden swing under the Riu Ocho Rios sign with Bob, while the rest of us settled into the lounge chairs as clouds rolled in.

By Michael

We had one last sunrise walk on the beach before breakfast, then packed up. After breakfast we checked out, turning the room's key cards back in at the desk, and drove from Hotel Riu Ocho Rios to the airport in Montego Bay. We flew from Montego Bay to Chicago Midway that afternoon, and by evening we could see the Chicago skyline out the window as we came in to land.