Arriving in Jamaica at dusk may have kept us from enjoying the exotic tropical surroundings, but it seemed to help us focus on the warmth and hospitality of the people.
Almost everyone, from Grace the wheelchair porter, to the bus operator, to the hotel clerk to the servers, greeted us with their cheerful welcome. Most wanted to chat and one server asked the typical question, “Is this your first time in Jamaica?” followed almost naturally with, “What took you so long to get here?”
This was unlike the hospitality we have experienced in any other tourist destination we have visited in recent years.
My first thought was that almost everyone associated with tourism here takes hospitality very seriously and is a natural ambassador for the country.
All of this seemed to overcome the exhaustion we felt after being on the move for more than 14 hours, or the pounding rain on the drive to the hotel, or the gridlock due to a traffic problem.
We arrived at Moon Palace Resort in Ocho Rios tired and hungry, but buoyed by the pleasant conversations with the hosts at every point. Even if we did not see the promised beauty of Ocho Rios Bay on our first evening, it gave us something to which we could look forward.
It also helped us almost gasp in awe of the beauty of the Resort on the inside. And we were left with a sense of anticipation to absorb the many other attractions in this exciting part of Jamaica.
We look forward to sharing some of our experiences with you in the next few days.
Moses and Cintra Kanhai
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