Falmouth, Jamaica

 We docked in the new artificial port of Falmouth which was very nice.  And you don’t have to mingle with the “pushy” locals in Jamaica.  I’m pretty sure that this is the cruise lines’ answer to Ocho Rios and Montego where cruisers usually complain that they’re hounded 

 by locals.  We experienced some of the pushiness when we docked in Ocho Rios a couple of years ago, but after being around the pickpockets and pushy hawkers in Europe, they didn’t seem that bad to us in Jamaica.  But, here’s the answer.  They have imported very proper 

 Jamaicans and their craft market to run the shops.  We head out of the port to find a taxi that doesn’t want $20 a person to take us to a beach.  We negotiate with the driver to $90 for all 8 of us, with him returning to pick us up at the beach and then taking us other places in the area to see bamboo rafting on a river and 

 the Georgian architecture in Falmouth.  He takes us to a “public beach” which actually costs us money, but it turns out to be a good enough deal with the bathrooms, the bar available, the DJ and the cabana chairs.  We just have fun playing in the beautiful Jamaican waters with 

 sugary sand that is like powder underneath us.  Oscar can’t seem to get enough of the waves and Julie and I get to dance for the DJ for free shots…. We then clean up and get back in our taxi to see the bamboo rafts and get to get on them to find out that they don’t feel that substantial. 

 We got a ride through Falmouth, but I wasn’t that impressed with the architecture except for the court house.  We got back on the boat to have some food and then returned to the artificial port area to shop some.  Oscar takes a 3 hour nap from all the playing in the sun.  And John suddenly doesn’t feel good.  So, we’re 3 for 3 because it looks like John has sun poisoning with an awful burn all over his back that is probably not

 helped by the amazing amount of alcohol he’s been able to consume on this trip.  I’m starting to think that the all you can drink package is a big mistake.  I have to take Oscar to dinner on my own and leave him sitting at a table while I go get my own food and he does a great job.  I get some overpriced aloe in the shop for John’s back and believe that this burn is as bad 

   as the one that he got in France so many years ago that also made him very sick.  Just like last time, it looks more like a reaction to the sun because we applied sunscreen twice in our time at the beach and there is no way that Oscar and I are fine and John is this red.  I don’t get it and the next day, it’s calmed 

down a ton.  But who knows.  Regardless, we loved Jamaica again and the more Dramamine and bonine that we take on this trip for all three of us, I’m starting to think that an all inclusive in one place like Jamaica would be a better fit.