We always plan to take one vacation a year.
Now, if you are a regular reader you are likely wondering what I’m talking about considering posts about South Carolina and Ireland have already popped up this year. This requires that I share some definitions with you.
We travel a lot. I wouldn’t have my life any other way. In fact, since we returned from Brazil we haven’t traveled nearly enough for me. I have to have travel. I’ve been known to say I like the airports, the lengthy flights, the squeezing all my liquids into a little baggie. That’s because in return I get incredible food, gorgeous scenery and a glimpse into other cultures.
Those trips that require hotel hopping, scheduling sight-seeing, going so fast that you come back more exhausted than you left; that’s travel and I love it.
But I also love vacation.
Vacation is what we did over Labor Day weekend. We headed back to our favorite tropical location – Jamaica. We floated, ate, drank, read, watched sunsets. Aside from a couple squash matches and walks on the beach, we did absolutely nothing. That’s vacation.
To adequately achieve this definition of vacation, we go for all-inclusive resorts, specifically Sandals. Despite mixed feelings on this type of vacation from travelers, we have never been disappointed. Its true relaxation and every bit of the paradise we want.
So we headed back to Sandals Whitehouse which is tucked in on the southern coast of the country; secluded with no planes overhead, a gorgeous beach, big pools and peaceful sunsets. All this along with our favorite martini bar, a nearly 24-hour pastry café and the best you can get of actual Jamaican food in a resort setting.
So here’s the part you are waiting for. The food and drink! Enjoy and I’ll be back in the kitchen soon.
Our welcome Rum Punch in the lobby.
Appetizers and martinis every night before dinner at the martini bar. This one has smoked marlin.
Appetizer tasting with smoked salmon, squid and octopus.
Fried calamari with a Greek salad.
Seafood ravioli.
Seafood stew in a white sauce, one of our favorites.
Fresh juice in the mornings, this one with melon and pineapple.
Red Stripe on the beach, enough said.
Our favorite lunch, blackened red snapper sandwich on coco bread with jerk mayo.
It may not look all that good in the photo, but Jamaican Pepper Pot soup is our favorite.
Jerk chicken, not as good as what you’d find from a street vendor, but still tasty and spicy.
Curry goat was the special one day for lunch, again may not look great, but tasted amazing.
Did I mention that cafe?
Every afternoon was just like this, pastries and a cappuccino.
Pumpkin Cheesecake and that’s Carrot Cake behind it.
Crepes for our final breakfast before boarding the bus to the airport.
I also took the garden tour offered at the resort and was introduced to some wonderful flowers and trees. These are seagrapes and we did get to taste them, nice and sweet with a huge seed in the middle.
Indian Almond, only about 10 plants or trees were native to Jamaica the rest have washed up on the shore over the years.
Soursop, our guide was so surprised when I knew what this was. What can I say, we travel a lot.
Jamaican Ackee, not yet ripe, but we saw ripe ones all over on the drive to the resort. When it ripens the big black seeds will become exposed.
Noni, which I had not heard of before but apparently it goes for a pretty penny in the States as a remedy for cancer.