2. What in the Merlot?
SUNDAY 30TH JUNE 2024
Day one of the solo adventures and somehow an alcoholic beverage begins to foreshadow events to come. The anxiety was here. Things were starting.
It was time.
The last selfie taken before the trip!
I woke approximately three hours, 20 minutes and probably 30 seconds from when I fell asleep, at least that's what it felt like. 3:30am. EW! With sleep in my eyes, I zipped up my suitcase (after much struggle), got dressed in my grey sweats, platted my hair and got into the car heading straight for London Heathrow airport.
I tried not to overthink when saying goodbye to my parents, I was scared but they couldn’t know that when waving me off, so I sucked it up, gave them big cuddles and kept moving setting off on my solo adventure. Bag drop, security, gate number, boom- everything was smooth (thank god my legs were far to wobbly for troubles right now). Given the early start, I decided to treat myself to a little solo breakfast. Scrambled eggs on toast with a dash of juice went down like a treat! It was my first time in a restaurant alone, I did feel a bit like a main character, but not necessarily in a good way. It felt as though there was a huge sign pointing at me saying look over here- this girls a LONER! So what did I do? Nothing, I was too tired! But I did decide to start my first travel journal entry to look sophisticated and mysterious . I began writing about the beginning stages of the trip.
TOP TIP: If you ever travel anywhere. Buy a journal and write in it. It's such a fun way to capture memories, remember little things you'd forget about and have it all in one place. Also, it really helped me remember little details of this trip.
I’m walking towards the gate, pretending my life was a movie. You know the dramatic scene where the protagonist would be leaving their small hometown, they’d have bags in hand, heavy hearts from a recent heartbreak- yeah that was the vibe I was going for. The dramatic walk away. The deep breaths. The music blaring in my ears while I tried to pretend like I knew what I was doing. I walk up to the gate and board the plane.
My first thought here was the question of who I’d be sat next too (because let’s face it- who you sit next to is mega important). Sadly, it wasn't a handsome prince but a lady, a lady who we're going to call Julia. Now picture this, you've made the step, you've boarded the plane. Music is adding a dramatic twist to everything while your heart beats so loud you start to wonder if anyone can hear it. The plane begins to get ready for takeoff. Just as you're exhaling, all the worries of the world start to feel minor, because I had done it, I had made it onto the plane, I was facing my fears. Now just imagine. Just as the planes lifts off, you get the little butterflies swirling in your belly like a bad burrito. But all of a sudden your hand is GRABBED in sheer panic. Yes you read that right.
Now, while Julia did slightly ruin my free-will moment by making me JUMP out of my skin, I quickly discovered that I was actually not being attacked, but confided in. I looked over at her and her eyes were squeezed shut in panic, her body tense and her breath was heavy. She was terrified. I grasped her hand back, laid back, and let the moment roll on. This time taking my own deep breaths.
Now with an almost 10 hour flight, Julia became a very important character in the Jamaican Diaries experience. Julia was the kind of energy that was gentle in nature, warm in emotion and honest in mind. As a Jamaican resident, she gave me all sorts of wisdom. Made me aware of the initial cultural differences, gave me recommendations to visit and hey- even sipped Merlot with me! The flight attendant ever so kindly gave us quite a few cans due to the scared nature of Julia. So with a clink and a dosen drinks we ended up getting quite wavy on atlantic air.
Now, not to detour from the wholesomeness of the flight, but the anxiety did sneak up on me about 5 hours in, in the form of sickness. But actually, looking back- maybe that was just the Merlot. Because realistically, it was far too early for Merlot! One moment I was all bright and dandy watching the new 'Mean Girls' film (which has far too much singing in if you ask me) and the next, my heads in the toilet stumbling over turbulence. Minor sickness aside, the flight landed, everyone gave the wholesome clap at the end and the 'WTF' moment hit me.
I did it. I was now in Jamaica and boy was I terrified! I stepped off the plane and wow the hot air hit me like a truck. Woah. The sounds of all the voices meshed together alongside the visual pace of the airport . I could feel the eyes on me. The visual differences of my skin colour and the fact I was alone. I rushed over to the bag collection while taking in all the artwork of Montego Bay trying to block it all out. (Stunning airport by the way). The colours, the paint, the graphics, the detail- mesmerizing.
Brightly coloured posters as you walk off the plane into the airport
As expected, Bob Marley and James Bond was plastered around most of the walls. However, unexpectedly, my suitcase was the LAST to come off the conveyor belt. I was starting to think they lost it. Luckily, I did no overthink just tried to get my Airalo E-SIM to work, which by the way is the most difficult thing to set up. Texted my best friend and was finally reunited with my suitcase and next it was time to find my representative.
Now, Montego Bay was one of the places listed as a danger zone in my mind. You know busy tourist area, white girl with an oversized suitcase- definitely a target. I'm walking around like a lost lemon searching and searching yet I cannot find my rep. You know those guy holding the oversized signs making you feel slightly famous? Yeh, he was nowhere to be found. I didn’t dare go near the swarm of Jamaican 'taxi' men lurking, because you know- obvious reasons. While I'm thinking of plan Bs and Cs I hear a little voice that says 'Hey are you Evie?'.
That's not in my head, I thought to myself. Now, time freezes a little bit here. How on earth is my name being called right now?
So I turn around.
A girl, about my age, with a light twinge of ginger curly hair and a big smile, on her face is staring right at me. 'Yes' I said. Not really clocking on who she could've been.
'How do you know my name'- I said to her. 'I'm Phoebe', she says. 'I'm on the programme with you'. A huge deep breath comes out of me. 'Hi!" I said back. 'How scary and exciting is this!' I said.
My View for Six Hours
At this point I can tell I'm going to get on with her. We’re chatting back and forth when an angel appears. Not a literal angel (that would've been nice) but a human form. Dark hair, dark features and olive skin. 'Hi I'm Angelle' she says confidently. We're all catching up, lost and confused at this point. We then all move away from the exit where we finally see our rep waiting for us. Now by this point you'd imagine an exchange of names, carrying of bags to the air conditioned car and a quick exit out of the busy, hot and slightly intimidating exit... but no. This is no easy breezy holiday. The first test had arrived. We were told we would need to wait for the others. Silly old me was thinking this would be, oh I don't know thirty minutes, an hour, two? Hahah, oh no no.
Six hours. Yes, that's right six! Six hours after almost fourteen hours of travelling already. So what did I do, well I grabbed a pint of course! Changed tops because I was already dripping with sweat and made myself comfortable. The girls also loved the idea of a pint to accompany the Jamaican Humidity. At this point I can't lie, I was feeling good, tired but swell. I made effort in getting to know Phoebe and Angelle. Their backgrounds, trip motivations, lifestyle, course information you know all the essentials. I look over and see a new face walking towards our table. Ah a new contestant on the Jamaican Diaries. I can't lie, I loved this part. The meeting point of the trip. The introductions.
Sam, the cool girl, the travel girly. She was calm, collective, yet sweet and welcoming. Wow. so far so good I thought to myself. She shared her stories, her outlook on life and just as we were getting deep, Cynthia follows- approximately two hours later. A mature lady, American with a fun outlook on life and so much wisdom and bravery. We all continued to chat, to get to know one another. Growing more and more tired yet pulled through out of politeness.
It was reaching the 6 hour mark post landing and I was starting to lose it. I was tired. I was hot. I was deep in my thoughts and probably rather smelly. I wanted to plummet onto the floor and oh look who it was another contestant. The last one. Jess. She was definitely the fun, goofy one. Sweet, blissfully unaware of how we were all really feeling- fed up. At this point I felt for her, because the welcome reception was probably rather poor at this point!
Our little blue home
Omg, it was time to leave. Thank god.
Summary: The Jamaican Diaries cast list:
The Sweet girl next door, curly hair and fair skin- Phoebe- the relatable one
Independent, headstrong boss energy- Angelle- the reliable one
The cool girl- short hair, travelpro- Sam the adventurous one
The insightful, bonkers personality- Cynthia the wise one
The big personality, California girl - Jess, the friendly one
And well me
After six very long, hot hours of mosquito paranoia, sticky skin and a new girl group, we hopped in an AC minivan where the Jamaican culture began to come alive in the form of music. Scenes were taken in, naps were of course had up until we reached a supermarket nearly three hours later. At this point were in and out, as fast as possible given the fact we just want to rest.
We got to the accommodation. Oh my, it was gorgeous. Our very own baby blue villa bungalow and Rocco the dog. It was ours. I was here. I could rest. Shower, breathe. I was delighted. We were like kids at Christmas. Or to put it more accurately, like cavemen discovering fire for the first time. Frantic yet all over the place. It felt like forever since we were in a home. It was bliss.
Our Jamaican puppy
Now what came next was totally unexpected. It was the kind of news you didn't want to hear less than 24 hours of being almost halfway around the world away from home. The kind of news that gives you that roller coaster, drop in your stomach type of fear.
Stay tuned for day two.
Muahs,
Eves
