Yes, it’s been three months since Zac and I returned form Jamaica. But editing our clips from the week has brought back so many great memories I thought I would share them.

One of the most common responses we got when we began planning was “Jamaica, it’s so dangerous.” I have no doubt that their are parts of the island – according to the locals Kingston- which are dangerous. However, our week there was amazing. And we took the full opportunity to see as much of the island as we could.

We stayed at the beautiful Sandals Royal Caribbean, and quickly realized that most people who stay at Sandals never leave the resort. With good reason, there are plenty of fun activities including snorkeling, wake boarding, a plethora of restaurants, crochet, pingpong, etc. to keep yourself entertained. But Zac and I typically like to explore the local culture when we travel and found ourselves searching the paper for exciting places tourist normally don’t visit.

By the third day we decided we would rent a car for two days and travel around the island. And then spend our last days relaxing back at our “home base”. So we started planning. Zac wanted to hike Blue Mountain, it’s a 13 hour excursion and requires you to stay at the base of the mountain the night before. According to the web it also requires some strenuous driving, a high chance of a car jacking and we hadn’t met a single local who had done the journey. So we decided to turn our sights to some other adventures.

Adventures, were exactly what each event off the resort was. We walked off the property to a neighboring strip mall to hail a taxi so we could get it for cheaper and tried to get him to take us to the airport to pick up a rental car. Apparently he “knew” where some other Hertz was and tried to take us there without our consent. Arriving at a run down chain link fence with two guys standing near it smoking and no lights the driver tried to get us to leave the cab. We both stayed firmly planted with our butts on the seat. This moment may have been when I was the most scared during our whole journey. After a few moments our driver stepped out and talk to them, returned, and explained this was a service shop, we were right indeed and he took us back to the airport.

Once we got our car and our mobile Wifi – which may have been the best purchase. It’s only $10-$15 per day and then you know you can always get directions, contact someone, etc.

The next morning we were up before the sun and heading along the North coast of the island. Our first stop was the Irie Blue Hole. We followed google maps across the highways- which we (Zac) drove on the left side. There were only two speeds in Jamaica slow and full speed. Finally, it lead us up cobblestone roads that wound through a little village, past nice homes and tiny apartments. Turning down yet another skinner path Zac sped up as a shirtless teenager ran with fits shaking at our car. Looking down I noticed we were traveling slightly left of the area we wanted to be – although the GPS was good it did not have the small roads calculated- we drove back to the kid who called himself a “tour guide.”

Kevin, and his little pink back pack and shirtless self lead us down a steep shelf of muddy stairs and around a neighborhood school into an amazing opening, the blue hole. We were the only people there other than him and two other “workers” He carried our bag and walked along the side, climbing trees and basically floating from rock to rock in his barefeet while he rolled a “Bob Marely” Kevin, and other locals loved taking photos on our camera, a small waterproof device that we need to upgrade!

From there we took advantage of Sandals perk to “stay at one play at all” and drove to the nearest resort for breakfast. Next was Dunsriver falls which we thought was just a waterfall you could hike up. It turns out although the fall is natural you go into a full blow Jamaican amusement park to get there. We were quite surprised.

Our next stop that day was at Frenchmen’s Cove. Which I could have stayed at for months. It’s a perfect little scene out of a film. A tiny cove tucked on the coast with a perfect beach, tree swings, and blue water.

Finally we ended the day at Bond Beach, where the first movie, Dr. No, was filmed. I have this crazy obsession with the bond movies (mainly because everyone says my dad looks like Daniel Craig).

The next day we headed toward Negril, driving inland on winding through roads that reminded us of a level on Mario Kart. Locals look at us oddly as we roared up the road in our bright tiny Yaris rental.

We arrived at the legendary trip advisors “blue hole” to find a group of local teens hanging out. They welcomed us in and took turns showing us how they could jump in from the trees and asking to take photos of us. I promise, you will have plenty of photos taken of you.

This is where we met our good friend Roshane who took the two of us on a tour around the neighborhood showing us small Blue Holes throughout and even taking us to one  behind an abandon home that he claims Bob Marley’s family owns.

We arrived in Negril a few hours later to enjoy Ricks Cafe, a sunset on the Seven Mile Beach and then dinner at Sandals Negril.

After two days of adventure finishing the week relaxing on our beach was nice. But even better all the employees at Sandals knew us as the “crazy americans who rented a car.”

While we were at our resort Zac ate way to much ice-cream and I was always getting more cookies and virgin pina coladas. We had the best week to start our new life together.