Our Jamaican Honeymoon Adventure - Day 6

August 23rd, Day 6

So today after breakfast, much like every other day, we meandered our way down to the beach to catch some sun and relax.  To our jovial surprise, the wind was out in full force and sunshine rays weren't the only thing we were looking to catch!  On the far side of the beach were lots of fun water paraphernalia to skirt around in, so- having had extensive kayaking adventures with the one and only Mary- I thought it could be a lot of fun to venture onto choppy ocean waters with a kayak.

In order to partake in this scariest-of-the-pansy-water-sports endeavor, we had to sign waivers.  I didn't really read it thoroughly, as I figured it would scare me to read about all of the things that potentially could happen to me whilst on the water, but Andrew and I signed our newly joint lives away in hopes for some fun adventures on the water.

The downside to the water sport accommodations was that they would only let couples take double kayaks, as that was the only kayak available.  It wasn't a big deal, as Andrew and I are apparently in sync with each above and beyond just being music geeks!  I had to be in front because of weight distribution (thank God, because give or take some pounds it probably should have gone the other way…) and one of the aquatics instructors pushed us out into the water and we were on our way!

Despite the waves being amazing, and terribly fun to splash through, it was a little stifling because we were only able to kayak out to the second row of buoys, which made it hard to paddle into the really fun ones.  I know, right?  Me complaining about the buoys being stifling?  You will see the irony here momentarily.

We headed back to shore for some pool lounging, as today was the last day it would be open due to renovations.  Andrew casually asked if I might like to go sailing with him on one of the Hobie Cat boats, and I agreed because it sounded like a lot of fun!  They were just like the big catamaran we were on, but a slightly smaller build.

When we asked to use one, the guides immediately asked us if we had gotten a tutorial yet, to which we said no, but Andrew assured them that he knew how to sail.  They persisted for a bit, with a few "Ya sure, mon?" queries, but Andrew confidently quieted their doubts, as he had sailed many times before.  I was told where to sit, and when to move, and basically Andrew was going to do the rest.  As we were being led out into the water, Andrew explained what each aspect of the sail was for and showed me what he was doing while explaining it.  He was definitely a very experienced sailor, as he said he had been to sailing school, so I felt a lot safer that he was in charge.

We sailed pretty smoothly past the area where we kayaked a few hours prior, and we were steadily headed toward the buoys, and then a little further.  Wait, no.  This can't be right.  We are PAST the buoys of safety and solace?

In order for this preface to a complete panic attack to make sense, you have to know a couple of things about me:

1) I have an irrational fear of the ocean.  This fear is exacerbated when the ocean waters deepen.
2) Despite living on the river for nearly my entire life, I have never. once. been. sailing.
3) I have an irrational fear of the ocean.

Ok.  Now that we've cleared the air, I feel like I can now properly humiliate myself.  All of a sudden I start breathing really quickly and I can hear my heart beating so clearly it is almost as if it is right in between my ears.  I'm not crying (yet) but I am definitely whimpering.  Andrew lets out an uncomfortable sort of chuckle and asks incredulously, "Baby, are you all right?  Is this for real?"  I wish I could remember all of the ridiculous things I was saying, but all I really remember is the sound of the sail slapping against the pole (mast?  Whatever it's called), lots of whimpers, and just the un-ending feeling that we would capsize at any moment in open water AWAY FROM THE BUOYS OF SAFETY AND SOLACE!  I endured for a bit longer, but I was nearly sobbing when I asked Andrew if we could go back.  He bafflingly obliges, slightly amused but more empathetic toward my dramatic performance, and we head back to shore, but not before scuttling along some delicious looking reef that was hiding from view.

Again, I can't compliment Andrew enough on not only his superb sailing, but his ability to keep calm while an insane person freaked out on his boat.  He explained every detail of what he was doing, and that he would never do anything that would put me in danger, which I of course know.  The beautiful thing about panic attacks is, they're not planned.  This one was also not for any outlandishly logical reason, either.  I knew we would be ok, and I certainly trusted Andrew, but my brain would not settle for a normal heart rate.  It was just- bizarre.

We went back to the pool, after I apologized profusely, and had some lunch before we got ready to take a reggae dance class!  It was reggae night at the Balloon Bar (who are we kidding, though, it was always reggae night) and we wanted to learn some authentic dance moves before attending.  We ate at the Pallazzina again, and this time Andrew and I both ordered the same thing, which were Jerk chicken enchiladas with mozzarella cheese and a tomato cream sauce on top.

We hung out at the bar and asked a few people if there was still going to be a reggae dance class, since we had overheard a few people mention earlier in the week that one had been canceled.  Another couple- here on their "baby moon"- sat with us and waited, and we had a nice chat with them.  Despite our best attempts to ask just about everyone who walked by if they were teaching the class, no one showed and- after 20 minutes- we headed back to the room to hang out until dinner.  Fun fact, a wild peacock roamed over to where we were waiting and just walked around.  I have never seen a peacock outside of a zoo setting before, so it was really cool to see one just grazing.  Is that even the right word?

We went to the Casanova again, since it was in close proximity to the Balloon Bar and we had a fantastic dinner.  Andrew ordered the beef tenderloin again (can you say, "creature of habit"?) and I ordered the orange honey glazed duck breast (or maybe it was peacock breast?) with scalloped sweet potatoes.  Mmm!  For appetizers, Andrew ordered a Caribbean spring roll, while I got the cream of fire tomato and crab soup.  We had some time to kill, so we did get dessert: a Jamaican coffee for Andrew, and a Calypsonian coffee (Tia Maria and creme de menthe) and homemade strawberry ice cream for me.

Us before dinner!

We went down to the main floor outside where the entertainment was happening and danced for a bit, but as you might have guessed, it was really hot (even that late in the evening) so we kept it classy and didn't over-exert ourselves.  After the live entertainment was over, we got to enjoy our first ever piano sing-a-long!  There was a Jamaican man singing with the piano player who was here with his wife, and my God he had the voice of an angel!  It was so resonant and beautiful, and he had an extraordinary range.  By the way he was playing piano, and singing too, it was very clear that he was musically trained.  Andrew and I cautiously made our way over to get a better look (and listen!) and also to see what other songs were available to perform.  As it turns out, Mr. Angel Voice loves Phantom of the Opera, so we sang Music of the Night together.  I was pumped because I had just gotten my voice back a few days prior, and I of course made Andrew record it.  For your viewing pleasure:

Although this was the only song on video, Andrew totes stole the show with his unbelievable harmonizing ability.  He sang with Mr. Angel Voice as they did an impromptu performance of Knockin' on Heaven's Door, and also harmonized with me on Someone Like You by Adele.  We ended with a rousing rendition of Hey Jude, with a few other songs spruced in there as well.  Andrew and I were fairly intoxicated (yes I put my drink on the piano in the video, and yes I slapped my own wrist later for doing it) but we wanted to take a late night swim before the pool was gone for good, so we changed into swimsuits and hopped in for a bit.  We then went up to bed, ready to take on day seven in the morning!

P.S. - So, 25% of you thought I would just willy nilly jump right into the ocean, while 0% thought I took the chicken walk in for a dip.  37% thought I just dipped my toes in, while another 37% thought I said, "Eff that" to all of the aforementioned.  I am here to surprise y'all, as I did go in!  Just not via ostentatious jumping.  I proudly took the chicken walk into the ocean where we were anchored with my life jacket on, and floated behind the boat while promptly clutching one of the ropes attached to it.  I may not be the most daring, but I was proud that I wasn't 100% scared of getting in the water.  :-)