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Posts Tagged ‘Jamaica’

Favorite Places: Jamaica

Posted in Favorite Places, Nature, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on July 17, 2012| 1 Comment »

This passing boat looks just like the one I cruised the Black River in. — Photo by Pat Bean

“The Mark of a successful man is one that has spent an entire day on the bank of a river without feeling guilty about it.” Chinese Proverb

Typical passing scenery at the start of the river cruise. — Photo by Pat Bean

The Black River

Toward the end of the cruise, it was just one mangrove tree after another. — Photo by Pat Bean

I had one day to spend in Jamaica as part of a Caribbean cruise, and I chose to spend it cruising some more — on the  Black River.

But first there was a ride in a rickety old bus to get to the other side of the island. 

“No problem.” That describes the Jamaican way of life I learned. 

It was a fun bus ride, and a fun boat trip.

George — Photo by Pat Bean

 One in which a crocodile named George came at our boat captain’s call, and one in which all aboard toasted our captain with a Jamaican beer after he called the alligator over to say hi.

Honest!

Bean’s Pat: Retiree Diary http://tinyurl.com/7orn9dq Keep traveling with this blog, which takes you to Croatia. Blog pick of the day from this wondering wanderer.

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Favorite Places: Jamaica

Posted in Favorite Places, Travel, tagged , , , , , on March 20, 2012| 3 Comments »

“Getting older is no problem. You just have to live long enough..” — Groucho Marks

Cruising down the Black River 

I took a long bus ride to take a boat cruise down Jamaica's Black River. What a fantastic day it was. While I loved the colorful structures at the beginning of the trip, I also loved the more isolated stretches where egrets and herons stood watch of the river from the safety of the mangrove trees. -- Photo by Pat Bean

Versatile Blogger Award

Thank you Bella Remy http://bellaremyphotography.wordpress.com/ for giving me A Versatile Blogger’s Award, which means I am supposed to tell you seven things about myself. Huh… Let’s see…

I often start my mornings by listening to Helen Reddy’s recording of “I Am Woman Hear Me Roar.”

My mother called me Patsy Lee, unless she was mad at me. Then it was: Patricia Lee Joseph. Pat, however, is what I feel fits me.

I love bright colors and it doesn’t bother me at all if they clash.

The first time I walked into a newsroom, I knew it was where I belonged. And so it was for the next 37 years.

My early school-days nickname was Cootie Brain. I was so ashamed of it that I didn’t tell a soul until I was in my 50s. Today I feel that kids who don’t fit in are the lucky ones.

I must have both alone time and people in my life, which means my life is a constant juggling game.

And finally, I adore every single one of my followers. You’re an amazing bunch, and I’m having fun getting to know some of you better. And my thanks to all of you who have softened my recent blow from the loss of two pets with your heartfelt comments. The kind words did help.

Bean’s Pat: Chicks With Ticks http://tinyurl.com/6qpusvo Finding Walden.

 

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Traveling With Just an Overnighter

Posted in Birds, Nature, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on March 2, 2011| 4 Comments »

Life's "no problem" when you're cruising Jamaica's Black River. -- Photo by Pat Bean

 

“Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.” Groucho Marx

Travels With Maggie

Lonely Planet’s lead article in this month’s newsletter (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/us) features one day itineraries for five cities: Barcelona, Toronto, London, Paris and Istanbul.

I wanted to both scream and cry at the audacity of such a notion. The thought of spending so few hours in these fabulous cities, which I’ve not yet visited, made me quite sad.

Then I thought about places I’ve visited when circumstances only allowed me a single day, like Jamaica, Guayaquil, Fairbanks, Glacier National Park and Nairobi. While each of these places deserved more than a mere day to explore, there would be some big holes left in my experiences if I had missed them.

George, the alligator that responded to the Black River boatman's summons. Honest! -- Photo by Pat Bean

In Jamaica, which I visited while on a Caribbean Christmas cruise, I spent several hours in a giggley-jiggly bus with a guide explaining the sights and Jamaica’s “no problem mon” attitude, then took a float trip down the Black River where egrets ganged up in mangrove trees and an alligator named George came at the boatman’s call. Honest.

Guayaquil was the Ecuadorian starting point for my trip to the Galapagos Islands. Here I was served chicken and watermelon for breakfast at the quaint Andaluz Hotel before taking a walk on the city’s beautiful Waterfront Parkway. That night I watched the stars come out from a rooftop restaurant that overlooked the Guayas River.

In Fairbanks, Alaska, I spent a night at a quaint bed-and-breakfast and then the better part of the next day at the fantastic University of Alaska Museum before moving on to Denali National Park .

Glacier National Park in Montana was a detour when I drove the Alaskan Highway. The main event here was simply driving the awesome and scenic 57-mile Going to the Sun Highway. The frosting on the  entrée was a grizzly bear that stopped traffic. Fortunately my halt offered a good view of this magnificent creature.

Nairobi, Kenya, was the starting point for my magnificent two-week African safari. Here I stayed in the same hotel favored by Ernest Hemingway, explored the grounds of the University of Nairobi, which was just next door, and toured the home (now a museum) of Karen Blixen, alias Isek Dineson and author of “Out of Africa.”

I guess if that’s all you have, one day is quite enough. But I sure hope that if I ever get to Lonely Planet’s big five that I have more than 24 hours to linger.

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