ST. JOHN'S ISLAND, AMERICAN VIRGIN ISLAND

WE LEFT EARLY IN THE MORNING, AROUND 7AM, FOR ST. JOHN'S ISLAND, AN AMERICAN VIRGIN ISLAND.  WE GOT UP AROUND 6AM, AND LEFT THE HOTEL IN ST. CROIX, AND WERE OFF TO TAKE THE ANTILLE'S AIR BOAT., WHICH IS AN AIRPLANE THAT LANDS IN THE WATER, AND FLOATS.    AS I REMEMBER THE AIRBOAT HELD AROUND 10 PEOPLE.  IT WAS MADE OF METAL, INSIDE, AND OUR SEAT WAS RIGHT IN BACK OF THE PILOT.  WELL, THE ENTIRE TIME, I SIMPLY REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE PILOT.  I WAS SO SCARED.  I SIMPLY LOOKED AT A SMALL RELIGIOUS MAGAZINE, CALLED THE DAILY WORD, WHICH I ALWAYS CARRIED WITH ME. 

THE ANTILLES AIRBOAT SEEMED TO BE FILLED WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO WORK, AND THEY WERE USED TO THIS!

J KEPT REASSURING ME , THAT IF THE PLANE WENT DOWN, IT WOULD SIMPLY LAND IN THE WATER, WHICH IT WAS MADE FOR. 

THAT DID NOT MAKE ME FEEL ANY BETTER.

SO, THE ANTILLES AIR BOAT FINALLY LANDED IN THE WATER.  ON IMPACT, IT MADE A LARGE SPLASH OF WATER, UP ON THE WINDOWS.  I NEVER LOOKED UP, I WAS PETRIFIED.

FINALLY, IT WAS ALL OVER, AND WE WERE READY TO START OUR FUN TRIP ON THE ISLAND.

AT THAT TIME, ST. JOHN'S WAS VERY RUSTIC, AND I THINK THERE WAS ONLY 1 HOTEL THERE...................SO, WE DECIDED TO DO THE POPULAR THING, AND GO CAMPING!

BELIEVE ME, I AM NOT A CAMPING PERSON.GIVE ME A NICE HOTEL, AND SOFT PILLOWS, AND ROOM SERVICE...AND I AM HAPPY!

HOWEVER, I TRIED TO BE PART OF IT, AND EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING, SO WE TOOK A SMALL CABIN.

YOU COULD CHOOSE 1 OF 3 THINGS............TO SLEEP ON THE GROUND, OR IN A TENT, OR IN A CABIN.

YES, AND WHAT A CABIN IT WAS!  THE WALLS WERE MADE OF SCREENS, THE BEDS WERE COTS, AND THE FLOOR WAS CEMENT.  IT WAS ONLY NIG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE 2 COTS.  NO TOILET, NO KITCHEN, AND NO RUNNING WATER.  COMMUNAL BATHROOMS WERE AT LEAST A QUARTER MILE AWAY, WALKING DISTANCE.  THE OUTSIDE OF THE CABIN HAD METAL POTS AND PANS, FOR THOSE WHO WANTED TO COOK, ON A BUNSON BURNER. 

THE ROOM WAS COMPLETELY FILLED WITH LIZARDS....AND THE BEST PART, THEY WERE CLIMBING INTO THE COTS...................NEED I SAY MORE!

THE BEAUTY OF THE PLACE WAS THAT IT WAS SEVERAL FEET AWAY FROM THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE OCEAN...............IT WAS IN A FOREST...............ALL TREES, AND BIRDS, AND WILD ANINALS ROAMING ABOUT...............THE HUMIDITY WAS UNBEARABLE.  NO SHOWER OR RUNNING WATER..............

IT WAS KIND OF LIKE STAYING IN PARADISE....THE GARDEN OF EDEN..............

IT WAS LOVELY, BUT I JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT. 

I BECAME COVERED IN MOSQUITO BITES.

THAT NIGHT, UPON ARRIVAL, WE TRIED TO ENJOY IT.  WE HAD A MEAL AT THE MAIN LODGE, AND AS I REMEMBER, IT WAS A TERRIBLE, RUSTIC, MEAL...........DRIED UP SANWHICHES FROM A VENDING MACHINE.......  WE THEN SAT OUTSIDE WITH THE OTHERS, GAZING AT THE STARS AND SKY, AND THEY PUT ON AN OUTSIDE SHOW, ABOUT THE PLANETS.........

LATER, AT NIGHT, I COULD NOT SLEEP, AS THE LIZARDS WERE LIKE HUNDREDS, CRAWLING INTO THE COT................AND IT WAS HOT AND HUMID.

MORNING DAWNED, AND I MUST SAY, IT IS BEAUTIFUL TO BE THERE, AT THE SIDE OF THE OCEAN , ALONG WITH NATURE.

J QUICKLY MADE RESERVATIONS ON THE NEXT ISLAND, ST. THOMAS.  HE KNEW I COULD NOT TAKE ANOTHER DAY OF THIS, AND CAMPING JUST WASn'T FOR ME.

SO, WE LEFT AS SOON AS WE COULD..........

J SURPRISED ME.  HE HAD MADE RESERVATIONS AT THE FRENCHMAN'S REEF, A VERY EXCLUSIVE HOTEL IN ST; THOMAS.  THANK GOD HE KNEW I NOW HAD TO BE SPOILED, AT THE FREBCHMAN'S REEf, AFTER EXPERIENCING CAMPING.

DIRTY, SWEATY, FILLED WITH MOSQUITO BITES, WE TOOK A BOAT TO ST. THOMAS.  I WAS A LITTLE EMBARRESED TO ARRIVE LIKE THAT, BUT SOON I FORGOT OUR CRAZY EXPERIENCE IN ST. JOHN'S ISLAND.

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT ADVENTURES!.............FRAN

 

1979....THE AMERICAN AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

JANUARY 1979 SOON ARRIVED, AND I HAD TAKEN 5 WEEKS OFF FROM WORK, AS AN RN , IN THE HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK CITY.  WE DECIDED TO GO "ISLAND HOPPING," IN THE CARRIBEAN

WE ARRIVED FIRST IN ST. CROIX, AND STAYED IN A LOVELY HOTEL, WITH A LARGE BALCONY IN THE ROOM, OVER-LOOKING THE COCONUT PALM TREES.

THE FIRST EVENING UPON ARRIVAL, WE WALKED NEXT DOOR, TO A LOCAL FESTIVAL TAKING PLACE.  WE ENJOYED SOME LOCAL FOODS AND SIPPED TROPICAL FRUIT DRINKS...........THE SMELL OF BAR-B-QUE WAS IN THE AIR!

THE NEXT DAY, WE WALKED AROUND, AND CAME TO THE SHOPPING AREA, WITH OPEN OUTDOOR CAFES...........MANY OF THEM, AND THE PEOPLE WERE ALL LOUNGING AROUND EATING ICE CREAM, OR SIPPING TROPICAL FRUIT DRINKS!

 FROM THERE, WE STROLLED TO TAKE A VIEW OF THE BEAUTIFUL OCEAN.

WHILE WALKING AROUND THE OUTDOOR CAFES, WE WERE SHOCKED TO MEET SOMEONE WE KNEW FROM NEW JERSEY.  HE WAS THE OWNER OF A STORE IN THE HOLIDAY INN IN WILDWOOD CREST, NEW JERSEY.  WE STOPPED AND TALKED TO HIM.HE WAS TAKING A FEW MONTHS CRUISE THROUGH THE ISLANDS, AND ALSO HAWAII.....AND POLYNESIA...............HE WAS SITTING THERE RELAXING, SIPPING A COOL DRINK!

AT NIGHT, WE WENT TO THE LOUNGE AND RESTAURANT FOR A NICE DINNER!  WHILE THERE, WE MET A FELLOW, NAMED PAUL, WHO WORKED THERE PART TIME.  HE WAS AN INDIAN FELLOW, IN HIS 20'S OR 30'S, AND HE ENJOYED TALKING TO J, WHO WAS ALSO INDIAN.

THE NEXT DAY, PAUL CAME AND PICKED US UP...HE TOOK US AROUND THE ISLAND.  WE WENT TO SEE THE BRANCH OF FAIRLEIGH DICKENSON UNIVERSITY, AS J, MY FRIEND, HAD BEEN WORKING IN FDU, AS A PROFESSOR OF BUSINESS, AT THE TIME.

NEXT. PAUL TOOK US TO THE LOCAL AREA.  HE TOLD US HOW WHITE AMERICANS HAD RECENTLY BEEN MURDERED THERE ON THE ISLAND, BY LOCALS.  AT THE TIME IT WAS A BIG ISSUE, AND AFFECTING THE TOURIST TRADE.

HE TOOK US TO A LOCAL BAR.  NEED I SAY, I WAS THE ONLY WHITE WOMAN THERE.  I WAS NOT UNCOMFORTABLE, BECAUSE AT THE TIME, I WAS LIVING IN MANHATTAN, AND USED TO PEOPLE OF ALL RACES AND NATIONALITIES.  HOWEVER, I THINK THE LOCALS FELT A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE.  PAUL TOLD ME THAT AS A WHITE TOURIST, I WOULD NEVER COME HERE ALONE...IT WOULD BE UNSAFE.  BUT I WAS PROTECTED BEING WITH PAUL AND J, WHO WERE OF COLOR, AND PAUL WAS A LOCAL.

SO WE SAT AT THE BAR, AND I SIPPED FRUIT JUICE, AND WATCHED GENERAL HOSPITAL ON A VERY OLD TV, THAT WAS BLACK AND WHITE, AND WITH DISTORTED PICTURES!

AT NIGHT, PAUL CAME BACK AND PICKED US UP AT THE HOTEL.  HE WAS AN EMPLOYEE AT HESS PLANT, AND HE DROVE US OUT, ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN, TO SEE HESS.

I REMEMBER IT WAS VERY, VERY LARGE, ALL LIT UP IN THE PURE BLACK DARKNESS OF THE ISLAND........IT HAD A MAGICAL EFFECT ON ME.  WE SAT, IN THE CAR, LOOKING AT THIS LARGE PLANT, AND TALKED.............

THE NEXT DAY, PAUL CAME BACK, AND ONCE AGAIN TOOK US BACK TO HESS...............THIS TIME, IT WAS AFTERNOON, AND HE TOOK US INSIDE TO THE CAFETERIA FOR LUNCH.............THIS HESS PLANT WAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL, NEW AND MODERN PLACE.

ON THE 4TH DAY, PAUL ONCE AGAIN CAME TO PICK US UP.  THIS TIME HE HAD A JEEP, WHICH HE HAD BORROWED, EITHER FROM THE COMPANY , OR FROM A FRIEND..AND THIS WAS A REAL JEEP.NOT THE MODERN ONES ONES WE SEE TODAY.  I SAT IN THE BACK, AND THEY SAT IN THE FRONT.......I HAVE VERY SHORT LEGS, AND I REMEMBER HAVING TROUBLE GETTING INTO THE BACK SEAT.BUT I DID IT1

PAUL TOOK US FOR A BEAUTIFUL TOUR OF THE ISLAND...........HE TOOK US TO PLACES MOST PEOPLE NEVER SEE..................HE DROVE THAT JEEP THROUGH MOUNTAIN DIRT ROADS.ROADS THAT WERE NOT PAVED, AND SOME WERE NOT EVEN ROADS.JUST GRASS AND DIRT AND FOILIAGE.

WE WERE ON VERY HIGH MOUNTAINS, OVERLOOKING THE OCEAN BELOW.  TO ME, IT FELT LIKE PARADISE.NOT A SOUL AROUND...............ONLY TREES AND GREENARY, AND BIRDS SINGING.THE BEAUTUFUL SUN SHINING THROUGH THE TREES, AND REFLECTING ON THE BLUE OCEAN THAT WAS VERY FAR BELOW US.

PAUL STOPPED THE JEEP, ON THE MOUNTAIN.  IT WAS AT AROUND A 30 DEGREE ANGLE....I GOT OUT, AND COUOD FEEL THE TREMENDOUS PULL OF GRAVITY...........I LOOKED DOWN AT THE GROUND...................IT WAS SIMPLY COVERED WITH ALMONDS THAT HAD FALLEN FROM THE TREES..I MEAN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS.....REAL ALMONDS.NOT WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE IN THE GROCERY STORE....................THE ALMONDS WERE VERY LARGE, AND THE SHELLS WERE A GREENISH COLOR.BIG SHELLS, ALMOST HALF THE SIXE OF MY HAND.

AFTER COLLECTING A FEW ALMONDS, WE HEADED BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.

WE DECIDED TO STOP AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT FOR A BIT TO EAT.  PAUL WAS DRIVING AROUND THE PARKING LOT, LOOKING FOR A SPACE.  I WAS IN THE BACK SEAT, AND FOR AN INSTANT SAW IT COMING.........BAM!  WE HIT A CYLINDER POST, ON THE DRIVER;S SIDE WITH A VERY BIG FORCE...PAUL HAD SIMPLY MISCALCULATED.  NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT PAUL WAS VERY SHAKEN UP, AS THE JEEP DID NOT BELONG TO HIM.  HE LEFT US AT THE RESTAURANT, AND HE WENT BACK HOME TO SETTLE THINGS.

J AND I WALKED TO THE RESTAURANT, ALSO QUITE SHAKEN UP, AND WE SAT AND HAD A BITE TO EAT, AND TRIED TO RELAX.....LATER, WE TOOK A TAXI BACK TO OUR HOTEL.........

WHILE AT OUR HOTEL, WE ENJOYED  SITTING ON THE ROOM BALCONY.  WE LOOKED AT THE OCEAN, BUT WE WERE TOLD THE BEACHES WERE NOT THAT GREAT, WHERE WE WERE STAYING/

SO, THAT NIGHT, WE DECIDED TO LEAVE ST. CROIX,  THE DAY AFTER NEXT................................WE MADE OUR PLANS AND HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS............

NEXT STOP WAS ST. JOHN'S ISLAND, ANOTHER AMERICAN VIRGIN ISLAND.

THE PROBLEM WAS, THE ONLY WAY TO REACH ST. JOHN'S WAS BY BOAT OR ANTILLES AIR BOAT.  THE ANTILLES AIR BOAT, WAS A PLANE THAT LANDED IN THE WATER........WELL, I WAS PETRIFIED OF THAT, BUT J INSISTED WE WOULD TRAVEL THAT WAY!

SO STAY TUNED FOR MY NEXT EXCITING ADVENTURE IN ST. JOHN'S.............LANDING IN THE WATER, AND CAMPING OUT IN A CABIN, RIGHT NEAR THE OCEAN!

...................FRAN

 

IRELAND, 1978

WE TOOK AIR LINGUS TO THE BEAUTIFUL EMERALD ISLE!....I LEARNED WHY IT IS CALLED THAT!...AS THE PLANE DESCENDED, THE GROUND BELOW WAS A BALNKET OF GREEN...........THAT IS JUST WHAT YOU SAW..........GREEN , ENERALD FIELDS BELOW...AND I TOOK SEVERAL PIX, AS WE DESCENDED!

ONCE THERE, WE WERE SO EXCITED TO HAVE ARRIVED IN DUBLIN!  WE HAD BOOKED OUR LODGING WHILE IN LONDON, AND THIS TIME WE DECIDED TO TRY A "B AND B."......THAT IS A BED AND BREAKFAST........OUR TRIP WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT EXPERIENCING ONE!

WE ARRIVED BY TAXI, AND FOR A MOMENT, I FELT AS IF I HAD STEPPED BACK IN TIME......

THERE WE WERE, IN A VICTORIIAN-SORT OF HOME THAT HAD BEEN COVERTED TO THIS B AND B...........IT WAS SO QUAINT....SO OLD-FASHIONED....I FELT LIKE IT WAS THE 1950'S...........IT WAS A QUIET, RESIDENTIAL, CLEAN   AND NEAT TREE-LINED STREET, WITH OLD HOMES LINING THE STREET....IT WAS SO PEACEFUL AND QUIET, ON THIS SUNNY AFTERNOON.

A WOMAN RAN THE B AND B...SHE WAS FRIENDLY AND POLITE........SHE SHOWED US OUR ROOM, AND THE KITCHEN, WHERE WE COULD HAVE MEALS.........

WE UNPACKED, AND RELAXED.  IN THE EVENING WE WALKED TO A NEAR-BY PUB...J LOVED AND ALWAYS DRANK GUINESS STOUT BEER....A VERY DARK AND HEAVY BEER....WE LATER PASSED THE FACTORY, AS GUINESS STOUT IS MADE IN IRELAND...........I  HAD A LAGAR, OR BEER,  IN A GLASS MUG...WE ATE IRISH STEW WHILE IN THE PUB, AND THEN WALKED BACK TO THE B AND B,  WENT TO BED.......

THE NEXT MORNING WE WERE UP EARLY.  WE BOOKED A DAY TOUR OF DUBLIN, ON A BUS.....SO, WE GOT A GLIMPSE OF EVERYTHING!......I REMEMBER STOPPING AT ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, AND WALKING IN THE GRAVEYARD, LOOKING AT THE OLD HEADSTONES......

AFTER THE BUS TOUR, WE WALKED IN THE CITY OF DUBLIN...IT IS A BIG CITY, JUST LIKE NEW YORK, BUT IT DID NOT IMPRESS ME IN THE LEAST....THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE ABOUT BEING IN THAT CITY.....IT SEEMED OLD, AND DREARY, AND VERY POOR..........I REMEMBER AS WE WALKED IN THE STREETS, THERE WERE GROUPS OF YOUTHS, CARRYING FLAGS, AND DEMONSTRATING ABOUT THE WAR IN NORTH IRELAND............I TOLD J THAT I WAS NOT HAPPY THERE, IN DUBLIN, AND THAT WE SHOULD SOON LEAVE.........I WAS THANKFUL TO HAVE SEEN DUBLIN, BUT DID NOT WANT TO STAY.

SO, WE STOPPED ALONG THE WAY, IN A DINER, AND HAD SOME HOT SOUP, AND FOOD TO EAT....IT HAD BEEN A RAINY, DAMP DAY, AND THE HOT SOUP FELT SO GOOD!  I REMEMBER IT WAS STEAMY, IN THAT SMALL CITY CAFE.

WE WENT BACK TO OUR ROOM, AND CALLED TO MAKE FURTHER PLANS....TOMORROW WE WOULD LEAVE FOR SOUTH IRELAND, TO SEE THE BLARNEY STONE!

THAT NIGHT, SOME STRANGE, FUNNY THINGS HAPPENED TO US, IN THAT ONCE AGAIN, SPOOKY B AND B.........  ;)

THE WALLS WERE VERY THIN, AND YOU COULD HEAR THE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR ALMOST BREATHING...........WELL, WE COULD HEAR OUR NEIGHBORS TALKING.  FINALLY THEY SETTLED IN, AND ALL WAS QUIET...IT MUST HAVE BEEN AROUND 11PM.  SUDDENLY, IN THE QUIETNESS OF THE NIGHT, MY TRAVELLING ALARM CLOCK STARTS TO RING.......I FUMBLE AROUND FOR IT, AND SHUT IT OFF.......THE NEIGHBORS GIGGLED, AND THE NEXT MORNING AT BREAKFAST, MENTIONED THE HUMOR IN HEARING THAT ALARM CLOCK GO OFF.........WE NEVER TOLD THEM IT WAS US!

ALSO, AROUND 2 AM, I WAS AWOKEN OUT OF SLEEP BY A CAT OUTSIDE, SCREECHING....I WOKE UP STARTLED......J NEVER HEARD IT...............IT GAVE ME ONE OF THE ERRIEST FEELINGS TO HEAR THAT CAT!.........(later, when we arrived back home from our trip, i found out that our cat, Pudgy, at that particular time was mysteriously missing.  The person taking care of Pudgy had gone to all the shelters to look for her, and put up signs on lightposts outside.  Pudgy was later found to be hiding behind the stove...........I always felt that scream was Pudgy screaming out for me.)

SO THE NEXT DAY, BRIGHT AND EARLY WE TOOK THE TRAIN TO CORK AND KERRY!....ONCE AGAIN A BEAUTIFUL TRAIN RIDE, THROUGH THE GREEN COUNTRY-SIDE!

ONCE THERE, WE STAYED IN A VERY NICE HOTEL...THE NEXT DAY WE WENT TO "BLARNEY CASTLE."

THE BLARNEY STONE IS AT THE TOP OF THIS TALL CASTLE...YOU MUST FIRST CLIMB UP THE STEPS OF THE CASTLE, TO THE TOP.........ONCE ON THE TOP, YOU CAN WALK ALL AROUND THE ROOF...IT IS ALL OPEN.........SOME PEOPLE ARE KISSING THE BLARNEY STONE....A LOT SKIP IT!

ONCE YOU REACH THE TOP, YOU REALIZE THAT TO KISS THE BLARNEY STONE, YOU MUST LAY ON YOUR BACK, AND REACH IT BACKWARDS, KISSING IT........SOMEONE IS THERE TO HELP YOU, BECAUSE THERE IS A WIDW GAP, MAYBE A FOOT OR SO, BETWEEN THE BLARNEY STONE, AND THE CASTLE..................SO, NOT BEING PHYSICALLY FIT, I DIDN'T DO IT.............HOWEVER, WE WERE SMART ENOUGH TO BUT THE CERTIFICATES FOR SALE, THAT READ, "I KISSED THE BLARNEY STONE.".......MOST OF THESMART PEOPLE JUST BUY THE CERTIFICATE!.....................(as you may all know, kissing the blarney stone, gives you the gift of "elloquence"....that is, speech.)

THE NEXT DAY, AFTER STOPPING IN THE TOWN, TO LOOK AT ALL THE PRETTY KILTS, AND SCOTTISH PLAIDS, AND WE DID  A LITTLE SHOPPING, WE HEADED BY TRAIN NORTH.....

IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WE TOOK AN OVERNIGHT STAY ALONG THE WAY, AND WENT TO A PLACE CALLED "BUNRATHY CASTLE."

BUNRATHY CASTLE WAS A REAL MEDIAVAL FESAT, IN A REAL, GENUINE CASTLE.............ONCE AGAUN , WE HAD TO CLIMB THE STEEP STEPS OF THE CASTLE, TO THE TOP, WHERE THE FEAST WOULD BE SERVED.

ALL THE ATTENDANTS AND WAITERS, ETC, WERE DRESSED IN MEDIVAL COSTUME....WANDERING MINSTRILS,A ND ALL THE AUTHENTICITY OF A REAL MEDIAVAL FEAST.  WE EVEN HAD TO EAT WITH OUR HANDS, AS THER WERE NO EATING UTENSILS WAY BACK THEN!.....AND SO WE SIPPED MEAD, AND ATE THE CHICKEN WITH OUR HANDS.........A PHOTOGRAPER CAME AND SNAPPED OUR PIX, AS A GREAT REMEMBRANCE TO TAKE HOME!

WE ALL HAD A GREAT TIME, AND JOLLY EVENING...THERE WAS QUITE ALARGE CROWD THERE THAT NIGHT, TO EXPERINCE THIS RENAISSANCE FEAST!

IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WE LEFT THE NEXT DAY, FLYING HOMME TO AMERICA, FROM IRELAND..

WE HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME, AND MANY GOOD MEMORIES, ON THIS TRIP TO ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND!

ON THE PLANE TRIP BACK, I WAS ALREADY THINKING ABOUT WHERE TO GO NEXT...............I WOULD TAKE A 5 WEEK VACATION FROM MY JOB IN JANUARY 1979...,THAT WAS ONLY 5 MONTHS AWAY............

WELL, WE DECIDED ON "ISLAND HOPPING," IN THE CARRIBEAN.  SO, NEXT STOP WAS THE AMERICAN VIRGIN ISLANDS, (ST. CROIX, ST. JOHN'S ISLAND, AND ST. THOMAS)AND THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLAND OF TORTOLLA.

...FRAN

 

SCOTLLAND, 1978

AFTER TRAVELING AROUND ENGLAND FOR A FEW DAYS,  WE WENT BACK TO OUR HOTEL IN LONDON...THE STRAND HOTEL, AND FROM THERE WE MADE OUR NEXT PLANS.

WE TOOK OUR BRIT RAIL PASSES AND TOOK A MOST LOVELY TRAIN RIDE TO SCOTLAND!..........I REMEMBER IT WAS A VERY LONG TRIP...HOURS, AS I RECALL, AND WE STARTED OUT IN THE MORNING OR AFTERNOON, AND ARRIVED AROUND 5PM, WE HAD BOOKED A HOTEL WHILE STILL IN LONDON, SO WE KNEW JUST WHERE WE WERE GOING........

AS I SAID, THE TRIP WAS LOVEL;Y.........RELAXING AND BEAUTIFUL..........WE ENJOYED THE GREEN SCENERY....THE MOUNTAINS...ALL SO BEAUTIFUL, AS WE GAZED OUT THE TRAIN WINDOW...........

WE ATE SNACKS AND SANDWICHS ALONG THE WAY.......TRAIN TRAVEL IN EUROPE /GREAT BRITAIN, IS A PLEASURE, I MUST SAY!

IN THOSE DAYS, THERE WERE A LOT OF "BACK-PACKERS" THROUGH EUROPE.........A LOT OF YOUTH, TRAVELING AROUND, ON A LOW BUDGET.........MOST WHO STAYED IN B&B'S, OR HOSTELS. AS FOR US, WE ALWAYS STAYED IN VERY GOOD HOTELS, USUALLY THE BEST, IN MOST CASES..........

BUT I WILL ADMIT, I ALWAYS CARRIED ARTHUR FROMMER'S TRAVEL BOOKS AROUND WITH ME, ALONG WIITH FODOR'S TRAVELS...........ARTHUR FROMMER GAVE YOU A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS, AND PLACES TO GO TO.......

I TRAVELED WITH MY HARD LIGGAGE, AMERICAN TOURISTER, WHICH I LOVED AND HAD THE WHOLE SET........I SOMETIMES HAD TRAVELED WITH OTHER SOFT LUGGAGE I HAD.........ONCE WHILE IN ITALY, MY SOFT SUITCASE BROKE, AND I BOUGHT A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ITALIAN LUGGAGE FOR THE TRIP HOME..............YES, IN THOSE DAYS I WAS OBCESSED WITH LUGGAGE , AND HANDBAGS............ALWAYS HAD TO HAVE A NICE NEW LEATHER HANDBAG FOR MY TRIP, AND WHILE IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES I ALWAYS BOUGHT TONS OF NEW BAGS     :)

THROUGHOUT THE TRIPS, I CARRIED MY 35 MM CAMERA, AND A MOVIE CAMERA....THE OLD FASHION ONES, BEFORE THEY HAD CAMCORDERS!

SO, WE LOVED TO TAKE PiX, OUT OF THE TRAIN WINDOW!

FINALLY WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION.....IT WAS A TOWN NEAR TO EDINBOROUGH, BUT AT THIS TIME. I CANNOT RECALL IT'S NAME.

THE HOTEL WAS A BEAUTIFUL, OLD, POSH PLACE...SORT OF LIKE A MANSION.......IT WAS ON THE GOLF COURSE.......A VERY FAMOUS, EXCLUSIVE TYPE OF PLACE..........IT WAS FILLED WITH PEOPLE!............OUR ROOM WAS VERY LARGE, WITH HIGH CEILINGS, ANTIQUE FURNITURE, AND GAVE YOU A SPOOKY SENSE, AS IF THE PLACE WAS HAUNTED!...........BUT I JUST LOVED IT!....HERE WE WERE IN THIS BIG MANSION -TYPE HOTEL, LOCATED AMONGST THE MOORS AND HIGHLANDS............WE  WERE IN A PLACE THAT MADE YOU FEEL AS IF SHERLOCK HOLMES WAS OUT THERE WALKING AROUND, AMONGST THE MOORS AND HIGHLANDS!

AFTER ARRIVING, WE WENT TO DINNER IN A MASSIVE DINING ROOM..........EVERYTHING THERE WAS EXQUISITE!......EVERYONE WAS HAPPY AND FRIENDLY........YOU WERE TREATED LIKE A QUEEN!

AFTER THE DINNER, A DESERT TROLLY CART WAS BROUGHT TO OUR TABLE...........SO MANY DELICIOUS THINGS TO CHOSE FROM!

AFTER DESSERT, WE WALKED OUTSIDE..........YES, WE ACTUALLY WALKED AMONGST THE MOORS AND HIGHLANDS!.......IT WAS NOW DUSK, AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS THE LONG TRIP, OR OUR IMAGINATION, BUT IT SEEMED AS IF BOTH OF US WERE IMAGINING SPIRITS AS WE WALKED AROUND OUTSIDE.....SO, WE DECIDED TO GO BACK INSIDE!

ONCE BACK INSIDE . WE SAT IN ONE OF THE MANY LOUNGES....THAT WERE PARLORS, IN THIS BIG MANSION........WE SAT AND TALKED TO THE MANY FRIENDLY PEOPLE, AND SIPPED A COOL DRINK.

I WAS AMAZED, AS IT WAS 10PM, AND STILL LIGHT OUT.......I SOON LEARNED THAT BECAUSE WE WERE VERY FAR NORTH, IT GOT DARK AT A VERY LATE HOUR......

WE SOON WENT TO BED, BUT I HAD A HARD TIME SLEEPING, AS I FELT A LITTLE SPOOKY IN THIS PLACE!

THE NEXT DAY, WE WENT TO EDINBOROUGH, TO TOUR THE FAMOUS "EDINBOROUGH CASTLE."

WE TOOK A TAXI THERE, AND WAS LET OUT ON THE FAMOUS, "ROYAL MILE,"..........THE ENTRANCE WAS BEING GUARDED BY A FRIENDLY FEMALE GUARD, WHOM WE TOOK A PIX OF!

THEN WE WALKED ON THE "ROYAL MILE," AND SOON CAME TO THE CASTLE.............EDINBOROUGH CASTLE IS EMMENSE, AND THERE WAS SO MUCH TO SEE!...........WE SPENT THE WHOLE DAY TOURING AND WALKING AROUND THE CASTLE!

LATER, WE WENT TO THE TOWN, AND LOOKED IN ALL THE SHOPS THAT SOLD KILTS, AND SCOTTISH PLAIDS......WE DID SOME SHOPPING, AND BOUGHT SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER SCOTLAND BY!

THAT NIGHT , WE DISCUSSED WHAT WE WOULD DO NEXT.....I WANTED TO GO FURTHER NORTH, IN SCOTLAND, TO THE TOWN OF INVERNESS, TO SEE THE LOCH NESS MONSTER............I WANTED SO BAD TO SEE NELLIE, THE LOCH NESS MONSTER!.....SCOTLAND WAS ALREADY A MISTY, DAMP, FOGGY, SPOOKY PLACE, FOR ME...AND I WANTED EVEN MORE!

HOWEVER, BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO TRAVEL THERE AND BACK, WE DECIDED TO LEAVE SCOTLAND IN THE MORNING, AND TAKE THE TRAIN BACK TO LONDON............

THEN, FROM LONDON, WE WOULD BOOK A FLIGHT TO GO TO IRELAND.........OUR LAST STOP ON THIS TRIP!

THE PEOPLE IN SCOTLAND, THAT WE MET AND TALKED TO, EVEN ON THE TRAIN, WERE SOME OF THE NICEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!..................

I WAS A LITTLE SAD TO LEAVE SCOTLAND...........BUT IT WAS "ONWARD WORLD!"...............SO MUCH TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!!

NEXT STOP, IRELAND.............TO KISS THE BLARNEY STONE!

..................FRAN

 

 

 

2ND TRIP....ENGLAND, WALES, SCOTLAND, IRELAND...

BEFORE I KNEW IT, IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF JULY 1978, AND I WAS READY TO HEAD TO GREAT BRITAIN!

WITH BRIT-RAIL PASSES IN HAND, WE BOARDED THE BRITISH AIRWAYS JUMBO JET-LINER...........IT WAS EVENING WHEN OUR FLIGHT LEFT NEW YORK CITY..............THE LARGE WIDE-BODY PLANE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL AND COMFORTABLE, AND I ALREADY FELT LIKE ROYALTY!  IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT, THE BIG JET-LINER HAD ALL IT'S INSIDE CABIN LIGHTS ON, AND IT WAS SO PRETTY!..........IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD BEEN INSIDE SUCH A LARGE AIRCRAFT, AND I WAS SO TAKEN ABACK AND AMAZED BY IT!

IN THOSE DAYS, FLYING WAS A PLEASURE!....WE HAD LOTS OF ROOM, AND WERE NOT CRAMPED UP, LIKE TODAY......AND THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS, AND YOU WERE SERVED SEVERAL MEALS!......YOU WENT FROM MEAL TO MEAL, AND THEREFORE WERE NEVER BORED!

WE LANDED IN LONDON AT 6AM, AND TOOK A TAXI TO OUR HOTEL, WHICH WAS IN THE HEART OF LONDON.  IT WAS A BIG, OLD, POSH HOTEL, CALLED 'THE STRAND," AND I BELIEVE IT WAS ON STRAND AVE, AS I RECALL....LATER, IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS, THAT HOTEL WAS ONE IN WHICH PRINCESS DI AND PRINCE CHARLES PASSED IN FRONT OF, IN THEIR COACH, ON THE WAY TO BE MARRIED..........

LONDON WAS EVERYTHING AND MORE I EXPECTED IT TO BE!....I HAD ALWAYS LOVED THE BRITISH CULTURE, AND NOW I WAS ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING IT!

"TEA-TIME" WAS SOMETHING I JUST LOVED.........THE FORMALITY OF IT!.....THE TEA WOULD BE SERVED IN THE PARLOR OF THE HOTEL, EVERY AFTERNOON.........THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE THE RITUAL OF TEA-TIME....SIPPING IT FROM TEA-CUPS...EATING SCONES AND CLOTTED CREAM........EVERYTHING WAS "SO BRITISH!".....AND THE TEA ALWAYS TASTED SO GOOD!......AND WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE STATES, I CONTINUED THE TEA RITUALS I HAD LEARNED WHILE IN ENGLAND.........THINGS LIKE WARMING THE POT!..........AND SERVING AFTERNOON TEA........AND JUST RELAXING WITH THAT CUP OF TEA IN THE AFTERNOON!

AND SO, WE WENT AROUND LONDON, SEEING ALL THAT WE COULD SEE!............BUCKINGHAM PALACE AND THE CHANGING OF THE GUARDS.....QUEEN VICTORIA'S STATUE......LONDON BRIDGE, AND THE TOWER OF LONDON........BIG BEN...........WINDSOR CASTLE.....BLEINHIM PALACE.......LOTS OF WALKING, AND LOOKING!..........LOTS OF CULTURE AND HISTORY, WHICH I LOVE!

WE RODE AROUND LONDON IN THE RED DOUBLE-DECKER BUSES.........WE WENT SHOPPING, AND OF COURSE WENT TO HARROD'S!

TRAFALGER SQUARE, AND THE PARK..........YESSSSSSS, WE DID IT ALL.....AND I COULD NOT WAIT TO RETURN AGAIN!

BUT, OUR TRIP WAS NOT OVER!.....IN FACT, IT HAD JUST BEGUN!...........WITH BRIT-RAIL PASSES IN HAND, WE RODE THE TRAIN ALL OVER GREAT BRITAIN.............

THE TRAINS WERE SUCH FUN TO RIDE IN ENGLAND AND EUROPE........VERY DIFFERENT THAN AMERICA.........EVERYONE SEEMED TO BE GOING SOMEWHERE ON A TRAIN!...........

AND SO, WE WENT TO "STRATFORD UPON AVON," THE HOME OF SHAKESPEARE..........WE WENT INTO THE ROUND "GLOBE THEATRE."............WE WALKED AROUND OUTSIDE, AND DID THE USUAL "TOURIST THING.".........PICTURE TAKING, BUYING SOUVENIRS, AND JUST SOAKING UP THE "FEELING' OF THE PLACE................I WALKED ALONG THE THAMES RIVER...SO QUIET AND PEACEFUL!

WE STOPPED IN DIFFERENT TOWNS ON THE WAY BACK........WE EVEN GOT TO SEE WALES, FOR A SHORT TIME......

ONCE BACK IN LONDON, WE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE CITY!  DINNERS WERE OF BEAUTIFUL LARGE, JUICY ROASTS...............DELICIOUS DESERTS WERE ALWAYS SERVED FROM A TROLLY CART................I FELT SO PAMPERED IN LONDON!......LIKE THE QUEEN, HERSELF!....PEOPLE ARE VERY FRIENDLY AND CURTEOUS THERE!

I LEARNED ABOUT BRITISH PUBS, AND FISH AND CHIPS, ALONG WITH LARGE MUGS OF LAGER..............AND THEN THERE WERE "CORDIALS, " WHICH ARE DIFFERENT THAN IN AMERICA.

AFTER AROUND 1 WEEK OF THE "LONDON LIFE," WE DECIDED TO TRAVEL NORTH, WITH OUR BRIT-RAIL PASSES, AND GO AND CHECK OUT SCOTLLAND.

IN MY NEXT ENTRY, I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT OUR TRIP TO SCOTLAND.......TO THE MOORS AND HIGHLANDS!.....TO THE HOME OF SHERLOCK HOLMES!

FRAN

APRIL 1978..MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA

AS SOON AS WE BOARDED THE PLANE FOR JAMAICA, WE FELT SO HAPPY AND UP-LIFTED.........FLYING "AIR JAMAICA,' WE FELT LIKE WE WERE ALREADY ON VACATION.........EVERYONE ON THE PLANE WAS IN A GOOD MOOD...HAPPY, AS WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO SUN AND FUN!

THROUGHOUT THOSE YEARS, I TRAVELED WITH A MAN CALLED JAL, WHOM I WILL REFER TO AS "J" IN THIS JOURNAL.  HE WAS A MAN THAT WAS FROM INDIA, AND HE WAS 15 YEARS OLDER THAN ME.  HE WAS A PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND BUSINESS, AND HAD HIS DOCTORATE FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK CITY, FROM THE SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.  I WAS AT THE TIME, LIVING WITH HIM, AND WE ENJOYED TRAVELING TOGETHER. I WOULD CALL HIM A VERY 'CONTINENTAL' TYPE OF PERSON, WELL VERSED IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS...A VERY INTERESTING MAN, WHO TAUGHT IN SOME OF THE BEST UNIVERSTIES IN OUR COUNTRY, AND WAS A WELL KNOWN LECTURER, TO THE STATE POLICE, IN NEW JERSEY, AND TO THE MILITARY MEN, AT NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA.

AND SO, WE ARRIVED IN MONTEGO BAY!  WE STAYED IN A HOTEL CALLED, "THE MONTEGO BAY CLUB RESORT,' WHICH WAS OVER-LOOKING THE OCEAN.  I REMEMBER CHECKING IN, AND THINKING HOW VERY BLUE THE OCEAN LOKKED!.........IT WAS A TURQUIOSE BLUE, UNLIKE I HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE!

OUR HOTEL ROOM WAS AN EFFICIENCEY, SO WE HAD A STOVE, ETC....IT ALSO HAD A BEAUTIFUL BALCONY OVER-LOOKING THE OCEAN.

I'M NOT REALLY A BEACH PERSON, BUT I DO ENJOY WALKING ON THE SAND, AT SUNSET, WHEN THE TIDE IS GOING OUT........WHEN THE SUN IS DOWN, AND I CAN COLLECT SEASHELLS!......OUR HOTEL WAS IN 'DOCTOR'S COVE BEACH,' WHOSE WATERS WERE KNOWN FOR IT'S HEALING PROPERTIES....WE DID GO O THE BEACH SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE DAY..I HAD A BIG, WIDE STRAW HAT ON..........THE WHITE SKIN OF MY ARMS TURNED BRIGHT RED, IN THE CARIBBEAN SUN...WE A SAT UNDER AN UMBRELLA, AS J SNAPPED PICTURES OF ALL THE PRETTY BEACH BEAUTIES WALKING BY!

SOMEONE BROUGHT US A FRESH COCONUT, HE HAD JUST PICKED FROM THE COCONUT PALM TREE,,,HE SPLIT IT, AND WE DRANK THE COOL , FRESH, COCONUT JUICE,,,,YUMMY!....SWEET AND REFRESHING, AS NOTHING YOU HAVE NEVER TASTED!

AND SO, WE WERE BARELY SETTLED IN OUR ROOM, WHEN THERE WAS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR..........IT WAS MOSES.  HE CAME TO WELCOME US HERE, AND HE WORKED IN THE HOTEL  HE OFFERED TO TAKE US TO THE TOWN IN THE MORNING, WHERE WE COULD SHOP FOR SOME GROCERIES AND SNACKS. MOSES WAS TALL AND THIN, AND BECAME OUR FRIEND THROUGHOUT THE TRIP.

AFTER MOSES LEFT, THERE WAS ANOTHER KNOCK AT THE DOOR....IT WAS PEARL, THIS TIME.  PEARL WAS A WOMAN AROUND 45 YEARS OLD.........SHE ALSO WORKED IN  THE HOTEL, AS A HOUSEKEEPER.  SHE VOLUNTEERED TO COOK US A NICE HOT MEAL., OF JAMAICAN FOOD, LATER THAT WEEK.................

J AND I LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND SMILED.......THIS WAS BECOMING AN INTERESTING TRIP!

AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE WAS A THIRD KNOCK...THIS TIME IT WAS ANOTHER FELLOW WHO WORKED AT THE HOTEL, WHO OFFERED TO BUY US SODA, AND SNACKS, SO WE WOULD BE COMFORTABLE........

THAT'S HOW IT ALL BEGAN!...I SOON BECAME USED TO "JAMAICAN TIME."  THAT IS EVERYONE IS LAID BACK AND TAKES THERE TIME...TIME AND PEOPLE MOVE SLOWLY....NOT THE RUSH-A-DAY WORLD OF AMERICA!

AND SO, IT WAS DINNER AT THE HOTEL, AS THE SUN-SET, OVER-LOOKING THE OCEAN.........PALM TREES SWAYING IN THE BREEZE.........THE WARM, BALMY CLIMATE.........YES, SO RELAXING!

AFTERWARDS, IT WAS ENTERTAINMAENT IN THE LOUNGE.......THE LIMBO DANCERS, AND MUSIC...........

THE DAYS WERE SPENT BY THE RELAXING POOL, AND WALKS ON THE BEACH AT SUNSET..............

WE WENT TO THE STRAW MARKET.........BUYING LOTS AND LOTS OF STRAW HAND-MADE THINGS..........BASKETS, AND HATS, AND JAMAICAN DOLLS....AND THEN WE BOUGHT HAND-CRAFTED BIRDS, AND A VOODOO MASK, IN THE OPEN AIR MARKET.

MOSES DID TAKE US TO THE TOWN THE NEXT DAY!..WHAT AN EXPEIENCE RIDING THE OLD BUS TO TOWN, WITH THE LOCAL PEOPLE, HALF HANGING OUT THE WINDOWS...HOT AND STUFFY, THEY WERE NOT AIR-CONDITIONED BUSES!  PACKED WITH WOMEN AND CHILDREN, AND VERY NOISY, I MUST SAY!

WHEN WE GOT TO TOWN, WE MET A WOMAN IN THE STREET SELLING SUGAR CANE...............YES, FRESH SUGAR CANE..........BIG , LONG STALKS OF GREEN SUGAR CANE....PICKED FROM THE FIELDS....WE BOUGHT SOME, AND MOSES SHOWED US HOW TO BITE INTO THE RAW SUGAR CANE!...IT WAS SWEET AND DELICIOUS!

AFTER THAT, WE WENT INTO THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE, AND BOUGHT SOME SNACKS, AND SODA IN GLASS BOTTLES......SOMEHOW, THE SODA IN GLASS BOTTLES IN THE CARIBBEAN ALWAYS TASTES BETTER!

PEARL DID COME TO OUR ROOM, LATER THAT WEEK.  SHE BOUGHT ALONG ALL THE LOCAL FOOD, AND COOKED US A DELICIOUS DINNER OF LOCAL FOODS........AKEE AND FISH, BEANS AND RICE, AND PLAINTAINS..........IT WAS ALL SO  VERY YUMMY!

I LIKED PEARL A LOT, AND SHE LIKED ME............AT THE TIME, I HAD LONG, BLONDE HAIR.  SHE LOVED TO COMB MY HAIR, AND BRAID IT...SHE ALSO MASSAGED COCONUT OIL IN MY HAIR........PEOPLE FROM THE ISLANDS ALWAYS LIKED AMERICAN MADE GOODS.........SO SHE ASKED ME FOR THE BEAUTIFUL TORTOISE SHELL COMBS I WORE IN MY LONG HAIR, TO HOLD IT BACK..........I GAVE THEM TO HER.  I LIKED HER A LOT.  I ALSO GAVE AHER A DESIGNER SWEATER SET I HAD TAKEN ALONG WITH ME...........TO SEE THE HAPPINESS IN THIS WOMAN'S FACE, WAS ALL THAT MATTERED TO ME.....

AND IN THE EVENING, WE WOULD SIT ON THE BALCONY...MANY A NIGHT, MOSES JOINED US, OR THE THIRD GUY........DRINKING SODA....OR MAYBE A RUM AND COKE, FOR THE MEN (NOT ME, AS I DON'T DRINK).....AND EATING SOME SNACKS.................AND IN THE BACKGROUND, I REMEBER I COULD HEAR THE JAMAICAN BEAT OF THE DRUMS...COMING FROM THE FOREST OR MOUNTAIN.........OR WAS IT JUST MY IMAGINATION?................YES, THE MAGICAL, MYSTIQUE OF THE ISLAND.....I IMAGINED THE SOUND WAS THAT OF VOODOO DRUMS, IN THE NEAR DISTANCE.................THE ALLURE OF THE ISLAND.....THE SOUNDS, THE SIGHTS, THE SMELLS...............THE RELAXATION...........THE BALMY BREEZE.  FOR A FEW NIGHTS, I EVEN SLEPT WITH THE GLASS SLIDING DOOR OPEN IN OUR ROOM..............IT ALL FELT SO MYSTERIOUS, AND SO "ISLANDISH!"

BEFORE WE LEFT JAMAICA, WE HAD THE CHOICE OF VISITING, ON A DAY TRIP, EITHER OCHO RIOS, OR NEGRIL.  OCHO RIOS IS KNOWN FOR IT'S WATERFALL, OVER WHICH ONE MUST WALK ON THE ROCKS.  SO, WE INSTEAD DECIDED ON NEGRIL.

WE BOOKED THE DAY TRIP TO NEGRIL THROUGH THE HOTEL.  WE HAD ANOTHER COUPLE WITH US.....WE FOUND OURSELVES IN A VERY OLD CAR, WITH A VERY OLD MAN FOR OUR TOUR DRIVER.............EVEYONE WAS A LITTLE ON EDGE!

THE OTHER COUPLE SAT IN THE BACK SEAT, AND I SAT BETWEEN J AND THE DRIVER, IN THE FRONT............THE TRIP WAS THROUGH THE WOODS, AND THROUGH BACK ROADS........IT APPEARED THE MAN HAD TROUBLE DRIVING..,HE SEEMED TO ALWAYS BE HEADE FACE ON TO THE ON-COMING CAR.  AT ONE POINT, I DID NOT THINK HE WOULD SWERVE OVER IN TIME, TO AVOID A HEAD-ON COLLESION, SO MY INSTINCTS TOOK OVER, AND I GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL, AND GENTLY GUIDED THE CAR TO THE SIDE, TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT.  J WAS NEVER SO ANGRY AT ME FOR DOING THAT.,.,BUT THE COUPLE HAD AGREED I HAD PREVENTED A MAJOR ACCIDENT FROM OCCURING.........LATER, I EVEN OFFERED TO DRIVE BACK, BUT THEY WOULDN'T LET ME!

NEGRIL WAS AN INTERESTING PLACE TO SEE..........IT IS KNOWN FOR IT'S HEDONISM..............AND SO, THE BEACHES WERE FILLED WITH TOPLESS WOMEN.  J MADE SURE HE HAD BROUGHT ALONG THE POWERFUL BINOCULARS WE HAD....HE WAS BUSY WATCHING THE WOMEN ALL DAY, IT SEEMED!

AND SO, OUR TRIP TO JAMAICA WAS SOON OVER!  THE 7 DAYS HAD GONE QUICKLY....

HOWEVER, BEFORE WE LEFT, MOSES AND PEARL HAD BEGGED FOR US TO TAKE THEM BACK TO AMERICA WITH US............AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, I REMEMBER THERE WAS SOME UNREST IN JAMAICA, AND "THE ELECTIONS" WERE TAKING PLACE...........SO, AT THAT TIME, A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO LEAVE .  MOSES HAD OFFERED TO BE OUR CHAUFFER, AND TO HELP AROUND THE HOUSE.  PEARL HAD OFFERED TO BE OUR COOK AND HOUSEKEEPER.  THINGS CHANGED AFTER THAT ELECTION, AND PEOPLE WERE HAPPY TO STAY IN JAMAICA.........WE DID RECEIVE LETTERS FROM MOSES AND PEARL, BUT LATER LOST CONTACT WITH THEM...........

AS I SAID, OUR TRIPS WERE FILLED WITH MEETING INTERESTING PEOPLE..........WE ALWAYS MET PEOPLE OF THE ISLAND/COUNTRY...........WE BEFRIENDED THEM, AND ALWAYS LEARNED SO MUCH DURING OUR TRIPS, ABOUT THE CULTURE OF THE PLACE, AND THE PEOPLE.  J LOVED TO TALK POLITICS OF THE COUNTRY WITH THE PEOPLE WE MET....THEY WERE ALWAYS INTERESTED IN US, AND WE WERE INTERESTED IN THEM...............

AND SO WE FLEW BACK HOME, AND I WENT BACK TO WORK AND SCHOOL.  ON THE WAY BACK, I WAS ALREADY PLANNING FOR OUR NEXT TRIP....THIS TIME IT WOULD BE TO ENGLAND, AND GREAT BRITAIN..........I WAS ALREADY CALCULATING IN MY HEAD, THE MONTHS, AND WHEN TO GO..........I DECIDED THAT WE WOULD TRAVEL NEXT DURING JULY, 1978...JUST 3 MONTHS AWAY!

.......... I HAD TO DO IT, BECAUSE I SUDDENLY LIKED THIS THING CALLED "TRAVEL!"

 FRAN

 

HOW IT ALL STARTED

IT ALL STARTED IN 1978....TRAVELING, THAT IS!  AT THE TIME, I WAS WORKING AS A REGISTERED NURSE, IN ST. LUKE'S-ROOSEVELT HOSPITAL, IN NEW YORK CITY, ON WEST 114TH STREET AN AMSTERDAM AVE.  I WORKED IN THE ST.LUKE'S SITE, WHICH WAS ON THE UPPER WEST SIDE OF NEW YORK.  I LIVED ACROSS THE STREET, IN A HIGH RISE BUILDING, WITH DOOR-MAN...LIVING THE TYPICAL "NEW YORKER" LIFE-STYLE...WHICH I ABSOLUTELY LOVED!  RESTAURANTS, OUTDOOR CAFES, THEATER, SHOWS, SHOPPING........MACY'S AND BLOOMINGDALES!......MUSEUMS, CHURCHES....AND CULTURE, CULTURE, AND MORE CULTURE!........YES, THAT WAS ME, AND I LOVED IT ALL!.........I "SOAKED UP" EVERY BIT OF THE NEW YORK LIFE-STYLE!

IT WAS IN THE WINTER OF 1978, THAT I DECIDED TO START TRAVELING ABROAD.  I WORKED AT NIGHT, ON AN ORTHOPEDIC FLOOR, WITH 2 NURSE'S AIDES.  ONE OF THEM, WHOSE NAME WAS ALSO "FRANCES."   SHE WAS FROM TRINIDAD, AND WE WERE QUITE CLOSE AND HAD LONG CONVERSATIONS AT WORK.  FRANCES HAD TRAVELED TO ENGLAND, AND TO A FEW OF THE ISLANDS, AS SHE WAS FROM THERE, ANYHOW.

THE REASON I MENTION FRANCES, IS THAT SHE WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN MY LIFE....FROM A RETROSPECTIVE POINT OF VIEW.  FRANCES EXPLAINED TO ME JUST HOW SHE DID IT....BE VERY ORGANIZED IN SAVING YOUR MONEY, MONTH BY MONTH...WORK A LITTLE OVER-TIME........AND ANYONE, WHO WAS DISCIPLINED ENOUGH COULD DO IT!

AND SO, I STARTED CALCULATING THINGS...TIME AND MONEY...AND STARTED SAVING.....AND WORKING A COUPLE OF OVER-TIMES....AND THERE I WAS!......READY FOR MY FIRST TRIP OUT OF THE COUNTRY...............

LITTLE DID I KNOW, THAT ONCE I TOOK THAT FIRST TRIP, I WOULD ACTUALLY BE "HOOKED" ON TRAVELING ABROAD.....!

AT THE TIME, I WAS NOT ONLY WORKING AT NIGHT, FULL-TIME AS AN RN, BUT I WAS ALSO GOING TO SCHOOL FOR MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN NURSING, DURING THE DAY OR EVENING...........I WAS ATTENDING FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY, WHICH WAS IN RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY.  SO, I HAD A VERY TIGHT SCHEDULE AT THE TIME....BUT I WAS YOUNG AND HEALTHY, SO I LOVED DOING IT ALL!............SO, I WORKED IN MANHATTAN, AND THEN SEVERAL DAYS A WEEK, DROVE MY CAR OVER THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE, OR  UNDER THE HUDSON RIVER, VIA THE LINCOLN TUNNEL, AND WENT TO SCHOOL....AT THE TIME, MY LIFE WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN SCHOOL AND WORK...........

AND NOW, BRILLIANT ME, DECIDED TO EXPERIENCE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL..............AND SO I DID!.............AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW ME, THROUGH MY OTHER JOURNALS, THERE IS NOTHING IN MY LIFE THAT IS NOT WITHIN MY GRASP.............I LOVE CHALLENGE.....AND I LOVE TO "MAKE THINGS HAPPEN."         :)

SO, I SAVED MY MONEY, AND RE-ORGANIZED MY LIFE, AND BY "SPRING BREAK" IN FAIRLEIGH DICKENSON UNIVERSITY, I WAS READY FOR MY FIRST TRIP!

IT WAS APRIL 1978, THAT I LEFT FOR MY FIRST TRIP.....TO MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA, FOR 1 WEEK...........

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT ENTRY, WHEN I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT MY FASCINATING TRIP...THE BEAUTIFUL SIGHTS, AND THE "ISLAND PEOPLE' THAT WE MET!

                       FRAN