A Royal Caribbean photographer took this photo of Becky and me at Dunn’s River Falls. We climbed the falls as part of a human chain of approximately 150 people. The climb was surprisingly difficult but wouldn’t be difficult for those with a good sense of balance. The current was swift—fierce in some parts—and many of the rocks were slippery and unstable. Becky fell but wasn’t hurt. I was holding Becky by one hand and was ahead of her as we ascended the falls. Another Georgian held her other hand. I couldn’t hold onto Becky when she fell because her arm, wrist, and hand were covered with wet suntan lotion and were too slippery. If this climb took place in the United States I’m sure we would’ve had to sign waivers of liability before embarking upon the climb.

Our tour group went to Dunn’s River Falls after touring Brimmer Hall Plantation, the last working plantation in Jamaica. At Brimmer Hall we climbed aboard a tractor-drawn buggy and learned how sugar cane, coconuts, bananas, and pineapples are cropped.

Before touring Brimmer Hall Plantation we took a fifty-mile scenic tour along the Jamaican coast. Our tour bus—a Toyota mini-van with approximately eighteen seats—was piloted by a large, gregarious, native man who goes by the nickname “Sexy.”

Jamaica is a very poor country. Approximately eighty percent of Jamaicans live in poverty. As Sexy drove our tour bus through several communities, we noticed that very few homes had air conditioning. Our other tour guide said that only wealthy Jamaicans have air conditioning. Jamaica is a hot place year-round, which must mean that most Jamaicans are uncomfortable most of the time. The roads are in terrible condition, as are the schools and most of the homes we saw.

I’ve always heard Jamaica spoken of as an exotic Caribbean island. I guess Jamaica is exotic in the foreign sense of the word but certainly not in the exciting sense. Jamaica, like every other Caribbean destination Becky and I have visited, reminds us of how fortunate we are to live in the US of A!