And so we laze through our first full day in Jamaica. We arrived at sunset on Friday and when we went to check in we were offered an upgrade to an ocean front veranda room instead of the ocean view room we had booked. It would be an extra $106 per night but if that was too expensive for us, the clerk could ask the manager about a possible discount. Being an economist, I’m always interested in loosening the budget constraint so of course I want to hear about the discount. Then it began to feel like negotiating for a car – he went off to ask the manager and came back with a 15% discount offer. But he said that if that was still too much, he might be able to offer something better without the manager’s approval. How about $150 total for the upgrade? Cash preferred of course. Nudge nudge, wink wink. Not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth, we found the ATM and got our new beach front room where it is about a dozen steps from out patio to beach chair.

By the time we got settled it was dark and we were starving so off to the Friday night beach BBQ we go. First step is find the chef to get the low down on what is gluten free. Jerk chicken? Check. Doesn’t really matter then that the curried goat is off limits. Grabbed plates full of food and settled at a table to chat with a couple from western Massachusetts and are joined shortly thereafter by two couples from KC. Overland Park and Olathe to be precise. It was their last night so we picked up tips on what was good before chatting about, what else, the Royals. An early night was in order so off we went to bed.

Room service brought our coffee earlier than expected but it was lovely having coffee and fruit on the patio before heading to the restaurant next door for another breakfast. That would be a theme for the day – double meals. As the resort is all inclusive, there is never a chance that we’ll go hungry but they are not overly generous on the portions – of which I approve. We had a light lunch before heading out to snorkel (swam right through a huge school of Sergeant Majors and followed a baby ray along a Coral reef) before heading to the spool side grill for burgers. (Second lunch)

Then the beach lounging and drinking began in earnest. Rum runners, Mai tais, planters punch, Miami vice,….. We worked our way through the rum drinks before a last swim and then shower and change for dinner. As we requested, bottles of wine had been delivered to our room so we sipped cheap Chilean Chardonnay and listened to Harry Belafonte while getting ready.

Dinner at the restaurant next door was pleasant but not inspiring – chef came out and walked me through the menu. Mussels okay, conch chowder no. It’s lobster night so would I like that? Yes please. Again, smaller portions since many people around us were having at least 4 courses. Which meant the 5 mussels for the starter and half a lobster tail with a small scoop of risotto wasn’t quite enough. So we walked across the resort to the other main restaurant and did it all over again. Beef carpaccio for a starter and half a lobster tail with potatoes for second dinner. This time we added two little gluten free cupcakes for dessert and Frank had one of the best key lime pies he says he has ever tasted.

The reggae band that had been playing during the meal went off stage to transition to the main entertainment for the night so we were off to the piano bar. More cheap white wine (grey goose martinis for Frank – he had the better plan!) and we were crooning with the rest of the drunken middle aged vacationers. I even took the mic for Brown Eyed Girl and did my best not to blacken the family name. Eventually the piano goes quiet and the disco lights start flashing – our cue that it’s bedtime. We’ll get to do it all over again tomorrow.