One of the perks of being a Miami based flight attendant, quite simply, is the proximity to the Caribbean and the layovers we have there. Of course other bases fly to some islands and Mexico and other tropical destinations. But Miami really is “Gateway to the Tropics” like some FAs like to say.
This month I was awarded a pretty heavy Caribbean line. I had never been to any of the places on my schedule so I was excited for the layovers to begin.
First up: KINGSTON, JAMAICA
Growing up, my brother and I were really close with three boys who were Jamaican. The oldest and my brother played soccer together and the younger twin boys were my age. The family was so hospitable and friendly. And let me tell you, every person I met in Jamaica was just as hospitable and friendly.
A fellow crew member and I took a cab to the Bob Marley museum and took an afternoon tour. It was $25 USD and completely worth it. No photos are allowed in the house to try and preserve the original artifacts there. But inside you can see where Bob Marley recorded his albums, his bedroom, the porch where he would lay on a hammock and overlook the Blue Mountain in the distance. As someone with a minimal knowledge of Bob Marley and reggae music in general, it was a good way to spend a few hours and learn something new.
Afterwards, the taxi driver recommended a popular ice cream shop nearby. Naturally, we agreed to go.
First, Devon House I Scream is not only delicious, but the location is great. According to the driver, Devon House was originally bought by a private citizen after making a lot of money in another country. It was apparently the first time a private Jamaican citizen was able to buy a piece of land of that size. The house itself has since turned into a museum and rest of the land is a large green space in an otherwise pretty urban area.
But back to the ice cream. The long line allowed us time to weigh our options of flavors and after consulting a local in front of us, I decided to try the Strawberry Swirl and Vanilla (because if you don’t get two scoops, did you even really have ice cream?). I also taste tested the Strawberry Shortcake and that was equally delicious but went with the swirl because it had actual strawberry pieces in it.
10/10 WILL go again.
The next island layover I had was GRAND CAYMAN.
I was so excited about this trip. I actually traded into it and am so happy I was able to get it. We landed at night and didn’t leave until the afternoon the next day. I planned on spending the entire morning at the beach and that’s exactly what I did.
I woke up shortly after sunrise and attempted to go for a run on the beach. After I thought I’d worked up enough of a sweat, I went upstairs, showered, and finished one of the books I’d brought with me while drinking coffee on my balcony overlooking the water.
I made my way down to the water (with a second book in hand) and claimed a beach chair. As my coworker said, “I can’t believe we get paid for this.” Laying by the ocean, reading a book, while getting paid is not a bad way to spend a Sunday. AND THE WATER. Growing up in Florida, the ocean has never been a big deal to me.. it’s always been there. But this water is not even next level, it’s 10 levels above next level. Great temperature, clear, smooth conditions so you can actually swim. I couldn’t get over it. It honestly looked like one of the stock photos Apple puts on your phone to use as a background picture.
Alas, after that layover we ended up with two very short domestic layovers. But for 16 hours in GCM, I’d gladly take that deal again.
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