After a manageable breakfast, the shuttle bus takes us to the airport in the drizzle at 8:30 am.
By the time we are through baggage claim and hand luggage check, it is 10 o’clock. The Frankfurt airport only uses body scanners, but there are no delays.
With a delay of 45 minutes the Boing 767 finally takes off, we will spend half the day in the plane. Due to our height, the flight is really exhausting although we have only minimal turbulence and can watch movies.
After 10.5 h we finally reach our destination airport in Montego Bay, but can’t land because of a strong thunderstorm and circle over the island for another hour.
At midnight German time the plane finally lands (6pm Jamaica time) and we have to explain at passport control exactly why we are on the island for so long and prove our accommodation and return tickets.
Luckily I have all booking confirmations with me – planning pays off after all;-)
After an hour the passport control, customs clearance and luggage collection is done and the rental car is inspected. It is a Mazda Demic with the steering wheel on the wrong side, Jamaica has left-hand traffic!
My Navi tells me that it can not route in this country, the ride in the pitch dark to our accommodation in left-hand traffic will be an experience. The mentality of the Jamaicans is different than in Germany, one adheres only conditionally to the traffic regulations, the people run between the cars through, besides, it is weekend and everywhere there are bars and loud reggae music sounds from all boxes.
When we reach the accommodation at 8 pm, Lawrence, our host, is surprised that we still come. He has forgotten that we have booked… so his wife quickly makes a room ready and we talk. Since this year he has put a world map and we should put a pin in Hamburg, because he is very proud of the different nationalities that visit him.
Our room is very spacious, shortly we sit on the terrace and get served another rum, until we go to bed at 10 pm (4 am German time).