Thursday, April 14, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Ritz Carlton Rose Hall | Montego Bay, Jamaica
It's official. My wife, Jane and I are headed to Jamaica next Wednesday. To be honest Jamaica is not my favorite place, but I've had some good times there.
The first time we went, we went to an all-inclusive. I thought, what the hell, let's see what all the fuss is about.
I hated it.
The day we were to leave, we packed, got the shuttle to the little airport in Ocho Rios, and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, they told us there was a big weather system moving across the island and the plane couldn't make it. They would put us in a cab. It didn't look promising that we would make the flight.
But not because the taxi driver wasn't intent on us doing so. He drove like a bat out of hell. Jane was nauseous and I had white knuckles the whole ride. It was raining and we were flying around blind curves the whole way. I wasn't sure if we'd make the flight or not, but I was pretty sure we were going to die.
We finally made it to the airport, and the only hope I had was that the flight had been delayed. It hadn't. I walked back to the taxi, where Jane was waiting with the driver. I got back in the cab, informed them that we'd missed our flight, and then I asked the driver the one thing I know to ask when I'm stranded somewhere.
"Is there a Ritz Carlton near here?"
In fact, there was. Less than 10 minutes back the way we'd come.
"Take us there."
We pulled up and I told the driver, and Jane, to wait. I wanted to make sure there was an available room, and also to make sure it wouldn't be $1500/night.
The hotel was everything I expect a Ritz to be, and nothing like the place where we'd just spent a week. I approached the desk, wet, frazzled, and irritated. The woman informed me that there were rooms available, and the rate was reasonable.
I went back to the cab, thanked the driver, grabbed Jane and our luggage, and entered the hotel. Since the airline had said it would take care of the taxi, I didn't feel compelled to pay anything. And I didn't.
We checked in and found our room. We all but flopped on the bed and sighed. After a bit, we went to dinner and had the first good meal we'd had in a week. We slept in 400 count sheets in blissfully chilly air. The next morning, we had breakfast, then lounged by the pool.
Meanwhile, the evening before, I'd called the airline to change our flight. They informed me, that because of the class of airfare we had, the earliest they could get us a flight, was Thursday. This was Sunday. I was expected back to work the next day. I told them I thought this was bullshit. This is when I found out that USAir Vacations has nothing to do with USAir, the airline. In the end, it cost me an additional $1200 to get home. The entire vacation probably only cost $3000.
A few years ago, we went back to Jamaica. It was wonderful. We were on the other side of the island in Negril at a wonderful place called The Rock House. It's actually the perfect mix of island culture and resort atmosphere. We had a good time and would definitely recommend it. But it's no Ritz.
So, we're going back to Jamaica, Mon.
Jane and I haven't gotten away anywhere this year. We usually do, but for some reason we just didn't. Business was a bit down. We had a wedding to pay for. Life.
Finally, I decided, we just needed to get away. Yesterday, I decided we needed just do it. I started looking online and realized I could pay for the airfare with miles, and the hotel with AMEX points.
So, we're flying First Class, direct from Philly to Montego Bay. It's only about a 3 1/2 hour flight. We're staying in an Ocean View room at the Rose Hall Ritz Carlton, which is only about ten minutes from the airport. And we'll be gone for seven days.
Julia is taking us to the airport and picking us up, so I don't have to worry about that, and Julia's friend Amanda is housesitting for us, so we don't have to worry about the animals.
I'm seriously thinking about just leaving the hotel number in case of emergency and locking my phone in the safe the whole time.
Wish us luck. Check back and I'll post how it's going.
I hated it.
The day we were to leave, we packed, got the shuttle to the little airport in Ocho Rios, and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, they told us there was a big weather system moving across the island and the plane couldn't make it. They would put us in a cab. It didn't look promising that we would make the flight.
But not because the taxi driver wasn't intent on us doing so. He drove like a bat out of hell. Jane was nauseous and I had white knuckles the whole ride. It was raining and we were flying around blind curves the whole way. I wasn't sure if we'd make the flight or not, but I was pretty sure we were going to die.
We finally made it to the airport, and the only hope I had was that the flight had been delayed. It hadn't. I walked back to the taxi, where Jane was waiting with the driver. I got back in the cab, informed them that we'd missed our flight, and then I asked the driver the one thing I know to ask when I'm stranded somewhere.
"Is there a Ritz Carlton near here?"
In fact, there was. Less than 10 minutes back the way we'd come.
"Take us there."
We pulled up and I told the driver, and Jane, to wait. I wanted to make sure there was an available room, and also to make sure it wouldn't be $1500/night.
The hotel was everything I expect a Ritz to be, and nothing like the place where we'd just spent a week. I approached the desk, wet, frazzled, and irritated. The woman informed me that there were rooms available, and the rate was reasonable.
I went back to the cab, thanked the driver, grabbed Jane and our luggage, and entered the hotel. Since the airline had said it would take care of the taxi, I didn't feel compelled to pay anything. And I didn't.
We checked in and found our room. We all but flopped on the bed and sighed. After a bit, we went to dinner and had the first good meal we'd had in a week. We slept in 400 count sheets in blissfully chilly air. The next morning, we had breakfast, then lounged by the pool.
Meanwhile, the evening before, I'd called the airline to change our flight. They informed me, that because of the class of airfare we had, the earliest they could get us a flight, was Thursday. This was Sunday. I was expected back to work the next day. I told them I thought this was bullshit. This is when I found out that USAir Vacations has nothing to do with USAir, the airline. In the end, it cost me an additional $1200 to get home. The entire vacation probably only cost $3000.
A few years ago, we went back to Jamaica. It was wonderful. We were on the other side of the island in Negril at a wonderful place called The Rock House. It's actually the perfect mix of island culture and resort atmosphere. We had a good time and would definitely recommend it. But it's no Ritz.
So, we're going back to Jamaica, Mon.
Jane and I haven't gotten away anywhere this year. We usually do, but for some reason we just didn't. Business was a bit down. We had a wedding to pay for. Life.
Finally, I decided, we just needed to get away. Yesterday, I decided we needed just do it. I started looking online and realized I could pay for the airfare with miles, and the hotel with AMEX points.
So, we're flying First Class, direct from Philly to Montego Bay. It's only about a 3 1/2 hour flight. We're staying in an Ocean View room at the Rose Hall Ritz Carlton, which is only about ten minutes from the airport. And we'll be gone for seven days.
Julia is taking us to the airport and picking us up, so I don't have to worry about that, and Julia's friend Amanda is housesitting for us, so we don't have to worry about the animals.
I'm seriously thinking about just leaving the hotel number in case of emergency and locking my phone in the safe the whole time.
Wish us luck. Check back and I'll post how it's going.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Retro Photographer Joni Sternbach
US based photographer Joni Sternbach captures these modern photographs using an 1850's-era box camera. The results, while often unpredictable, are nonetheless arresting and give them images an age-old feel.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Too Much To Do, So Little Time
We went to Natali Vineyards on Route 47 yesterday for a wine festival. They call it that, but frankly, they have one about once a month. They usually have a band, several food vendors, and then an odd selection of miscellaneous vendors selling everything from beauty products and jewelry, to an AT&T booth.
You can do the tasting, where you can sample a bunch of wines for a set price, or do like we do, and just buy a few bottles. The red isn't bad, though last year they had both a Syrah and Shiraz that were both pretty good. So far this year, they had a table red and Cabernet. It was alright. Considering they charge $24 for a bottle, it's not that good, but it's fun to support a local winery. Frankly, for $24, I can buy a damn good bottle of wine from CA. And their whites are terrible.
Still, all in all, we usually have a good time and it's nice to get the hell out of the house. It was just a touch too cool, but after a couple of bottles of wine, it wasn't too bad.
One interesting thing came out of it. One of the vendors was a boxing club out of Wildwood. I met Al Mussachio, a retired boxer and two-time, Trainer of the Year. His son, Chuck “The Professor” Mussachio, is not only a champion boxer, he's a teacher at Wildwood high school.
The Wildwood Boxing Club, is not only a working gym, they run a non profit after-school program for area kids. Pretty cool.
So I started talking to Al about coming down and filming. Maybe start with something short and see where it goes. For now, I just want to do a few interviews with Al, his son and some of the other boxers, as well as with some of the kids. Plus of course footage of the gym, sparing, training, etc...
But you never know.
Point being, I need another film project like I need a whole in the head.
Which brings me to another project I committed to this weekend.
A friend of my wife Jane volunteers at a local animal shelter, and she asked if I'd be willing to come take some pictures of the animals. I figure if I'm going to do it, I may as well shoot a short film to help promote the facility. I think we're going to do it next weekend.
As I said, too much to do, so little time.
You can do the tasting, where you can sample a bunch of wines for a set price, or do like we do, and just buy a few bottles. The red isn't bad, though last year they had both a Syrah and Shiraz that were both pretty good. So far this year, they had a table red and Cabernet. It was alright. Considering they charge $24 for a bottle, it's not that good, but it's fun to support a local winery. Frankly, for $24, I can buy a damn good bottle of wine from CA. And their whites are terrible.
Still, all in all, we usually have a good time and it's nice to get the hell out of the house. It was just a touch too cool, but after a couple of bottles of wine, it wasn't too bad.
 |
| Mussachio defeats Ferrante |
One interesting thing came out of it. One of the vendors was a boxing club out of Wildwood. I met Al Mussachio, a retired boxer and two-time, Trainer of the Year. His son, Chuck “The Professor” Mussachio, is not only a champion boxer, he's a teacher at Wildwood high school.
The Wildwood Boxing Club, is not only a working gym, they run a non profit after-school program for area kids. Pretty cool.
So I started talking to Al about coming down and filming. Maybe start with something short and see where it goes. For now, I just want to do a few interviews with Al, his son and some of the other boxers, as well as with some of the kids. Plus of course footage of the gym, sparing, training, etc...
But you never know.
Point being, I need another film project like I need a whole in the head.
Which brings me to another project I committed to this weekend.
A friend of my wife Jane volunteers at a local animal shelter, and she asked if I'd be willing to come take some pictures of the animals. I figure if I'm going to do it, I may as well shoot a short film to help promote the facility. I think we're going to do it next weekend.
As I said, too much to do, so little time.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Spring Surfing 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wood & Faulk | Tool Bag
Made proudly in America by Heritage Leather Company for Wood&Faulk. Size: 20in x 6in x 16in, Weight: 5.5 lbs. $85.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
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