Jamaican Adventure: Rob-a-Palooza in Bellvue

This weekend I trekked up to Bellevue (in the bush) for some birthday festivities. A fellow Portland volunteer was celebrating his 28. Packed like sardines we headed up. The taxi ride itself was quite a experience (as usual), it started with 10 people packed in the car and we ended up with 12. The back seat, where I along with 5 others sat, continued to break more and more with every bump in the road, pretty soon we were leaning way back with no support. There was a kid in the very back playing a whistle flute and a guy in the front seat talking about pum-pum (a woman’s vagina). To say the least it was so uncomfortable all me and Lauren could do was laugh, or cry, so we laughed a lot. We picked up a spare tire just out of town, and it’s a good thing too because we got a flat tire about half way up. The driver waited until we were rolling on the rim before we finally stopped, unloaded and watched him replace the bald tire with another one. We re-packed and headed further up the hill. When it seemed like we would never get there we finally drove through a school ground and down a hill where Rob lives. I was quite confused, but happy to have arrived. Needless to say rum started pouring soon after.

His family was more than generous and were fabulous hosts. They had food ready, and a lot of it! We had numerous bottles of over proof rum for the festivities and ended up chatting, dancing and having fun most of the night. The next morning we had craw fish for breakfast which was something I had not had here yet. It was wonderful! We hiked to the river which was a difficult hike down some steep bush country. About 30-40 minutes it took to arrive at the refreshing river, which once we got in did not want to leave (partially because we knew we would have to bushwhack up a steep hill). The hike up was easier than I had thought. I was so happy to have gone to the river (despite the rum hang over). We made cake for rob and watched part of the football game (soccer) until we decided we better try and catch a ride back to town. I reached home Saturday evening and was exhausted. I had a blast! Here are some pictures that Josh Hunter took up in Bellevue. I forgot my camera. I will try and post some of the river later if I can get some from Josh and Jesse!