Ocho Rios ("Ochi") Weekend get-a-way in Jamaica.

Even Peace Corps Volunteers deserve a little vacation! Irene and I had to go to the Peace Corps office in Kingston for meetings (about 6 hours travel from our home in the 'bush')...so, we stopped on our return for 2 nights in Ocho Rios ("Ochi") - a nice hotel with hot water, a wonderful meal in a superb beachside restaurant, and some sightseeing in our current homeland - we even now qualify for Jamaican prices since we are not considered tourists.



Rooms on the Beach - wonderful local hotel in Ochi

Dunn's River Falls





We rented a boat - stopped at Fisherman's Beach to pick up Lobster, Bammy & Festivals:

 

  

...view through the glass bottom boat over the reef:

In the evening, a wonderful on-the-beach restaurant - Bamboo Blu:

 

....with truly gourmet food and music too:

 

 

 

And our names in fire on the beach!



...with our host Denzil Thompson

 

...the view from our hotel balcony:

 

 

It was just a 2 night get-a-way, but we are

really enjoying getting to know our island home better.

 

Foodie Report

As we get more settled into our home and become more familiar with Jamaican produce and meats, we are having fun with cooking. Here are some recent meals:

Fresh Caught fish with Dill, Okra, Pok Choy and "Irish" potatoes

Ackee and Saltfish

 

Home made pizza with garden vegs

 

Jerk Chicken and Callalou from the garden

 

Fried Chicken with cornflakes crust

Steve's birthday cake

...And - here are a few special meals eating out in Jamaica:

Spiny Lobster, Parrot Fish, Bammy & Festivals
Fisherman's Beach -- Ocho Rios

Goat Ravioli at Bamboo Blu, Ocho Rios



Jerk Chicken with Okra and Irish

Okra from our backyard garden

 

...but, sometimes good ol' bacon and eggs just is perfect!

...some 2015 updates: We now get most of our produce from a Rasta Man in the main open market in Montego Bay. We got a great price on onions, so Irene made the best onion soup I have ever had (even in France) - part of the secret...Jamaican dark rum.

Fresh Onion Soup - a la Jamican