Travel Temper Tantrums: NOT the Answer

On my recent trip to Jamaica, I traveled with my Mom.  She and I usually travel together easily.  She has what I call “hot feet,” meaning her feet are always eager to go everywhere and she can’t just stand still.  This time around was a little different because she recently started getting arthritis pains in her knees.  So while she would be the first one who wants to do some crazy and adventurous thing–her pace was slower this time.  Why push your health to the limit during relaxing vacation in Montego Bay, right ?

Well, I forgot that for a second.  See, we decided to take a half-day trip to Dunn’s River Falls, about 2 hours away from Montego Bay in Ocho Rios.  Visitors can start at the bottom of the Falls (essentially on the beach) and work their way up to the top.  Rock-climbing, forming a chain with fellow climbers, and quite a bit of physical exertion is required.  We definitely could not do this because forgot climbing up Falls, when she hurries up the subway steps in NYC too quickly during rush hour, it starts to hurt.

Not going up the Falls was okay with me, but I figured we could milk our time in Ocho Rios.  On the beach were some (unofficial) tour guides who offered to take us out in the ocean to see dolphins.  Me? On a Jet ski? Well, that sounded exciting!  Dolphins?  I’ve never been up close to dolphins…YES, why not?

I told my mom, let’s go!  Her reaction? No way: she does not trust unofficial random guides on the beach offering to take her out into the middle of the ocean on a promise of seeing dolphins.  Actually, sounds pretty right, don’t you think?  Tourism Safety 101.

But at that particular moment in time, all I could think of was “I want to do something exciting, too.”  I pouted for 5 minutes and then I was over it.  The lesson I learned here is that at times in travel, going at a different pace than you are used to does not necessarily take away from the experience you have.  I felt bad I pouted in the first place.

We ended up having a fun time anyway just walking along the boardwalk next to the Falls–which worked out great because I got to take some awesome pictures.  But in evaluating the whole experience, I realized that transitions in traveling with loved ones are expected and completely okay.  While mom may not be able to do high-thrill activities anymore, I now have a fiance who would be the first one on the jet ski and trying to drive it himself!  All things balance out and having a sour attitude just messes up the whole experience.  (Clearly I have thought about this a lot.)

Here are some pictures of the Falls and the beach in Ocho Rios:

Need water shoes to climb the Falls

 

Beautiful water in Ocho Rios

 

Local Jamaican relaxing on his Jet Ski

 

Forming the Human Chain

 

Climbing the Falls

 

Beautiful view from the Boardwalk alongside the Falls

 

The Falls!

 

Refreshing to see local artist focusing on his work, instead of being “salesy”–his work speaks for itself.