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Carol Perkins: Special eligibles trip - Part III, Jamaica and more A stop in Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel where shrewd Metcalfe County trading skills net '$3,500' tanzanite ring, for $100. Along with a brief stop in 'Hell.' The previous Carol Perkins column: Carol Perkins: Part II: Special eligibles trip - on board the Conquest By Carol Perkins To continue my cruise saga, our first port-of-call was Montego Bay, Jamaica. Rather than book a tour through the ship, we planned to hire a local guide with a bus so we could cover more territory. As we stood inside the terminal after getting off the ship, a group of six ladies from Alabama approached us about sharing a bus and a guide, so we did. Not much interested in the local scenery, they were specifically looking for knock off purses. Our guide gave us a very inclusive tour, beginning with one of the highest locations in the city. The view was breathtaking. I have learned that all tour guides have an "in" with souvenir shop owners and at one point on any tour, passengers are going to stop at one or more. When we left the highest point, our next stop was a cement block shop where we wasted too much time looking at mass produced tourist dust collectors. I bought a handmade necklace- made by someone in China. Our guide then took us to a mini-mall that sold Coach knock off purses and the ladies bought at least two each. None in our group found that store. We were too busy eating ice cream and buying strong coffee. Next we were dropped off at a straw market. "Go visit my sister's booth," our guide suggested. "Can you take us downtown to the jewelry stores?" I asked as we passed what I assumed to be the main street. "It is too dangerous. I would not take you there." We were back on the ship by six and ready for the next day at the Grand Cayman Island. Unlike Jamaica, the Grand Cayman is upscale with very little poverty. Our tour guide gave us a thorough tour. Even though turtle farms are a "must see" on all tours, we opted to skip them. "What is so special about a turtle farm?" we asked. Our guide gave us a lesson as we moved through residential areas not open to large tour buses. "You don't want to see turtle farms, so do you want to go to Hell?" she asked. Hell is a little community with a post office and where millions of tourist mail postcards to their friends postmarked Hell. The t-shirts were funny, but even though tempted to buy one, we didn't. Browsing along the picturesque main street, in and out of the upper end shops, we were awed by the magnificent jewelry (which none of us could afford), trendy clothes (which none of us could wear), and art (which none of us understood). The number one industry there, of course, is banking. Another day ended, and we would wake the next morning in Cozumel, Mexico. Again, we found a guide. Cozumel is beautiful along the beaches, but the interior is sad. We went to a park where vendors survive because of tour bus business. I have always liked the tanzanite stone. One of these vendors had an extensive collection of tanzanite jewelry, so I spotted a ring. My first question, "How much?" He turned over the tag and punched numbers into a calculator. This ring is normally $3,500 but I sell to you for $500. "Can't do that." "How much you give?" They all ask that if they think you will walk. "A hundred dollars." "I haven't made a sale today so I take it." That ring had never been worth $3500 and it might not have been tanzanite, but I had opened my big mouth. Later, when we in the main part of town, I wandered into a jewelry store and a clerk approached me, admiring my new ring. "Is it real?" I asked. He examined it and said, "Yes, it is real." I then asked, "What do you think it's worth?" He said around $200, so I had made a good deal. By the way, I had to smile when I noticed bottles of Tequila sitting on counter tops throughout the store and little white cups handy for customers to partake. That is one way to pump up sales! On the way back to the dock, our bus hit a guy on a motorcycle. Thank goodness he wasn't badly injured, so we were cutting it close. A ship WILL leave a late person, but we made it-barely. We were huffing and puffing as we did our run-walk to the gangplank. It was now Friday and we would have a day at sea before returning to New Orleans and then home. The finale of the trip-next week. - CAROL PERKINS This story was posted on 2012-10-21 12:58:51
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Carol Perkins:
Carol Perkins: Part II: Special eligibles trip - on board the Conquest Carol Perkins: Special eligibles trips are all about Good Deals! Carol Perkins: Memories of Uncle Rollin (Oscar) Sullivan Carol Perkins: Neil Armstrong, a true American Carol Perkins: A week for Tv if you're interested in politics Carol Perkins the movie critic: Hope Springs a must see Carol Perkins report on how Yard Sale is going Carol Perkins: Chicken supper, literally Carol Perkins: Wrinkles no more Carol Perkins: Yard Sales View even more articles in topic Carol Perkins |
 
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