What to do When a lot of Unexpected Guests Arrive
So we traveled to Villa Jewel Resort after Christmas with another couple from home, Jennie & Camille, for a vacation. We have the Resort to ourselves and are enjoying the peace and much-needed rest. We also want to attend the annual New Years party at the Blue Hole Mineral Spring which is hosted by our dear friend Waba and owner of the Blue Hole Mineral Springs. We arrive December 29 and settle into a very quiet, peaceful and stress-free routine. Unbeknownst to us, it would soon be disrupted by multiple visitors, unexpected paying guests, and a famous Jamaican artiste.
Dear Waba had many guests at the Blue Hole Mineral Spring and because we help each other out, he sent them over so they could experience the sunset and waves crashing along the coastline. Needless to say, out quiet time was over. 20 some guests arrived on our doorstep, happy to be on vacation in Jamaica and happy to meet us.
Everyone wanted to see our rooms and what we offered. I did three tours of our rooms while Papa Poo answered numerous questions. How did we get started, how many rooms, how much steel in that building, where are you from, what do you mean it was a jungle and do the waves always crash like that. And many more, and I must give him credit for answering the same question over and over again. The main one being – you’re from Canada, how did you do this?
Our poor friends were totally overwhelmed by the influx of people, but not as overwhelmed as our new bartender, Miss Ashley. She is not a trained mixologist or bartender, but a young lady who is willing to learn and her aunt, Saskia, brought her along to train her.
Miss Ashley was alone and every one of Waba’s guest wanted a drink before they went down to watch the sunset. Saskia had shown her how to make three drinks – a Moscow Mule, a Gin tonic and some sweet drink Papa Poo likes. She just rolled with it and produced Moscow Mules as the drink of the day without missing a beat. I couldn’t help her – I was giving tours and Papa Poo was answering questions and taking people down to the rocks. She was professional and didn’t panic and the unexpected guests loved the drinks and left numerous tips for the young lady. Initiation by fire.
As it turned out, we ended up renting a room to one couple from Waba’s group for the night of his big party. And actually filled up that evening, but that’s another story.
‘Life is a party. Dress like it!’ – Audrey Hepburn
Bottoms up
Baba