Since I last wrote, I have been back to Jamaica and off to Cancun, getting ready to head to Jamaica once again.  It’s business!!!  When someone comes up to me while I am straining to see my blackberry in the bright sunshine – “what are you doing on that thing while you are on vacation?”  I simply smile and mention that they are standing in my office and that I work here.  What better place to work.  Here is a view from my window by the way.

 

So I have some great news but I wont tell you everything just yet.  You will be seeing several announcements over the course of the next few weeks regarding some new resorts – YEA!!  Some new locations – YEA!   and lots more opportunities for you and your friends and families to enjoy.

 

Our week in Jamaica was action packed.  We started off at Braco Grand Lido where the BEST OF JAMAICA event was being held.  They had Jamaica, Chinese and Indian cooking classes and steel drum lessons.  You could find out about Jamaican healing herbs and condiments as well as learn the latest reggae dances and how to speak patois.  It is an annual event every October so put it on your list of dates to pick at this resort.

We drove into Montego Bay the following day for a meeting at the Ritz-Carlton.  People lined the streets dressed in Jamaica flag colors waving flags and banners.  TV stations were there filming the anticipated excitement.  Well we aren’t that famous there – YET, so we had no idea what was up.  All of a sudden a huge entourage appears heading toward Trelawny where we just left.  There was a big float which held all the Olympic gold medalists.  The country was honoring their athletes.  It was quite a spectacle.  We had just pulled into the Ritz parking lot when they came through so we got a good view.  It is amazing to me how the country has come together because of their athletes.  I have been running down there for many years.  Everyone knows me on the beach because I wear “dirty girl gaiters” to keep the sand out of my shoes.  Now they all talk to me about Bolt when I run past. They used to be impressed that I was enduring the heat and humidity but now they just make fun of how slow I am going compared to him.  I see a big change in attitude regarding running and fitness in general due to the success of the Jamaican Olympians already in that country.  That is soooo cool.

While at the Ritz I met Dan the guy who decided to spend 4 months teaching yoga for me there.  He mentioned that he was doing a triathlon and representing Fit Bodies Inc and the Ritz.  After further inquiry it turns out that Rose Hall Development Group put on a weekend of wellness and fitness coupled with Jamaican heritage.  I was in Cancun during the event but Dan did a great job representing Fit Bodies Inc doing yoga and fitness on the stage area.  Because of the late notice I was only able to bring in some pens (taken down by another pro traveling that next week) but next year we will be involved full force.  There is a link to the event on the home page of Fitness Pro Travel. 

We left for Negril the following day and were there for the Couples Swept Away anniversary celebration.  Couples resorts know how to put on a party!  There were at least a thousand people there for the first night festivities which included more food than a plate could possibly hold, drink concoctions and even a coffee bar that had more combinations than Starbucks.  The entertainment was amazing as we sat at tables on the beach and enjoyed music by several musicians who sang and played with Bob Marley at one time. 

We left the following day and geared ourselves up for the Mexico trip.   

We hit the tarmac in Cancun and off we went to our first destination.  Crown Paradise Resort is a huge, gorgeous property for singles, couples, and families.  We are sending group fitness and tennis pros there starting right away.  Check it out! 

We stayed at El Dorado Seaside Suites where Denise and I taught the yoga classes. This is a beautiful resort and the food was awesome.  They have a Mexican, Italian, and International, Asian and Continental restaurant as well as a sandwich area and 24 hour room service.  The room was amazing with a big Jacuzzi tub, balcony and hammock.  The beach has big beds on stilts and on the ground for a shady place to chill while enjoying the seaside view. There were many pools that had chairs in the water and some of the pool areas are right out your door.   Yoga instructors don’t miss out on this place. 

Each day after yoga we hit the road visiting more resorts each one bigger and more beautiful than the next.  Stay tuned for more updates on the newest resorts in our program. 

Next stop…FitBeach in Negril Jamaica.  The Fit Beach team hits the island to start the conference on Tuesday morning.  Our team consists of our industries top fitness professionals and our attendees come from the states, Jamaica because we train all the resort staff members, and we have 9 people traveling from Nigeria to attend this year.   If you missed out this year, look for the announcement of next year’s dates and locations.

I am heading out the door for a run and putting long pants on for the first time since last winter.  Good news for me is that the shorts and dirty girl gaiters will be my attire starting this Sunday for a week so the cold weather is only temporary.

Talk to you soon!

 

Love,

 

Suzelle