My YOLO (You Only Live Once) Moment of the Month has to be the wonderful birthday I spent with my husband, Nick and my over-achiever nephew, De Marley in the beautiful Jamaican Blue Mountains. Like all the best YOLO moments, it was a reminder that simplicity is always the best way to go.
The Blue Mountains are the jewel in Jamaica’s crown, although sadly overlooked by most visitors who are transfixed by our beaches and coastal attractions, and there’s nowhere better in Jamaica to spend a day with your favourite people.
We stopped several times during the leisurely drive to take in the views across the countryside, Kingston, and the Caribbean Sea.
We also decided to use the stunning scenery and perfect lighting to provide the backdrops for an impromptu photoshoot; thankfully, De Marley really is a talented amateur photographer and I always carry my trusty Canon and a few pieces from my wardrobe for variety (the fashionista in me).
I adore our pictures as they showcase so effectively the beauty of my island home, the love that Nick and I share, and my pure joy of my YOLO moment.
We finished the day high in the mountains at Holywell Park, part of the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park.
The views were fantastic, and Nick had prepared a delightful picnic lunch, which included chicken sandwiches that contained something called piccalilli, an English relish of pickled vegetables seasoned with mustard and turmeric, which really made them pop.
The finale was a gorgeous birthday cake that Nick had ordered specially for me and, of course, some off-key singing of “Happy Birthday” and the blowing out of candles.
As the sun started to set, and with a little reluctance but a heart full of joy, we drove back home after the memorable start to 2022.
Hope you enjoyed the read. Feel free to share your thoughts by dropping us a comment below.
Author
Monique Abbott
Hi, I ’m Monique, founder and editor-in-chief of Yes2Yolo, travel addict and lover of home makeover projects.
I’ve explored over 60 countries with my husband Nick. Together we’ve partnered on some truly exciting projects such as creating and running a successful Airbnb business, chairing condo boards, purchasing fixer-uppers and renovating them from scratch on our own while balancing all of this with full-time jobs and family.
While my personal passions are travel and home décor, I am, by profession, a lawyer with over 17 years experience.
Awww . So beautiful!
Thank you Michelle! It certainly was a beautiful day!