I was all geeked up, looking out the car windows as we were leaving the airport.
I looked at the dash board and the fuel gauge needle was in the red.
All i had was US$ and Nick was driving on fumes.
We need to change some money Nick.
Yeah, mon, mi know a good place, best rate.
So, we made some turns here and there, I think we went up past the "Hip Strip" and made a left into the city.
I swear, i have never seen so many folks walking up and down the street like Montego Bay.
I seemed like the street and sidewalk were one.
Nick, as usual, handled it like a champion.
He started to pull over and I was like "where you going"
"There's no room to park?"
"You gonna hit someone!"
But still going only about 5 miles an hour, Nick parted the crowd like Moses parted the sea.
We were off the street!
He had somehow spotted a empty 8X8 foot space between a wall and a mini mall (and I mean mini).
Right there mon he pointed, it's a cambio.
So, i hopped out and walked through the throngs of folks going hither and thither.
I opened the door and felt a little uneasy.
There were maybe 2-3 gents just standing around.
Why are these guys in here, just standing, not waiting in line?
I found out that the place was more than a cambio.
I'm in line, still fascinated by people coming in, going out, standing, talking, trying to arrange this transaction and what have you.
I had all the cash i wanted to change in my front right pocket.
So, when i stepped up to the window, there was no fumbling and mumbling.
I whipped it out, stuck it through the itsy bitsy cut out in the steel grill and said "change to Jamaican, please"
I only changed about $100 there, enough for gas and food and drinks and Nick.
I always give Nick gas money and money for the ride.
I got my J money and with relief, headed outside.
Man, I'm going in the store Nick said, you stay here in the car.
Be right back.
i said no problem.
"That little Cambio was enough for now, i said.
He laughed and hopped out.
So, i'm sitting in the shot gun seat.
Still wondering if we are in a legal space.
I guess if your car will fit, you must acquit.
I have the window open of course and a lady with the cutest little baby walks up and tells me she needs money to get from Mobay to Lucea.
I acted real stupid, played dumb.
Where is Lucea?
What do you do?
How did you get to Mobay?
I know, i should not have given her a hard time, but i wanted to get into the flow of life in Jamaica, get use to the accents from strangers, watch her eyes as she told me her story.
So after a while, i coughed up a few bucks, and of course she said that was not enough.
I said my man Nick, (put the blame on someone) had all the money.
It's funny, just as i was giving her some money, Nick was coming back to the car.
She saw him, and the looks Jamaicans give each other, the way they can communicate with eyes and body language, was exchanged between them, and she walked off.
Nick fired up the car and i looked back, out the back window and it looked like thousands of folks walking between us and the street.
We came in head first and now we had to back out!
Back out? I don't know how we made it in head first!!
Nick just took his time and started in reverse.
Slowly, and I mean slowly, but the crowds just kept walking behind out bumper.
And the cars, my god the cars on that narrow street were still driving too.
No way I said, no way could i have made it out of that spot.
All of a sudden a Jamaican man, who i guess saw our predicament, started yelling, well actually talking loud, to the pedestrians.
"Hole up!, One moment! a minute please!
He had turned himself into a traffic cop.
Hands stretched out wide, he even stopped the traffic in the street.
When he had the folks at a complete stopped, we slid out into the street and motored off.
Nick gave him a thank you honk and we were out of there.
Uh, man, I need one of those cold Red stripes.
It went down in a flash.
How are your rolling skills Nick asked me?
Man, give it here, I need a hit!