To set the scene, we found Negril in 1988 and this is our 9th visit. It’s a long old haul from here and planning a trip is like a military exercise. Like all of us on this board, it’s a special place and a stay is like going to the best rehab in the world. The difference, is that it cleanses the real world from the soul and allows a feeling of spirituality to replace the mess that we’ve built up.
So we’re off. Our last trip to Negril had been in 2008 and time, money, circumstances and work had meant that it had been a long four years since we could return ‘home’. Where does the holiday start, at the airport of course and there is only one way to fly and that’s loaded with Champers. Having left our small island the previous day and already had two flights, we now readied ourselves for another 10.5 hours in the skies. We had upgraded for this trip and had also pre ordered another bottle of the fizzy stuff for the flight, so we were treating this as the real first day of our holiday.
Jacky partaking of the flight enhancer.
There’s something about people going on holiday together on an airplane, although on this flight, it was fairly obvious that most, if not all the people in the front of the plane were going to the bigger resorts at Mobay, Ocho and Negril. We seemed to be the only people doing our own thing. The couple in the seat across from us decided to drink the plane dry and the hours passed quickly watching two people gradually fall into a state of oblivion!! Our pick up at Mobay was through the late Alfred’s and the ride to Negril was as exciting as ever. The weather was dull, with signs of rain along the way, but when we arrived at Citronella, the sky was clear and we were bathed in that warm Negril air.
Citronella. We had reserved the Round House for 5 nights and were assisted by Trevor with our bags, to this amazing little thatched cottage, in it’s own natural garden, overlooking the bluest sea imaginable.
The Round House
How much closer to the sea can you get?
The idea of staying at Citronella for the first part of our holiday was based on previous trips, where we found it normally takes us 3-4days to adjust to Negril time. That is, slooooow. We wanted a quiet place where we could get some sun and get normal life out of our systems. Also, we wanted to see a bit more of what lay beyond the lighthouse and as we love walking, it’s ideally positioned to explore the quiet end of the cliffs.
Waking the next morning and opening the cottage door, we were greeted with this.
OMG, we had planned and waited 4 years for this trip to Negril and this was going to be our home and view for the next five days. If there is a heaven, there must be a bit that looks like this. Walking into the garden and spying the hammock, the song ‘Little Cottage in Negril’ came to life in my head and it took a lot for me to hold back the tears of joy. But then again, we all know that first morning feeling!!!
The garden at the Round House
As it was our first day, we need supplies and decided to take a walk and go as far as we could past the lighthouse. (Citronella is just 100 yards from the lighthouse) It was hot! Walking started at a brisk pace, you know that way you go when you haven’t sloooowed down yet and in 15-20 minutes, we were at the Out of Town Pastry. Grabbing some beef and chicken patties for brunchfast, we continued the stroll and found places like Hide Awhile, Moondance Cliffs and various small bars and shops.
We also came across a plot of land that was for sale on the cliffs near to Hide Awhile. A perfect spot for a small cottage of our own. I wonder how much they wanted for it?
Staying at Citronella allows you into a whole different world. For a start, the cottages are so independent of each other, that if you don’t want to see anyone else, you don’t have to. In fact aside from when we went to breakfast at the Great House, which was excellent by the way, or ventured out the gate to LTU for some liquid refreshment or an evening meal, we spent five days in each other’s company, unwinding at our own rate and enjoying the view, the smell, the sea, the amazing sunsets and the conversation between ourselves, which was all enhanced by the natural herbaceous border that I ‘planted’ round the house.
The sunsets were glorious.
During our occasional foray’s into the outside world, we came across locals and characters that would fit in any novel about the West End. Take Kyng Sharlo and his cohort, Natty Brooks.
These guys waylaid us one day, toting CD players, bags of discs and a line in ‘patter’ that would endear them to anyone. Of course they were wanting us to buy their stuff and of course we did, well you do, don’t you? ‘We’ll see you on the beach’ was our parting shot and indeed we did at a later date, with much banging knuckles, high fives and ‘best friend’ greetings. We both love being part of the local scene and always give people the time of day to hear what they have to say, sell or sing!
Originally Posted by spottycatz
Photos are MAHVELOUS, property looks so homey.
