25 Years ago, this week

With all the talk related to Negril's future, I just had a great day dream of times past. It was 25 years ago this week and I was on my 1st reach to Negril with my wife and son's mother who has since past away. For some reason I can remember it like it was yesterday. We hopped on a tourist bus at MBJ and headed west and what an adventure it was, we didn't get very far out of MoBay and we made a stop at the "LollyPop" where we got some Red Stripe and had my 1st taste of champagne soda. We were so excited and for what seemed like forever, we bounced our way towards Negril on what I believed they called a "road". Once we got past the airstip, the bus made several stops at different hotels like the Mahogany Inn, Poinciana and others to drop visitors off. We finally made it to our hotel, T-waters, and thought we had died and gone to heaven. As fast as we got checked in, we changed into our swim suits and raced to the beach and dove in the beautiful blue water and immediately lost our room key, the front desk let us back into our room but told us they couldn't get us a new key until the power came back on since they had to cut one with a machine. When I asked about the loss of power the response was "No Problem Mon" the power goes out every day bout dis time.

It was this trip that it seemed everyone in Negril was celebrating the release of Nelson Mandela from his long incarceration and it was electric. In celebration, Third World did a show @ Kaiser's Cafe and it was the most amazing I show I have ever witnessed, visitors, and the locals that could afford it (which weren't many back then) packed in, people were on the walls, roofs and anyplace they could get a view, they played for almost 3 hours with nothing but 1 short break. I believe it was on this reach we also saw Yellowman @ deBuss one night. Things were much quieter back then, there were very few cars on the road at night but there were plenty of land crabs crossing the road, we would see locals with a kerosene soaked cloth torches and a burlap bags hunting for them along the road and into the brush. The road would be loaded with flattened crabs in the morning. We spent many hours at Marks bar which was a makeshift bar that leaned against the outside wall that separated the T-water property to the one to the west. This was long before Mark's Hurricane Bar (round bamboo) and years before he moved it to Green Island. We spent many hours on Bloody Bay, we would take our scooter through the woods to the beach and rarely see another person, it was heaven. I became obsessed with Cosmos, Cheap Bite, Rasta Pasta (road to Sav) and Mavis and Sons. I have been to Rick's just 1 time in my life and it was on this trip, I just didn't like it and having to buy beads to pay for our drinks, it felt like a carnival as a kid that you bought a ticket from a booth so you could go on a ride.

The exchange rate was 6:1 and Red Stripe at Marks were 5j as were pattys and coco bread from a vendor, it was a simple time then. I fell in love with Negril on that trip and have been back over 25 times since. Each time something is new and something old has been lost. No matter what happen in the evolution of Negril, the memories may fade, but it shall always have a special place in my heart and soul. How about you?

our first of 25 visits was in 89, we remember the same, bloody bay was the best.

Packrat,

Thanks for sharing your first visit 25 years ago~I could feel the vibe from your description and the energy you described from the celebration of Nelson Mandela's release! An enjoyable read~thanks again for sharing!

1987
First trip to Negril. Had previously visited the North shore (Playboy Club 1969) and since then had opted for other islands. The reason for returning to Jamaica was price.
Discovered naturism on St. Martin and Guadelope (sp) and longed for the freedom it offered, but cost being a major concern, found Negril.
We rode the road from hell to get to Negril and stayed at Villas Negril, which was nothing to brag about Up on the hill behind the food store, with bad food and no view it wasn't to my liking. The food was so bad we went in search of meals elsewhere. Discovered My Paradise Yard a short walk away, and practically lived there. Breakfast and dinner, Loraine could count on us.
Our first trip to Bloody Bay was a long walk. We had packed a lunch from the store, and started our trek up Long Bay. I don't remember much about the activity there as I was concentrating on getting to BB. It was a breath of fresh air as we walked around the cow droppings to reach the beach, and drank in the unspoiled view. It was almost a virgin beach with only Grand Lido on the very end to spoil the view. The Day was one to remember, with only 3 or four people to be seen all day.
On the way out to the road after the glorious day, we notice a rustic bunch of cabins across the road and later learned it was to be Negril Cabins. In many return trips to Negril, we stayed there and loved the people, rustic setting and convenience of being near our beloved beach.
Now that BB is overrun with resorts, crowds and higglers, I doubt that we will return. Some of the best vacations are now just memories.

Wow, sounds amazing to have seen Third World do that show. I just adored hearing Bunny Rugs sing. I got to see him once at Roots Bamboo and even got to shake his hand. He was quite a force.

Thanks for the memories.

Respect,
Col. Andy & "Wildcat" Pam

Hey Packrat, 28 years ago this coming Saturday, February 28th we said our vows here...recognize it????

/Attachment 40908

And our dinner and reception

Attachment 40909

Attachment 40910

Landing tomorrow for a three week Jacation!!!!! Sure do wish the T Water was still there but have found many other great properties throughout the years! Also miss Kaisers and the shows they used to do...