Crusher's Trip Report - Jan 2014

We had fun at the Jerk Fest but some reason this year I am like bug food in the premium sense. I have so many bites on my legs that its literally driving me nuts when I try to sleep or anything really. We have bought some stuff to treat them and have been taking prescriptions strength Benedryl. Unfortunately its not making them better fast enough.

So Sunday was a beach day and we spent a lot of time sitting in the sun and just enjoying being here. Its funny how after a week things just always seem to turn to chill mode for us. I have had a lot of fun sitting on the deck or out on the sand and just people watching. I do have to say that the beach vendors seem to be a bit more aggressive and tad bit more heady handed with the sad stories. My wife and I have even had a couple of them come up to us and complain that we aren't buying from them just others. I hear the 'spread the love' statement almost every day down here. Frankly I have been coming to this resort enough that I simply just have my favorites that I like to deal with because I know them to be honest and enjoy their juices, patties and what not. I actually had to tell one lady that its my money and I am free to choose who I 'share' it with and that hassling me daily isn't going to move you up the list very fast. As she stomped away I think I might have got my point across. But more than likely I am just seen as a jackass or worse.

The hustlers and beggars are getting thick too. Just the other day we had an incident at the beach. There were some locals and some tourists sitting on the little part of the beach in front of the restaurant at the Beach Club and right by Errols on the beach. One of the more aggressive who begs for bottles and tries to see drugs walks right past those folks and heads towards a wall that can't be be more than 4 feet away. He whips it out and take a leak right there by these people. The guys at Errols instantly got on his case. The jerk just stood there and taunted them for what seemed like 1/2 an hour. It was ridiculously rude and I had wished there were cops on the beach at that time but alas there wasn't. Finally the big guy that patrols our beach goes over there and gets rid of the guy but only after we tell him what's going on.
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On Monday DK and I decided we wanted to go up into town and visit with someone we have been chatting with on Facebook. Colette Parker owns a little road side bar called Colette's Bar. We had Doc drive us up there and it looked just like the pictures we had seen. Its up the fire station road and she is an awesome host. Drinks were cheap and the company was good. Its interesting to see how many return visitors migrate up into the hills and cliffs for places to stay. After the beach incident from earlier I think its easier to see why. I only stayed for a few but DK and Kevin spent most of the evening there and it was a really good time.

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View from under my favorite Almond Tree on the Beach
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View from Travellers Deck Bar
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Jerk Chicken Lunch at Travellers
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Colette

Tuesday was a beach day and we made the most of the calm weather. Got out in the ocean and hung out on the beach. We had some fun on our deck listening to music and chatting. We learned a lot about the politics of our little rented condo area over the last few days. I am not sure it would be worth owning one for the hassles that you have to deal much like back home I am guessing.

We are having a great time regardless of all the little things I have noted through out my posting. In Jamaica you take the good with the bad.

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Ugh...I had a lot of those bites in Cuba last year and it just about drove me insane! I must remember bug spray.

Hey Crusher, when i get bit i put some heat on it whether it be hot water as hot as you can take or what i discovered a couple reaches ago was when the bites started to drive me crazy in the middle of the night instead of jumping in the shower i used a hair dryer works great and lasts for hours...try it you'll like it.

Those look like flea bites to me. Got bit so bad in Honduras that I have scars 8 years later.

OOOh, those bites don't look good.

Ouch! Looks like you could use some triple antibiotic and hydrocortisone creams.

Put Zinc lotion on them. It's kinda the same as pantene, the stuff they use on diaper rash for babies. Works great for getting the itch out.

Those bites look awful. I was told to dab them with rubbing alcohol it takes the itch out and prevents them getting infected, use as needed.

Those bites do look bad. Some people get bit, others do not, it's weird. Suzi Q got eaten up really bad on one reach, and we hung out at a lot of the same places.

I guess all this rules out any chance of moving to Negril.

Also, the public peeing is RIDICULOUS. I never mentioned it in my report, but I would say I saw an average of one local per day pissing in public. Beyond rude. Some of these locals leave their manners at home.

It's like my expat friend Margie told me, and I will never forget it: Negril is the greatest place on Earth if, and ONLY if, you can be tolerent.

Great report by the way. Thanks for keeping it real.

Yeah I just couldn't believe what an ******* the guy turned into when people objected to his behavior. He was even arguing with the tourists on the beach. That kind of stuff is just bad for everyone involved. At one point I was certain it was going to get violent. Just needless.