Very nice. Love your pics!
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Very nice. Love your pics!
Day 7 - Day of rest for parents! We did the usual breakfast at Firefly, Than wife went for a nice long message at the booths in front of Chances, and we hit the Beach. The kids and I took taxi to the town end of the beach and started walking back. Stopping for a drink or swim when the mood struck us. We met a young rasta with a very small run down booth. He showed my daughters all the different fruits and let them taste a bunch. Than he make me a killer pina colada type drink with coconut water, peanuts, pineapple. Great! We spent an hour with him and was thrilled with his lack of hitting me up for anything except the price of the drinks and the fruit. Felt I had met a good honest man. I walked away for a leak and when I returned my daughters had bracelets on. Now my flags were up. He told me that the kids got bracelets as a gift from him for being so friendly. As I paid him ( handsomely I might add) for the drinks and Tipped him well for his time and experience it happened. he hit me up for $10 for the bracelets! Guess he wasn't the first local I met on the beach with out an angle. I was so hoping he was as I didn't want to taint the experience. I just wish they could deal strait with people. Not make everything a game. Than out of the blue I met that person. Mason! We got to his hut and went in for a look. He showed girls the wood he carves with, how he uses his tools etc. Spent 15 min talking to us. When I left he didn't ask for a thing or even try to sell me any of his beautiful carvings. This touched me. A man who works hard everyday, master craftsman who still takes time to talk to the kids. I walked next door to grocery and bought him a stripe and a few snacks and brought it back to him. Priceless! Little legs were tired so we headed back and lounged the rest of day away. Another great one!
Thank you for the pictures have fun.
Booger, that place is called "Jamaican Style" and it is directly across from The Mirage. Cool bar and they have a full menu, similar to Shark's. Spent a lot of time there this month. It's a fairly new spot, but Rohan is a great cook and his daughter is an awesome bartender.Quote:
Originally Posted by booger
Ya mon!
Mason is a real good guy.
No pressure whatsoever!
Amazing artist as well.
Glad you're enjoying your stay.
Vibzy chef has good food. He only comes out after dark but his cooking is very good and cheap.
The Bunny Wailer concert poster is for a show at "Cayenne Beach"… Never heard of it. Where is Cayenne Beach?
Great pictures!
Day 8 - Steve Positive Tour day! Mayfield Falls and Blue hole! 9am we walked out to the road and Steve was there waiting. Loaded up and headed to town for stop at hi lo to get more overproof, cherry juice and some snacks for kiddos. Off through the country we go. We didn't even talk, all just stared out the windows checking out the surroundings as we got closer to Mayfield the view kept getting better. Some very cool winding roads going up and up! when we arrived a few older men approached selling fruit and veggies, we bought a few bananas and down the hill we went. Now anybody that's been there knows that the hill is very very steep. You have to be cautious, even going down. All I could think is the little legs trying to walk up it on the way out. It is a long ways. And I am not in good enough shape to carry them up it! (That is unless a gorilla or something was chasing me!) when we got to the restaurant/bar at bottom we paid our entrance. $20/adult and $10 for kids. We met our guide (Hodel I think), and ordered lunch for our return. Wife and kids found the change room while I made a bubba full of my rum punch and snuck off for a huge submarine. Hodel was great! No rushing us, showing us insects, snails, different plants etc. Now not to over stress this but this is not for the feeble. The walk to the falls had a huge hill as well. Man the cold water in the river was refreshing when we climbed in it. Walking up the river was breath taking at every turn. Not as nice as Agua Azul in Palenque, Mexico. A must see by the way, but very beautiful. The falls are spread out over a 1000 yards so you experience one, round corner and experience another. Each with its own surprise. Way cool! Did I really just say that? LOL We dived, swam and enjoyed the falls. On our return food was served. Great fish and chicken cooked over a wood fire, and drinks all around. We tipped Hodel and headed up everest's summit. LOL Back on the road and down the mountain just as the rain starts. We thought about calling it a day but I vowed to press on. Another series of really cool twisting mountain roads and we were at the blue hole. Very cool place, wish \I had found it earlier. Very cool bar with a great relaxed vibe. No pressure from anyone. Very nice pool for the kids. Blue hole was really cool looking but didn't have the courage that day. Steve drove us home at 6pm. it was a great day. Steve meade us comfortable all day. never felt in over our head, never pestered by salesman, never wanted for anything, couldn't feel safe. I can recommend Steve with the highest confidence. Whole family loved him and will never use another. Enough said!
Excellent report and pictures,thanks for sharing!
Really nice report, Cayanne Beach is up by Travellors, or Beach House villas up that area somewhere, there is no sign, except when there is an upcoming show just an empty fenced lot on the beach.
Really nice TR, really enjoyed.
Very nice. Looks like the whole family had a great time
Very, very nice.
Looks like everyone has been having a blast.
Thanks for the pics too :)
Nice stuff!
Thanks for posting!
The smiles on your kids faces says it all!..Great report! Excellent pics!..Thanks!
Thanks for posting OD, loving this report and pics. It's a whole different experience with the kiddos huh?
Wondering, how far is the drive to Mayfield Falls, it looks so cool.... I like YS but it's just too damn far and after a few times seems like a waste of a day.
Mason was the nicest guy on the beach. We spent half an hour talking with him and admiring his craft. We tipped him a little for his time. We'd already purchased two carvings off Bruce a few huts down so unfortunately this trip we didn't buy from Mason. But next year definitely. Enjoying your pictures and report. Thanks
Thanks for the report. I haven't met a kid that didn't like Negril.
Tizzy,
Depending on traffic, which back roads you take and the condition of the roads... it takes anywhere from 50 minutes to an 1 & 1/2 hours. Add stops along the way and it could be more time. I prefer to arrive around noonish and then have a late lunch after the river walk. Check the weather and water level before you go. Water level is important with small kids, if it is too high and the current too swift, the kids might not have such a good time. Also, if the water level is too low it might not be as fun.
Enjoy,
VVHT
Cool thanks VVHT :)
Fabulous pic of you and the family sitting in the waterfall
After the long day trip we went home and hung out for an hour or so. Once showered and dressed we headed to Canoe for dinner. Have seen things to the contrary here but I highly recommend it. Yes it was slow, but there was a band playing and everyone was having a good time. There was a table of 20 ladies there so I assumed that was why. No problem. In Jamaica even the kids are patient. The waitress brought us a few snacks for the table to keep the kids occupied, Some breads and a fruit platter. The steel drum band had one member we were familiar with. He is in some earlier pictures and stopped at the firefly to jam for us every few days. All partys involved would vote canoe as the 2nd best meal we had in Negril. I would rate our dinner top 4 in this order. 1. Ivans 100 candles. already said It all. 2. Canoe bar. tasty great vibe. everyone happy. 3. Italian café. Good pastas and great pizza, also nice ambience and looked like the place locals take a girl to impress and romance. 4. 3 dives great bbq jerk and seafood, only issue was limited menu with not much for the kids. After canoe we went back to room. went on the patio for a smoke and drink and when I came back wife and kids were all sleeping. Off to Alfreds and Burbon beach for me!!! Now this is something else I have to tell you about. Willie. Willie was a driver from the treehouse I met on the first night when I had a drink there. That night he talked me into going out with him to bourbon beach. I was down to my last 2000j on me and told him so. He drove me, didn't charge me, and refused a beer from me. But hung out and had fun with me. He was there for the girls and was romancing hard but not having any luck. He was looking, I wasn't, but all the locals would tell him they were more interested in the Canadian. Felt bad for him. But wha surprised me was that on this day a week later, after running into him for the 3rd time, he hung out with me and drove me home when I was loaded and still refused any money from me. A true friend and if any of you are at the treehouse please ask for Willie at the bar. Tell him Patrick sent you. He is one honest, straight talking guy. Will watch out for you and not grind you for money. He likes going out at night so will join you anytime and keep an eye on you. Thought I had his card but cant find it. go to treehouse beach bar and ask for him. Best local run around guy. And well on the topic if you want to go up to redground and visit all the little local drinking hole call steve positive. he lives up there and when he took me everyone treated me with respect and watched out for me. Even in the no name bar mentioned by Kahuna because Steve has lived there his whole life.
Enjoying your report, glad you had such a great time. Am interested in the 100 candles deal, how much was that and did you reserve in advance and if so how early before your trip? Thanks.
Great report. I may have missed it, as I am more of a picture guy, than a reader...
When you went to 100 Candles, what did you do with the kids?
My Fiance and I (Wow, weird to say that) are going to have to figure out what to do with little kids during some of our wedding activities.. Baby sitter(S).
Flipadelphia, I saw the 4 maids all out doing the wash and approached them. They were all very nice. They hashed it out between themselves, and let me know who wanted to do it. She was off the day we wanted her, she came at 5pm, we returned around 1am, gave her 40us, and she was thrilled. Kids liked her. She coloured, played card games, cooked snakes etc. Also I had given the security guard a few dollars each day to keep an eye on our door when we went to beach at night so I asked him to keep an eye on things. Never worried. Felt very safe at FireflyQuote:
Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26
Also Congratulations!
Did the Kids like the cooked SNAKES???????????:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Oncedeported
That's why there are so few snakes in Jamaica. The local kids love them as a late night snack! LMFAOQuote:
Originally Posted by jimnkim
Are you serious?? I have never heard this...
I was just kidding Jan24! There are very very few snakes in Jamaica. And none that are poisonous. In the 1880's they imported mongoose to keep the rat and snake population down in the cane fields, It almost wiped out the snake population on the island.Quote:
Originally Posted by jan24
Day 9 - We are all a little worn by this point. The kids have had a busy week and the adults have been going pretty strong as well. We had an answer for this, Ya Mon Red Stripe Catamaran. they picked us up at around 9:30 and brought us up he beach where we got on the boat. Didn't like the next words. "No drinking until after snorkeling". Good thing id brought a big rum punch in my travel mug. This was a nice cruise. slowly down the beach right to the end and than out to the reef. Snorkeling was very good in my opinion. The kids had never done it and as soon as we were in the water we were surrounded by a big school of fish. Lots of colour on the this reef. We even saw squid. That reef needs protecting because there is still a lot of life there. Not as nice as some in Bahamas but nicer that other places ive been. After they took us to the island. Very quaint little sand island. The Fire and grill was going strong. Included was free drinks and jerk chicken or lobster dinner. They had live lobsters in a trap right beside the island and cut it head to toe down the middle. Threw them on the grill while warming the rice/peas and calaloo. You know the lobster is fresh when it still flops around on grill after being cut in half. Food was great. After lunch we sarted cruising the shore slowly but the afternoon rain came in. the woman and children got in the cabin but us guys opted to gut it out. Man did It rain hard. No matter though. At least it was warm.
Wow such great pics of the scenery and your family! What a vacation!
Great report! So much better the an All Inclusive.
Hey Greetings. Nice vibe you got going on .rate you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Oncedeported
big up your family to the max .
the rastas in those pics are from the chop chop studio up west end nice guys .
Looking forward to two weeks in Negril with my kids myself.