Ha, my camera broke while I was there last week so I just went through the posts to see what camera you guys are using! I'm getting myself one - it seems to take beautiful pics, almost like paintings the colors are so vivid!
Printable View
Ha, my camera broke while I was there last week so I just went through the posts to see what camera you guys are using! I'm getting myself one - it seems to take beautiful pics, almost like paintings the colors are so vivid!
Yep - use the "toucan" setting...or vivid as Canon likes to call it. haha
I am literally in my office at work laughing so loud at the loincloth man! I could only imagine this happening to a newbie! Bring on more, please, please, please.
Jenn, go to my profile and there is a photo album of pics I added a few years ago. All pics were taken with that original Canon camera.
Your pics are GREAT! I love Canon's little point and shoot cameras! They do take awesome pictures!
Thanks! I agree! My wife makes fun of me because I take so many sunset pics. However, for my birthday last year she had a book made for me with many of my sunset pics that she selected. What a great gift!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jenn
Monday:
Our days have settled in to an easy routine...up early... down to beach to watch the world wake up....then off to breakfast. We tried to hit up Montana's again...again, no luck. Didn't feel like going too far, so we stopped and had breakfast at Sweet Spot (right across the road). It was good...plain ol' eggs, bacon, and toast. Ate and headed back to the beach.
Someone asked for the perspective of the newbies. I'll do my best, as they aren't on negril.com. Up until today, we hadn't wandered too far. Remember she wasn't feeling well, and we just sort of eased in slowly. We're in Negril, right? No need to rush around. Sand gravity also had a pretty good hold too! Anyhow, they pretty much followed our lead. We'd given them a few pointers before going, so they sort of knew what to expect. That being said, it's hard to describe to someone who hasn't tried non-AI and you never really know how people will handle it, ya know? They were rock stars! They laughingly referred to the "rules" throughout the trip - you know, the basic, don't tell people where you are staying....just smile and say no thanks....don't tell them when you leave or that you just arrived, etc. They laughed one night when someone at Sunnyside asked where we were staying and I responded, "Rooms". They were like "WAIT - That's rule 1.a. Don't tell anyone where you are staying!" Um...yeah, about that. It doesn't really apply when they watch you walk over from there and home again. haha The first few days they just spent a lot of time looking at everything everywhere we went. "Just taking it all in - there's a lot to take in" But they quickly found their groove and a couple days in - they were pros.
Decided to wander down to Coco La Palm for lunch and to try the jerk chicken pizza. Had a few rounds of red stripes and ordered up a pizza. It was a good, but I have an idea for jerk pizza that doesn't include pizza sauce. I would love it with jerk sauce then chicken then cheese. I'm going to try it at home....I'll let you know how that works out. While we were there, we checked out a room. We've always considered staying there, so since we were there - why not take a look. Nice place. It's on my short list! (On a side note - the beach bathrooms at Coco are SPOTLESS!)
Pictures at Coco
Attachment 45304
Attachment 45305
Finished up there and headed back down the beach. The girls were in the lead on this walk and as we approached White Sands - I whispered wait for it and then take a sharp left....they'll follow. We pulled in to White Sands, grabbed another round of beers and headed up the steps to take in the beach. A great view! And we had the place to ourselves!
Attachment 45306
Finished our beers then back on our way. Pulled in to the Boat Bar for a dirty banana or two...or? The band was just beginning to arrive - so it wasn't too busy yet. We hung out, had a dirty banana, and then Schaef and Aims decided on a game of pool. The beauty of going on a trip with friends - someone always has enough money for another round. haha They were playing pool I ordered another round of drinks and realized I didn't have enough money to cover it. Walked over to the pool table and said, "Um, I ordered us another round, but I have no money left..." You know you have found great friends when nobody misses a beat and hands you the money to cover it. We had gotten into a pretty easy groove of we buy, you buy and nobody keeping track - it'll work itself out. Game over - my girl won and one of the girls at the bar offered up a game with him. So they played...for shirts. Needless to say, she won also! Looks like he's gonna be topless...oh wait. Some pics from our time:
Attachment 45307
Attachment 45308
Attachment 45311
Attachment 45309
Attachment 45310
Dinner at Xtabi...to be continued.
Finally, we found our way back to the hotel and decided by this time to start getting cleaned up as we planned on hitting Xtabi for dinner. On our last trip, Brian and I had dinner there and loved it. When I was thinking about all of the places we wanted our friends to experience I started making lists. Lists of things to do. Lists of places to eat for breakfast. For lunch. For dinner. Things to pack. The breakdown of money to take. blah blah blah. I made a thousand lists...and only really got through a few of the things we wanted to do/places to eat. There's always next year, right?
So we all get ready and walk out towards the front of Rooms. There is a gentleman, Clovis, who is parked inside at Rooms. We spoke with him and agreed upon a price to take us and pick us up from Xtabi. We arrive a bit before sunset and get some great pictures. Now...I need to go off topic for a few minutes.
First, I have a love hate relationship with the cliffs. Mostly, I love the beauty of them and the fabulous places to eat dinner up there on them. However, as a trip to Negril gets closer - you know those dreams you have of falling when you are just drifting off to sleep? Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. Well...as a trip gets closer, I have HORRIBLE dreams about falling over the edge of the cliffs from various locations in Negril. They scare the heck out of me! So because of that...I also mostly hate the cliffs. However, every time we go up there - I choose to sit next to the edge. I'm hoping to train my subconscious into believing that I can sit there and not just fly over the edge. Ugh...just thinking about it (falling over the edge) gives me the heebie jeebies...just thinking about it right now. This will be important to remember from this point of the report forward. I am not afraid of heights. I love roller coasters and being up high...but the cliffs...man, I just don't know what it is...
Second, Xtabi is bittersweet for me. Our dear friend, Alfred, who some/many of you knew was based at Xtabi. He took us there first. Whenever I have been to Xtabi, I look around hoping to see his smiling face or hear his great laugh. Man, do I miss him. I always send up a silent toast to him when we are there.
Ok, back to the report.
Before dinner came - the guys decided to walk down the steps and stand out on some of the diving off spots. Of course, I only picture them falling to their deaths...because I sometimes hate the cliffs. So, after they return, I walked over to the edge. I got brave enough to walk down some steps...and then quickly (and carefully) scuttled back up them all the while my heart racing. Ugh...at least I tried.
Attachment 45312
Attachment 45313
Attachment 45314
Another fabulous sunset!
Attachment 45315
You're killing me, Smallz! PLEASE step away from the edge!
Attachment 45316
So dinner at Xtabi is good. Very good. At home, we seldom have the time to linger over a long dinner and just enjoy the moments. We waited awhile for our food...but again, good drinks, great friends, wonderful conversation, and the sun setting over the Caribbean Sea, who cares? We know not to go anywhere hungry, in case the wait is long. We also knew that the food would be worth the wait. There were some firsts for me this trip - which I hadn't included in my lists. ;) We ordered conch fritters (?) for an appetizer. I've never eaten conch. OMG WHY HAVEN'T I? They were delicious! For dinner I had lobster thermador. Again...what exactly was I waiting for? It was fabulous. I can't seem to recall what everyone else had - but all of us enjoyed our dinner.
Attachment 45317
We finished dinner - grabbed a cold stripe for Clovis to take him after work - hopped back in the bus and back to the hotel. I can't seem to remember if we went anywhere tonight when we got back. Probably had a drink...but maybe we were too full? That slippery time continuum again....
I knew N.E.E.T was having a Cultural Day this week (and had thought that it was Monday). I was bummed we had missed it. However, I double checked and it is tomorrow! Plans for Tuesday made....YEAH! I'm so excited.
Tomorrow - another check off of my list....buying bricks....children singing and drumming and reciting poetry, an old friend and a new one.
Thanks for the report and the pics. We always stay on the beach, but usually have one day on the cliffs to snorkel and swim. Xatbi is almost always our choice, and it was Alfred that first took us there.
nice report (keep it coming) and A+ photos!
Tuesday:
Woke up - repeat morning routines - figure out our chairs on the beach - breakfast at the hotel - lay in the sun - drinks at Sunnyside - jump in the ocean. Repeat.
Attachment 45350
Attachment 45351
Attachment 45352
Around 11 - we decided to pack up and head down to Travellers. We wanted to buy some blocks and see some of the students perform. We hadn't walked this way (with the newbies) yet - so again, lots to see for them. We took our time meandering down the beach. Schaef and Aims found a little sand bar and walked that - which worked out well until it went away from the shore instead of towards it. :) We arrived at Travellers and they were just beginning to set up. Clearly we were super early. We sort of stood around for a few minutes trying to figure out where we needed to go and what we needed to do. Funny - I had no idea how much the blocks cost. There was a sign about tablets for a family for US $50 donation. Well, I assumed (incorrectly) that a block was US $50. Ok...I work in education - as does Aims - so I'm completely fine with it, but I felt a little bad thinking I just walked them down here to spend 50 on a block - not entirely sure if they even wanted to do this. They did. I recognized Mr. Wellington and walked over to formally introduce myself (I'm getting awfully brave on this trip). He gives me a big hug and points me in the right direction. We each paint a block:
Attachment 45355
Attachment 45356
Attachment 45357
Attachment 45358
Well - after we were done painting our blocks we went over to pay. Uh...they are not 50 - they are 10 per block. Well, I gave more than 10 but decided to keep the blocks available for others to paint since there were lots of people starting to show up. Hubs had grabbed some seats at the bar so we settled in for a drink. More and more people were starting to show up. Mr. Wellington asks me if we can take a picture with my block - and somehow I've ended up on the NEET FB page. haha My sole brush with fame.
Back over to our bar seats and all of the sudden, hubs points - it's Keisha! She works at Travellers - but we knew her from previous trips to Rooms. Hugs and a bit of chatting with her! So nice to see her, as we missed her at Rooms this time. The show begins and it is simply wonderful! Students sang the national anthem, a mento band, poetry recited, songs and dances by students....I simply was in love with every bit of it. Working in a school - I was so impressed by how well the students who were sitting and watching/waiting their turns were behaved. We stayed for a couple hours and then headed out. We have lots of pictures, but not sure I want to post pictures of children without the permission of their parents. So...just imagine how cute they were!
On our way back - we stopped at Mom's Place and had several beers and lunch. Sat and chatted with the bartender, and later the owner, and then we were back on our way. Stopped for a traveler at Yellow Bird. Continued on to Sunnyside where we had another round...or one more. ;)
Finally decided to get ready to head back to the hotel and get ready for dinner.....Decided to head to Canoe (our favorite!). That dinner deserves its own post....stay tuned.
Well...so a year later, I'm rereading my incomplete trip report. We are just over a month out from our repeat performance - so I thought I'd update...or finish...or at least share pictures.
So on this night, we headed down to Canoe. It's my favorite. I love it there so much. I do better when I'm not buzzed there first because naturally, I have to order Kirby's rum punch when I arrive...and again and again. They are wicked! I don't have pictures from this night...which is good. We got jerk wings - and they were HOT HOT HOT! I love hot and spicy food, but holy cats! I was on FIRE. We stayed here for quite a while - ran into some of Kirby's friends who we ran into repeatedly over the trip. One of the guys just called us "Michigan". Walking through a shop - we'd hear "Hey Michigan"...and move on. haha
Well, we stayed here for quite a while and imbibed in our fair share of rum punch and great food. When we finally headed out - someone who is NOT me - might have jumped right in the pool clothes and all upon our arrival back at the hotel. All I remember is Schaef yelling "Where is your phone?!" It was in his hands. There was no more going out tonight...no more one mores...we were done. Off to bed to sleep in rum dreams.
The next day was a repeat - then the Pub Crawl. Pictures coming soon....
I missed this trip report in 2016....thanks so much for bringing it back and continuing where you left off!
RIP Alfred...man do I really miss his laugh sometimes.
Enjoy your next reach and please do another report!!
Great pics and report. More please.
Picked up around 2:30 by Lenbert and off we went. Somehow, Aims and I sat up front with Lenbert and the guys were a bit further back. There was an older couple between us and them. They were probably late 60s early 70s and appeared to be very prim. I remember thinking - if this is all it's cracked up to be - they are in for a world of hurt.They seemed a little overwhelmed by the bus in general...until the first stop. Working in education back at home, I had asked Lenbert if Teachaz was an option for our stop. When we hopped on the bus, he already knew who I was and told me he'd get us to Teachaz. YAY!
Attachment 47448
Grabbed a Red Stripe, walked around the corner, and there is the older couple enjoying a sub. Well, well, well...this trip is going to be FUN for them after all. Clearly this was an example of "you can't judge a book by its cover!"
We had several stops - Sunset After Dark, Bella Donna's - GREAT pizza! - Tanya's Secret Escape, and a few others. The experience on the bus was better than I thought. Clearly, there were some folks who were out of their comfort zone, but after a stop or two - the bus was rocking! There remained a few folks who should have probably gotten off the bus, but they were troopers and stuck it out. Here's a few pictures from the night:
Attachment 47449
Attachment 47450
Attachment 47451
Attachment 47452
Attachment 47453
Attachment 47454
Attachment 47455
We ended up being the last on the bus - mostly because we asked him to drop us off last. We stopped at the gas station as he had someone to pick up - grabbed a few more beers - and alas, the night came to an end. Got dinner from the road. Hung out with Kelvin for a bit at Rooms, popped over to Sunnyside for a round or two. ;) Another day in paradise....life sure is rough.
Nice photos!
very nice, thanx, very soon come
Thank you. I will post some remaining odd pictures, as I am struggling a bit for the rest of the report. ;) If y'all are interested, I'll do a
"Round 2" after we go in a few short weeks.
Random pictures from the remainder of our trip....
Attachment 47486
Attachment 47487
Attachment 47488
Attachment 47489
Attachment 47490
Attachment 47491
Attachment 47492
Thanks for the great report and amazing pics!! We haven't been able to be in Negril for a few years now and my cravings have been BAD lately and you report took the edge off very nicely this morning. Your first night made me laugh out loud, we were in bed at 8 our last trip.....��
Bring on the pictures ;)
Thanks, everyone. We're back in a few short weeks. I'll do a better job of the report this year!