Stories Of Negril and the Westend

Pushin 50- Your request for OJ cracked me up! You know, David at YB squeezes OJ right there! :)

I dont remember being able to get OJ at Yellow Bird after breakfast. That was 17 years ago when (Roy? and his wife) the original owners were still there. Still the price of admission was worth the story.
My wife and I really wanted to see more of Jamaica after our first visit. We spent two days in Negril to prepare before we left. The night before we were to leave, we decided to do a Hollywood Moment. We set up the video camera and ran hand in hand into the water and dove into a wave. I found out at that moment what a stupid thing it was to do. I bent my back backwards and ended up with a bump the size of a baseball (cricket for you Jamaicans). My back hurt and we had an all day drive. We decided to go on. I layed down in the back seat all the way to Ocho Rios. My wife used our video camera to record the drive, while I had the most wonderful view of blue sky and tree tops! We stopped repeatedly and got out to look around. We were supposed to go all the way to Port Antonio but the drive took us all day to get to Ochi. Once in Port Antonio the next day, I found a great Massage Therapist who massaged me on cliffs over the crashing ocean below. She and the setting, were a gift from heaven. After one more massage I was back to normal and the trip was finally on for me. We stayed on an island off the point between the two bays. It was breathtaking. Cliffs, a swimming area and a boat dock. Thatch roof bungaloos. We had fun roaming the island until Nightfall. I didn't know mosquito's hunted in packs! All night long they swarmed around the bed nets. Going to the bathroom was not an option. The morning sun, and a boat to get off the island couldn't come fast enough.

While in Port Antonio, we met a man from Miami who was staying on a medium sized ocean going sailing ship. He said he was stuck in Jamaica and was not sure when he would be leaving. He had been hired as a deck hand by the boat owner, along with a captain for the ship. The ship's owner and wife had just retired. They wanted to travel throughout the caribbean, island hopping the rest of their days. He had captained the ship himself on weekend jaunts to the Bahamas and back, and off the eastern coast of Florida. But he also knew his limits and wanted a veteran captain to teach him about the tricky parts he would travel. They decided to do a trip to Jamaica as the first run. They ran into trouble between Cuba and Haiti. The sea was extremely rough, though they made it through OK. The owner was so shook up by the experience, he flew home to Miami afraid to sail again. He instructed the captain to bring the ship home to Miami. Before they could shove off, the captain got a call from home that his wife was ill and in the hospital. He took a flight home the next day, never to return. That left the deck hand with the ship. The owner paid him to take care of the ship until he could send another captain down to bring it home. That had been three months ago. So the deck hand had sailed the ship around the island a couple of times. Once because of weather, once out of boredom.

The most beautiful, scary, amazing, heartstopping drive I have ever taken in Jamaica, is the old road over the Blue Mountains between Port Maria and Kingston. Victor, Janice and myself took off in the morning. We didn't have the Impala, and were glad we didn't. The road is narrow and winds with each fold of the mountain. Honking around each corner was manditory even at 25 miles an hour. You start at sea level and end up 5000 ft later at the Gap. It was a Sunday, so there was not much traffic. That was good for the drive, but all the little shops that sell coffee were closed except one. Mile by Mile we climbed higher and higher. Waterfalls got longer and longer. Some drop 700 to 1000 ft. Each turn revealed another amazing view. I was supprised to see as many houses up there as I did. We saw a man who was growing oranges along the road and pulled over. He was 50 ft above us on the road. We asked if we could buy some, he cut off part of a branch with 5 oranges on it and dropped it to us.
We were thankful. Nothing had been open so far. We continued to climb. Wooden bridges, 1000 ft drop offs from the road and waterfalls, big and small around every turn. At 4000 ft we finally found a business open that grew, proccessed and packaged there own Blue Mountain Coffee. No question here. This was the real deal. We watched as they picked, cleaned, roasted over an open flame, and packed one pound bags of their own homegrown! Watching the kid, tied around the waist with a rope, walk down the hill to the coffee, scared me even to watch. Nothing between him and a 1500 ft drop! From here you could see patches of coffee trees everywhere. All on inclines on the sides of the mountains. After our purchases we continued on. We were told there was a restaurant at the top of the Gap between the mountains.

In all Jamaica, the most amazing view I've ever seen, is the view of Kingston Bay from the Gap. Spread out in front of you is Port Royal, Kingston, and west to May Pen. There is a restaurant there at the best viewing spot. They have an outdoor patio out back. While we ate our lunch, took in the view, we were surrounded by hummingbirds. They have feeders right next to the patio, and 6 - 10 hummingbirds would be flying around at any given time. I can only imagine what it would be like at sunset. Even Victor was moved by the experience. He called his wife just to tell her about it.

Its the night before leaving and all through the house. My wife and I scurry and run like a mouse. Our bags are all nesselled, piled up by the door. With visions of beach bars yet to explore. The niece has come hither to watch our two cats. Soon we'll be at the airport, running like rats. And to all I send out all my love and good cheer. To you I salute as I taste my first beer.
Next stop The Grand Pineapple, then on to Xtabi. The NEW story begins.

I'm back and yes, new stories to tell. This trip brought us alot of new experiences. While staying out at Xtabi, we saw Dolfins, a large Lion Fish and watched a waterspout. The waterspout formed in the ocean in front of us as a storm went by out at sea. It continued just behind the storm for about 5 minutes then dissapeared. Twice the Dolfins went by as we watched the ocean channel. All along the caves and rocks of the West End, were millions of small fish in large schools. It was amazing swiming through them and have them swarm around me. I also followed two Rays along the beach for a half mile. One was white and a foot across and the other was black and 2 1/2 feet across. I really do love the ocean.

great stories of west end negril,here is elvis from pee wee #1876 358 1442.you may see me at your party!!

Can't wait to hear about your trip and your stay at Grand Pineapple and Xtabi

My wife and I had quite a decision to make when coming to Negril this time. We were curious to try an all inclusive. I looked at all the big ones, but noticed many of the resort restaurants had clothing rules. I like dressing up, but not in the caribbean. The most formal thing I've worn on any trip to Jamaica is a Hawaiian Shirt I wore to my birthday! And that includes a friends wedding at Blue Cave Castle. As for the resorts themselves, many looked like apartment or condo complexes. The rooms, a football field away from the beach. My wife's family own 2 timeshare condo's and I find they are usually in a bad location, have long walks to the beach, and up to a 1000 other people looking for a little privacy.
We chose The Grande Pineapple for several reasons. I was familier with the property (Negril Gardens) and knew the amount of other guests was limited. I liked the Jamaican colours they had used to paint the buildings. The fact that Alfred's was next door was also a plus. It was as good of a fit for my wife and I as we could find.
We discovered that although nice, it was not our way of travel. Within 2 days we noticed the pack movement. Each day the same. Morning came and people came to the beach slowly. When the breakfast buffet opened up, they moved there, then back to the bar and beach. Lunch came, the same movement. Dinner again brought much the same, broken up by another beautiful sunset.
The G.P. is a great combination of Jamaican travel and an all inclusive. You do have a funky feel here, I liked that they let me smoke herb on property (on the porch of my room). The food was good (buffet style, but well prepared), and the staff was very nice. They went out of their way to help me get a pineapple upside down cake for my birthday. Even though my birthday dinner was elsewhere. I really loved the tree's next to the beach. I slept under them several times. The property is really a cool place, but just not what we like. The only complaint's I have are the lack of local food on a regular basis. They did serve some, but it was only available for certain meals. For most of our stay, there was only a couple of other guests that spoke english. Lots of Russians, Germans and French. Like most Americans, I speak only english. They would also stay in groups of language. It did make it interesting for the Beach Sellers. If you didn't answer their questions, they assumed you didn't speak english and left you alone. But these were minor and for those who like the all inclusive way of life, it's a cool place.

Glad you enjoyed your time at the Grand Pineapple! That's where we stayed for our first trip to Negril. I agree that there was definitely a predictable pack movement. Beach, Buffet, Beach, Buffet, Sunset, Buffet, Bar, bed. wake up and repeat. :) - It was kind of nice though as I'd never experienced that kind of relaxation before! I didn't have to worry about finding food or drinks or a good place to lounge. It was all there. I also liked that Alfreds was next door and the location made it easy to walk anywhere you wanted. I agree about the Europeans.I noticed that too! I was the only American there.. with the exception of three girls from Long Island. There was a cool british crowd that we enjoyed hanging with. I noticed that the french didn't really mingle with the Germans. Everyone kind of stuck with their language group.

Did you get to meet Ralston, Patrick, Andy the bartender, Dahlia at the front desk, Davina, Kenneil the event coordinator? I'd love to hear how the GP staff is doing. They went above and beyond to make our stay amazing. I wish I could go back tomorrow!

Yeh, it was a good place, we just like the simpler quieter existance out on the West End

Summer got in the way and I never got back to the summer trip. We finished at Xtabi. Like Blue Cave Castle, we enjoy the quiet and beauty of the sea here. Lots of nearby coral and sea life when snorkeling. Xtabi's funky bungalo's along the cliff's are perfect for relaxing. I like all the access points into the water as well. This was my second May trip to Negril and I noticed again all the small fish that surround the coast at this time. Its so wild to swim through them and have them swarm around you. Even more fun when you cannonball into the middle of a group of them. Its looks like I will be returning sometime in the next few weeks. Can't Wait. Irie Vibs for all

For the first time since our very first trip to Jamaica, we took a bus to Negril. It was part of our package from The Grande Pineapple, our friend Victor came two hours after us, so we gave it a try. What a mistake! I had heard from other people about 3 hour rides to Negril, But I thought they were exagerating. Oh No, they were right! Okay, mine was "Only 2 1/2 hours"! This was only because 70% of the passengers were dropped off at one place. Most were Russian, and only one other couple plus a Jamaican hitching a ride, even spoke english. The bus driver tried to tell stories and tired jokes, while the bus stood in silence. It was Erie not Irie. We hired a driver for the return ride. Soooo much better. We were at the airport in Mobay within an hour and 15 minutes. All the way with a Cold Red Stripe in one hand and a (You know what) in the other. If only I could do the same all the way home.

Wow, 3 hour rides to Negril were back before the highway was built/finished. I always have someone pick me up but I have to do a "quick escape" this season for a few days and am going to try the JUTA bus on my way "home". I'm actually looking forward to it - if I have to leave the island as I do, I might as well have a little fun with it.