Sunrise ... Sunset. Is there any place better that I could get? Trip Report

LOL Tiz...I was thinking the same thing

(whistling) nothing to see here, Clarity..nothing at all! :)

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Originally Posted by bjritz

Here are a couple more with the night lights on:
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AGH!! Holy smokes!! They're multiplying!!:eek:
it's like a whole GANG of bats have moved into the Xtabi cave.
This pic actually made goosebumps shoot up my arm. *shivers*
I think I recognize the flying rat crouched in the far right. I'm pretty sure that's the one that dive bombed Markus! lol

Enjoying your trip report so far and all the beautiful pictures!
Xtabi is beautiful and great for snorkeling, as long as you avoid those sea urchins you mentioned.:)

BJ-

I am really enjoying your trip report. It brings back fond memories of our time at Xtabi in April.

How long have you been in KCMO? I went to KSU, spent lots of time in KC and still have friends in the area.

Carry on!

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Originally Posted by wpyogi

BJ-

I am really enjoying your trip report. It brings back fond memories of our time at Xtabi in April.

How long have you been in KCMO? I went to KSU, spent lots of time in KC and still have friends in the area.

Carry on!

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I've been here in the area for 23 years. KCMO for 12 of 'em. Lots 'o Wildcats at my workplace in Mission, KS. I started out in Lakewood, CO and now you're up the hill from there. I'd trade places. Why, oh why am I in the Midwest? Rather be at a mountain or better yet a beach.

Hey Bjritz!! Right up the street from Mission, over in Shawnee. My friends back east in New Hampshire(close the the presidentials) call us a bunch of flatlanders!! lol!!

Great, a boardie from home base! I live in Brookside and work in Mission. Close enough to walk. (long walk) When was your last reach to Negril?

Bj, drummerboy was there for the Boardie Bash in April (hint hint) :) lol

Great stuff BJ, I'm a huge fan of Xtabi. Your a man after my own heart, I think. Love the wordsmithing, well done. :) I thought of DrummerBoy first thing when I saw KCMO. Great guy, he flopped with us! :)

Xtabi Bar & Friends Met

The dark wood glistens, the blender crunches then zooms in rhythm with the Reggae, chatter, surf pounds a cliff, laughter and beautiful people, this is how I view the bar at Xtabi. A watering hole of Caribbean proportions. Slide up for cold Stripe, Dirty Banana, Rum Punch or food glorious food and just enjoy the vibe. A look around after a day of sun, heat, taxis, sand and much walking brings to the eye some very nice people. Honeymooners glued together with common purpose or is it desire; the wired looking for a Jamaican unwinder; Midwestern sweetness; old Negril vets with stories of the 'ole day; mostly returnees with a purpose to enjoy Xtabi and Negril on their terms, yes travelers not tourists.

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For a first timer all I had to go on was pictures and trip reports. Bar surfers, pics of 'lil turquoise love seats, and the anticipation of a view. But being there was an oasis of interesting. As you've surmised I was on a lazy *ss vacation. Lay around, walk a bit (damn quite a bit) but recovering in a cove of fish, then sit, and of course drink. Drink Rum! (only ting missing at Xtabi bar was the Spitfire) But, hey they poured a killer dirty banana. I took it upon myself to be the DB inspector everywhere I went. Xtabi killed it, ya baby they did. The chocolate in the glass drizzled up the sides, rum cream, rum, more rum, ice, blended then topped with a big drop of chocolate, straw in, straw filled and overflowing with 150 proof – effing amazing. First sip, Houston we have no problem!

People, yah, yeah, we were talkin' about people. Ever notice people in a bar drink? Negrilophiles as I've come to respect, mon, buy yer drinks. Tis a blessin', but ya jus gotta buck up an receive. Giving in due time does come around however, and that is jus as much fun, mon.

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The rundown at the lazying (bar flying or whatever you call it in your neck of the city):

Brian and Marcel – He's a parasailing captain from Sarasota, she is the most fun wild thing at Xtabi. She so wrapped herself around Ed (my travel buddy) and he would not let me take a picture as his wife would sic her Sicilian cousins on him.(Note: this is not exploitative language – she was wild) He was a great guy and so supportive of his girl who was in need of a break, which she got. He help me out of a spot while I was there in the department of local purchases. All together just the finest couple and truly fun to hang out with. Marcel seemed to need late, very late entertainment, I woke up in the middle of the night (wee hours) and heard her in the cliff side gardens. Had to see if she was okay and she was, just talking a blue streak all night. Loved that girl!

The A's – Andy and April stayed in #6. This is the cabin right below #8. You can see their roof from our deck. I was talking with the A's one night and April said, “We're in the room just below you.” “Oh,” I reply, “So, you're the one waving at me from your shower.” “Yep,” she firmly stated, “That's me waving at you up there....” (In reality, we didn't see her wave...) They were very nice and a lot of fun at the bar. Good peeps.

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Jason and Mandy – These two were from just outside Indianapolis, nice dinks. This was the couple we hung out with at Seastar for the Saturday night gig. Sweet as can be. They told us one of the best stories I've heard yet about Negril and it's wonderful people.

On the way into town with their driver, Champion, he asked Mandy what she wanted on this trip. They'd been a few times before and always used this driver. She stated that she wanted to cook Jamaican food the local way. He asked her if she could what would she cook? She said fish. That was it. The rest of the drive into Xtabi and the subsequent side trips they took this never came up.

One day I was looking out onto the cove in the afternoon and a boat drops a couple of guys off who swim over to one of the rocks just off the cliff. They have a bag of fish which they proceed to clean.

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Later at the bar we hear the story. Champion, the driver, yells up to Mandy who is staying in #4, “You are cooking dinner tonight. You, yes you.” Jason tossed some beers down to the two of them and they jumped in and grabbed these. Champion took Jason, Mandy, The A's and Michael from Xtabi staff up to his house. He taught Mandy how to cook fish Negril style.

This story still sticks in my heart as to what Negril and it's lovely people are all about. Just mention a wish in passing to your driver and he'll see that you have a killler experience in his town. Wow!

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Toni and Jenni (our besties) – Toni hails from Phoenix and is an Xtabi regular. Toni spent more time in the cove than anyone. She floated swam and just absorbed the Caribbean. What a lovely person. Jenni is from St. Augustine and also a regular returnee. She was a quiet gracious presence. We ate breakfasts and did a considerable amount of drinking together. These gems were just the medicine I needed in this place of serious beauty. We shared some great conversations and just had a great time getting to know them. The funny thing was, they didn't come together. They're not sisters. Never met each other before this last reach. People thought Ed and I were brothers. So, it was natural that the 'sistas' n the 'bros' met up for some fun in Negril.

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Ed and I go back. Way back. He was my boss for a while. I survive at a job he got me, that he was subsequently laid off of. Bad I know, but you know what happens. We have a history together and his wife and mine socialize regularly. In fact I offered the trip to him (room, that is) and thought he was too busy to come. He did, I secretly think my wife asked him to go to accompany the body (mine) home.

Ed's a little crazy. No, a lot crazy. His method (not that I condone this mind you) of handling higglers was to speak to them in Hebrew. He would say, in Hebrew that he was from Isreal....much confusion would befall his higgler. I would nearly die when this would happen, but he's his own man and I'm not about to mess with a former Navy intelligence officer.

So, he would tell whoever would listen at the Xtabi bar about the “don't mess with an Israeli” method of handing the locals. I was dying. You just can't take him anywhere.

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Mrs. Johnson – One evening at the shift change for barkeeps at Xtabi, Natasha and a woman I'd not met came in and sat across the bar. Xtabi weighs all the bottles of liquor at every shift change, they have a ledger and each bottle is marked and the ledger is updated. (gerryg asked for and liked details, well, more than you wanted to know...) I asked Natasha who was her friend, and before she could answer, the other woman spoke up. “I'm Mrs. Johnson.” I was glad to meet her. She was nice, but wearing a severe black suit. Later Ed said he thought being married must be a Jamaican thing to be quite proud of, as Mrs. Johnson was clearly letting us know. Later I found out she was a new incoming manager for Xtabi and was letting the staff know she was in charge. She was a truly wonderful person.

We had many conversations and she eventually let me in on a secret. Her name was Shawna. I didn't have to call her Mrs. Johnson anymore. I did have fun with the staff, however. Any time they were just standing around or having fun with each other I would remind them that Mrs. Johnson could walk in at any moment. They would just laugh each time. I love these people. What fun we all had. Shawna if you eva read this, know you are right up there as one of my most pleasant memories of Negril. Yu da boss!

Woody – Some of you boardies know Woody. He is on and off the board at times. We had several great conversations about the old days. He was on his 55th trip to Negril. Whew!

Queenie – We met at the bar and had a great evening wandering the town. She is an inspiration to me and quite an adventurer. Having come to Negril for a six day vacation, she went home and sold all and moved to Negril. She'd been there a month. She is staying with Bella Donna and seemed to be having the time of her life. We went down to Canoe for the Greenies and Rob's webcast. (This will be detailed later.)

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All the bar tenders, wait staff and cooks at Xtabi took extraordinary care of me during my stay. Hat's off to all of you.

The best part of my trip was meeting and getting to know all the other guests. Since this was all new to me, the vets gave me advice and just brought the “want to be there vibe” with them. Thanks to all mentioned above for your gracious hosting of me at my oasis in Negril.

Drifting off to sleep after many a rum fueled drink, many a dragon and stripe, head swimming a bit I'm so glad to have come. The people make the day in the end.

Middle of the night, stumbling to the bath, must find Alka-seltzer.....and vitamin B+.....water, thankfully the tap water can be drank.....outdoor shower.....back to bed....must do this again tomorrow.....zzzzz

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Originally Posted by bjritz

I've been here in the area for 23 years. KCMO for 12 of 'em. Lots 'o Wildcats at my workplace in Mission, KS. I started out in Lakewood, CO and now you're up the hill from there. I'd trade places. Why, oh why am I in the Midwest? Rather be at a mountain or better yet a beach.

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Lol, I hear you. But it's been so windy here this year, it feels like the Midwest!! Arrgghhhhh!