Guirigay and Sweetie Pie’s PaRedux It’s all true and it never really happened…

The sun is setting out to our left as we head in. It is the most beautiful sunset of the week. Given the location and circumstances it might be the most incredible sunset of our lives. So lucky. So freaking lucky.

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As we pull back into the Black River the sun is setting. There are a number of large trees just upriver from the marina that are completely covered in birds by this point of the evening. Hundreds and hundreds of water birds. Sweetie Pie grabs a shot of a couple alit on a boat next to us as we pull up to the dock. Incredible.

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Chicken is waiting for us but as per our operating procedures, we tottle. And slowly. Bathroom here, dog stop there, picture over someplace, don’t forget to pay the captain. Slowly, eventually we tottle on board. Back on board the Magic Bus…

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Great tale of the turtles! Grand group of pics too. Nice to see everyone having fun, and now that's on my list of next time, going to Pelican Bar.

Hi my friend, I had a wonderful trip this time. All missions accomplished. Wasn't the Pelican something else ? I LOVE the pictures, especially the sunsets and the two white birds clinging to the boat.

Enjoying your report. Glad Sweetness faced her boat fears. I think id be scared of those rough waters, too! That was really really kind of you to sit by her and comfort her. :) Beautiful sunsets !! That last shot of Sandie and pup is just so sweet. You can see how much she really loves dogs. :)

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Originally Posted by Eden

Enjoying your report. Glad Sweetness faced her boat fears. I think id be scared of those rough waters, too! That was really really kind of you to sit by her and comfort her. :) Beautiful sunsets !! That last shot of Sandie and pup is just so sweet. You can see how much she really loves dogs. :)

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She does, more than me...... :cool:

LOL Booger!

Guirigay....nice recap....your way with words had me laughing my butt off, especially during the talk about you all coming back from exploring...Oh My Gah....that had me laughing so hard! Oh the memories

I never wanted this magical day to end!

Thanks everybody, glad you're enjoying!

Eden - when you meet Sweetness you'll understand, had to help her if I could... And yes, I think that pic offers a glimpse into Sandies heart too.

Booger - I think that's debatable. I would probably argue that she loves you more than dogs, but again, that's debatable... :p

Misti - yes, incredible, but no row boats... :) I'll be looking for you real soon...

BJ - definitely on the must do list. Don't know if we'll be going back there next April/May though so put it on your list below 1 - go back next April/May

Marley - just heard from Clarity. You girls need to prepare a little better before reading my posts...

Magic Bus, Magic Bus, Magic Bus, Magic Bus, Magic Bus...
I want the Magic Bus, I want the Magic Bus, I want the Magic Bus...


The bus is really rocking as we head out of Black River. The sound system has provided a lot of laughs over the day and continues yeoman’s duties. More wedding music, more Marley sing-a-longs continuing through stereo cut-outs and rejoined in sync by a smack of Chicken’s fist on the dashboard. Straight out of a script – hilarious. The cut outs seem to be related to the CD player so we reluctantly say goodbye to Marley and the Wailers and switch to radio. This turns out OK. Jamaican radio is always fond of throwing remix transitions into song, or hell, just throwing an airhorn in the middle of a song. They do it anytime, all day, but it increases in the evening. Throughout the day we’ve all happily joined in a chorus of cacophony every time the DJ threw one down and we always continued it past their cut back into the song. In the evening, we start going for a variety of superlatives. Loudest is frequently attempted but we really seem to be happy to try to make the longest remix sound possible. We do well. We get a lot of practice because there is a lot of remix and airhorn.

It also gets pretty raucous and a little randy. These are Becca specialties. There is a certain conversation about how some members of the bale seem to be unaware of a variety of events that had occurred during the day. Someone raises the question, “How’d I miss that?” Becca offers a straightforward assessment of one way to remain “In the know” that just floors me. A little back and forth here leads to another BeccaJism that will live with me forever – “Like Rabbits!” I’m bent forward in my seat, grabbing my belly, banging my head on the seat in front. It’s just killing me when Booger, seated high upon the Throne of the Last Word, drops the bomb of bombs… “Rabbit done died…” he mock whispers…

I said, now I've got my Magic Bus (Too much, the Magic Bus)
I said, now I've got my Magic Bus (Too much, the Magic Bus)

Sweetie Pie and I are kind of slinking into our seats, every once in a while doing the head to head catnap. Alcohol is gone, no beers. Crowd is restless. Becca refuses to believe the beer is gone. Many ask multiple times if there is any more beer but Becca remains convinced there might be someplace we haven’t checked. I remember thinking I’m glad Marley is up by the coolers.

All the rum at the Pelican and the bus bashment as we pulled out of Black River catch up to Sweetie Pie and me. We pull over for a number of Bio breaks and I know that efforts are made to acquire beer. I think we got off once for the bathroom but otherwise we camped in our bus seats. Just enough, the Magic Bus.

I drive my baby every way (Too much, the Magic Bus)
Each time I go a different way (Too much, the Magic Bus)
I want it, i want it, I want it, I want it ...

We pull into Negril and we do a sort of reverse drop off, getting turtles to the beach first and then back up to the west end. Turtles are getting off with much more energy than Sweetie Pie and I can muster. Brasi was doing pretty good I think. We kind of had opposite trajectories today but our groove at Pelican was shared. Up the lane and we’re dropped off at the guest house. “Great Day” and “See you tomorrow” ‘s trail away with the Magic bus down the lane. It was a great day. A perfect day. A landmark day.

Every day you'll see the dust (Too much, the Magic Bus)
As I drive my baby in my Magic Bus (Too much, the Magic Bus)

As we walk up to our apartment we don’t realize that a great day is about to take a turn for the worse. We don’t realize that an incredible vacation is about to take a turn for the better. We don’t realize that a number of relationships are about to take a turn for best. Hell, we don’t realize much at this point, we just got off the freakin’ Magic Bus!!

MOST excellent cliff-hanger oh wise GG!

Oh I get it now

HAHAHAHA

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Hmmmm ?? LOL

Dude I love the way you tell it, sometimes I have to re-read two times, but I always end up laughing so hard. haha

oh don't leave me a
hanging. I have been wondering about this night since it was briefly alluded to it in another report.

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Originally Posted by Guirigay

As we walk up to our apartment we don’t realize that a great day is about to take a turn for the worse. We don’t realize that an incredible vacation is about to take a turn for the better. We don’t realize that a number of relationships are about to take a turn for best. Hell, we don’t realize much at this point, we just got off the freakin’ Magic Bus!!

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Seriously! This is just about the best line I have ever read.....man you have a way with story telling!
And it's soooooooo true! Perfect description!

Kudos Michael. Even though it's been a while, reading your words and seeing the pictures really does bring it all back. I can't ever remember a day full of so many laughs. And the geat thing that comes across in everyone's reports is that everybody played a part in it. The EPIC day, was a movie of main characters and no bit parts or walk ons. Stunning mate, stunning! :D

Side Note:
Every time Spottycatz posts now, I play a little secret game where I try to determine if it is Mr. Spotty or Mrs. Spotty posting, it's fun....give it a try
This one was an easy one (I think) as I immediately read this in Mr. Catz voice
:)

Miss you guys!

Mrs Catz here ha ha! Hey do I have to bring a hat for the wedding next April? Guirigay that was ace, respect!

I play that game too Marley LOL, I was wrong this time as well LOL. ;)

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Originally Posted by spottycatz

Mrs Catz here ha ha! Hey do I have to bring a hat for the wedding next April? Guirigay that was ace, respect!

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Dammit, really?!?!?! I was almost 100% sure I had that one right! HA!

Yeah I was just sure of it too. LOL

I love when Cindy get's on Bob's account to say HI. Love the way she types and she always announces at the end that it's her, like we didn't know. Hahahaha

So Mike, are you implying that next time we will have an actual legit reason to jam the wedding march? ;)

:)

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Originally Posted by TizzyATX

I play that game too Marley LOL, I was wrong this time as well LOL. ;)

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Originally Posted by marley9808

Dammit, really?!?!?! I was almost 100% sure I had that one right! HA!

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Glad I'm not the only one wrong today. :cool:

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Originally Posted by booger

Glad I'm not the only one wrong today. :cool:

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She whiffed us all Boogs! I think it was the Kudos at the beginning. I remember Mr. Spotty using that...

Implying? what are you guys talking about? It's not like I have some sort of secret code I speak in...

We swing open the door and it’s clear to me immediately that we have a situation. A quick check of the room confirms we have a situation. I go to the landlords door and knock, pretty loud, but don’t get an answer. I go upstairs to our acquaintances place and knock. I tell her what’s happened but she is not of much help. I was pretty sure the moment I opened the door we were leaving tonight, now I’m certain.

I don’t want this thread to go off the rails or have stuff posted that needs to be deleted so I’m going to put a few things about the incident up here, mostly about things I’ve learned to avoid this type of incident – Stuff Happens
I don’t know how much I want to say about it, but I’ll say what I feel comfortable with and why I won’t say certain things on that thread and go from there.

Sweetie Pie is dying for a shower, it was all she talked about just before we got off the bus. “Grab a shower, Sweetie, I’ll start packing.” I’m pulling stuff together and trying to figure out a plan. Maybe we can walk to Canoe or Mi Yard and try to arrange a room from there. We could easily get a taxi from one of those spots. I have a bunch of crap in our bags by the time Sweetie Pie is out of the shower. “Jump in the shower,” she says, “I’ll keep packing.” As I’m getting in the shower Sweetie Pie says, “Do you think we should call Shauna?” “Wouldn’t hurt,” I say, “Let someone know what’s happened and that we’re on the move.”

I hear muddled conversation in the background as I quickly shower. A brief period of quiet. More muddled conversation. The considerable firepower of Marley9808 has been brought to bear on this situation. When I shut off the shower, which I guarantee was not a long shower, Sweetie Pie comes in and says, “Shauna is sending somebody to pick us up. She’s finding us a place to stay tonight.” Wow, that was a productive shower!

As we finish wrapping up our packing we have a few more phone calls back and forth with Marley. Chicken’s brother Pelle will be coming to pick us up shortly. Shauna can’t get a hold of Tizzy so we’re not going to stay at moon tonight. She did get a hold of Chris at SeaStar and he has a room. He’ll have it ready for us. Done and done. Ain’t no tottling turtles on the West End tonight and we will be eternally grateful. We’re packed and waiting for Pelle, I try the landlords door one more time. No answer.

Pelle and his wife run us up to SeaStar. They are very kind, thoughtful and considerate. He feels good about dropping us at SeaStar. “Very good security here,” he says. We let Marley know we’re there, she says that they’ll come up the lane in a little bit, they’re waiting on Ninja to get back with Edie’s chicken. We are shown to the room and Chris is in there putting on the final touches. Can’t say enough good things about Chris, I’ll just say again, Thank You.

We head down to the bar and get a drink. This all happened pretty quickly. Supersonic by Jamaican standards, nearly lightspeed compared to today’s turtle traffic. We were dropped off at the guest house around 10 and we’re sitting at the bar before 11:30. Shortly into our seconds Narley Minja shows up. I think it was about midnight.

We have a big time decompression session. They get the full scoop. They are excellent sounding boards. We talk about options. We don’t want this to ruin our vacation. It’s a major setback but we’re still here in one of our favorite places with some amazing people for another 5 days. We’re going to make the best of it.

The conversation wanders through the events of the day and beyond. It rolls into the wee hours, especially for Sweetie Pie. We see the far side of 1:30 again. We are pretty open and transparent with each other at a fairly raw moment. How does this keep happening? How does something that is already off the charts seem to, on a regular basis, keep rising to a whole new level? All I know is we’re honored to have people the caliber of Narley Minja getting our back. Honored and humbled. Incredibly humbled. Someone should let Ninja know just how humbled we were. Much more humble than Ninja’s ever been… We say goodnight and head to the room, drifting off to sleep with the greatest possible sense of humility, probably never before experienced by any human being…

Glad to have been there to help out our friends.....but I can't take full credit, it was a Marley and Sweetness collaboration of efforts on securing the room, and not much more than what anyone would have done to make sure their friends are safe and happy!

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G - you are a man of honor.....to have something so bad happen and to handle it with grace shows the kind of person you are. To not make accusations or complaints is just top notch Mr. We became family that day and love is what you do for your family. We will always have your back (just like you have ours .... mine in particular Prince Valiant!) It felt so good to see you and hug you at the gate that night and Minja are beyond amazing as you already know. I love you both. Glass is HALF FULL!

[great advice in your other thread - sometimes even when all seems right things can happen though.]

I agree Sweetness!
I loved this pair before, but after that night the love was only deeper and the respect was as high as it could go.
They both handled all of it from start to finish with grace and the fact that they never allowed it for more than about 10 minutes to interupt their vacation and their great time was amazing and truly commendable!

Just love them!

Ya'll all amaze me. :)

We partyin balls to the wall somewhere....and I'm so sorry I wasn't there to help in this effort, but Mike you know good and well the Moon would have been yours for the night if I had heard my phone ring. So glad that Seastar stepped up, but not surprised after all the wonderful things I hear about them. Good work Minja and Sweeteness! You two really didn't even seem to break face....just kept that train rolling and made the most of that trip regardless of the misfortune. Kudos to you, and thanks and praise that you were not there when it happened. It was a very sobering thing though....

Marley and sweetness, I love you. Both of you are so amazing and i am thankful for you watching out for guirigay and I in our time of need. There are not enough thanks in the world to tell you how much you help and kindness meant to us.

Sweetie pie - no thanks are necessary. I was happy to help and glad that I was there at the time!
This moment solidified a great friendship, that is all the thanks I will ever need
Love you both! :)

I was there at Seastar Inn the next morning to help comfort him a bit, too. I agree that the two took it very well.

One thing, Michael: Did you ever confront the inn keeper?

Guirigay,

Big up on your handling of the "incident"...

In regards to Chris and Francine at Seastar Inn, not much I can add. Time and time again they have been there to help travelers in need. I've been to 38 countries, some multiple times, stayed in Five Star Hotels and huts, SeaStar Inn is in my humble opinion the best run Inn I've ever had the pleasure of visiting. So good to hear you didn't let that incident derail your vacation.

"He feels good about dropping us at SeaStar. “Very good security here,” he says. We let Marley know we’re there, she says that they’ll come up the lane in a little bit, they’re waiting on Ninja to get back with Edie’s chicken. We are shown to the room and Chris is in there putting on the final touches. Can’t say enough good things about Chris, I’ll just say again, Thank You."

Very nicely written.

Guirigay - First of all, the bearded Pirate clown picture is awesome. I still can't look at it without laughing. omg!:D Thank you!
Secondly, you already know how sorry I am about what happened.
I just wanted to add how impressed I was at how you handled it. So much grace. You didn't let it ruin your vacation. You kept on smiling, enjoying yourselves and spreading the love. I really admire that.
I'm grateful that me and Markus got to know you & Sweetiepie. You guys are amazing :)

A class act it what comes to mind. Thank you for not ranting and raving against the entire populace of the island and Negril in particular. Thank you for realizing that these things can happen anywhere. Thank you for picking up your bed and walking. Thank you for resilance and focusing on the positive reality. I think that you have found a reliable support group of friends, even some new family. I know this may not be much help, but perhaps this adversity happened to show you who is real and who is not, who you can depend on and whom you should avoid. I can't quote my mother's friend exactly or I will get banned, but Pheetie used to say "It is worth any price you have to pay to find a ______ out." Big up Sweetie Pie and GG, proud to know you two.

To the bale - Thank you all, one love... and Gerry - coming up here...

VVHT - I totally agree about Chris and Francine and SeaStar is great. I will offer another reason why momentarily...

Misti - Thank you, my dear. I truly believe to get the most out of an experiential life you have to extend A LOT of trust. When you do that, however, you are exposed to the misdeeds of the devious and dishonest. The trick, I think, is to offer the trust but limit the exposure. In that regard I was an epic fail here... :)

So where were we? Oh yes...

There is a little bit of disorientation as we awake this morning. We’ve been in Jamaica four nights and our heads have not hit the same pillow two nights in a row. OK, sit up, check the surroundings, we’re at SeaStar. Yes, it’s all true. Now the question is, “Can we make it like it never really happened?”

We pull ourselves together and head down for some coffee and breakfast. GerryG is there with his full working kit – notepad and pencil, laptop, cellphone, camera I think. He is in full on GerryG On The Scene mode. We bounce back and forth between tables a bit. Gerry’s gear takes up a good chunk of his table and SuzieQ comes and goes a few times. Francine, Chris’s wife, has sat down with us a few tables away. We fill Gerry in on the events of the previous evening. He is very generous in offering assistance.

As Gerry and Suzie gear up and head off for another scooter adventure Francine has settled into our table. She is an amazing lady. Multi-talented, highly motivated and entrepreneurial, Francine is a powerhouse. She is a busy woman with her hands in a great number of activities. As she sits at the table with us there are a number of phone calls regarding “the situation”. Chicken is going to pick us up at 11 so we can go talk to the landlord. We’ll decide what to do after that conversation. I’m extremely anxious. Francine says, “I just don’t feel like doing it today!” and calls off a couple of morning commitments. She stays and talks with us for hours, keeping our minds occupied. What a lovely woman.

Chicken calls and says he’s running a little late. We’ve decided we’re going to stay at SeaStar for another night but have also decided that we’re going to look at this as an opportunity. “Clean slate, Sweetie, let’s make the best of what we’ve got left. You’ve seen most of the cliffs, we’ve walked the beach, where would you like to be? We’re already screwed financially, a few hundred more won’t be that much worse…” We start talking about possibilities. A night or two on the beach, Xtabi, Blue Cave, maybe a night at Rockhouse or someplace special. Catcha would be awesome but they’re booked. It helps take a little of the edge off.

Chicken arrives and we have a good conversation. On the ride down we stop at Ras Rody’s for some vegetable soup. Chicken is a soup guy, let me tell you, right after my heart. I think if he could have a styrofoam cup attached to him somehow he’d go for it. Rody’s veggie soup is excellent.

The visit with the landlord is depressing and disappointing. Our acquaintance is there. There is no compensation, there is no recourse. There is no way we are going to continue to stay at the property. So it’s about exactly what I was expecting. Real, true, total drag. Sweetie Pie walks around the property while we talk in the apartment, her observations only reinforce what we think has happened. After way too long a conversation to no good end, we leave. We talk about what to do, there aren’t any good options. In the end we decide to let it ride, take our lumps and move on.

Chicken runs us to the ATM and we cash up. We’re dropped back at SeaStar and offer many thanks to Chicken and his family. Really glad they were in our corner this stretch. We grab some lunch and head up to the room for a quick nap. We’re thinking we need to be down at Mi Yard around 3 for the pub crawl, figure we’ll get a taxi down. Slight miscalculation there. Some time a little after 2 there is a bit of telephonic interruptus to the napping situation. There is apparently a love bus waiting for us at the gate. How convenient! We’ll be right down. Well, soon come, anyway…

Wonderful trip report and I'm sorry to hear that stuff happened. Sounds like you two have the grace to handle the rolls and punches. Have been through some tough ones myself, I respect that! So glad you were surrounded with some wonderful friends to help you keep the faith.

Loving your report, and while I don't know what happened at the other resort or where you were staying when it happened (all I can gather is you were ripped off somehow?) I would love to know to avoid that resort in the future, and I am looking forward to reading the next installment!

So glad to hear that SeaStar came through for you. Sorry that the talk with the landlord didn't go well. What did Sweetie Pie discover while walking around the property?

I must say, I am really impressed with the community that is established here. It seems like Negril is a magnet for good people and everyone has found place to share that with each other on this message board.

I lose faith in humanity sometimes when dealing with stuff in every day life. I come here, and read stories like this. How people who are basically strangers who know each other through one common denominator - A place the they love to visit, and a message board dedicated it -come together in a time of need to make sure each other are ok.

It' nice.

Hope to meet some of you on my future voyages. Good people = good times.

Flip, it really is incredible. I can tell you that in one week I developed friendships that I have no doubt will last a lifetime. Be there in April, it's not to be missed. Great people = Great times my friend....DeBest ;)

The other half and I are planning to be there in april. Once there is a consensus for the dates. We want to do 7-10 days