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The first time I traveled to Jamaica I was 12 or 13. That was sometime around 1996 I believe. I seem to remember the customs and immigration getting into Jamaica being open air? Is this the case?
PS, we stayed at FDR in Runaway Bay 2 years in a row. There was a nude beach next door and another kid my age and myself would snorkel around the fence to go see boobs.
:cool:
The old terminal was under a tin roof and open air.
in the mid 70s you would get a free rum drink when you got off the plane, soon come
First Trip was in 1992, I never forget walking off the plane onto the tarmac and feeling the heat sizzle off the asphalt. The smell of aviation fuel and then a breeze came by and I could smell the wonderful aroma of Jamaica..... Remember the Dancers and Singers when you reached the terminal....
Oh the memories....
Who has pics?
And champagne on Air JamaicaQuote:
Originally Posted by jamaicarob
I loved the dancers and walking across the tarmac. Oh, the smell, memory is an amazing thing, I can smell it right now.
It was all old & funky with wooden louvered windows and no Air conditioning with a little 4 or 5 piece sort of Mento band playing some tunes while you got to slug free Rum Punch. Who remembers when the Charter flights went through an old Hangar building separate from Main airport off to right hand side (closer to Mo Bay downtown) ? Bit of a cattle call and adventure finding your bags in those days !!
The good ol days. I still mention that each trip walking down into the Jamaica air
Attachment 35112Quote:
Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26
Leaving Jamaica 89. There was a grassy knoll, and we actually smoked a little somethin somethin while waiting to depart.
wow
First trip in '79, got approached to buy substances before our luggage even arrived. Miss the free drink and welcoming band.
You are exactly right HoneyBee, after you checked in you could walk right out side the pole barn with two ceiling fans terminal, onto a grassy noll with a couple of palm trees. There was nothing to stop you from walking the 50 yards out on to the tarmac, so we would lay in the grass and take a nap till the plane arrived. (1979)
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yeah our first trip was in 87 , the airport is nothing like it used to be lol
I snapped this just after stepping off the plane in February of 1991. Our first trip to Jamaica. After everyone was off the plane they pulled the luggage carts (one seen in the foreground) over to the plane and unloaded the luggage, then pulled the carts over to the open air tin roofed “terminal” and started chucking the luggage in one big pile. That plane is a DC-10 and holds up to 380 people (and it was full) so it was a huge pile of luggage. All the passengers just started clamoring and digging thru the pile for their bags. After showing a guy at a wood desk (immigration guy?) our picture IDs, a guy walked up to me, introduced himself and placed a bag of weed in my hand and wanted $10 or $20. Then we hopped on the bus and took “the old road” to Negril. Attachment 35116Attachment 35116
This is at the airport on the way back. Does it look like we had fun? Ya Mon!Attachment 35117
looks like the glasses were a hold over from the 80s haha
My first trip to Jamaica was around 2003 - I believe the new terminal and immigration hall was built by then. At least I remember walking through a jetway bridge from the plane to the terminal.
If you want to relive the old days, try flying into Beef Island Airport in Tortola, BVI. The wife and I honeymooned there in 2010. It's actually a fairly new airport building, but it has a single, small runway. Passengers still exit the planes through a stairway to the tarmac. They also have a steel drum band playing outside before you enter the building
Awesome pics, Todd! I'm digging the vintage Ting bottle.
i will always remember the first time, 1993 - hitting the warm, humid air, listening to the singers, smelling the plants and salt air. mmmmm, good memories.
Love the pics and memories!
First trip to Jamaica in 1969, the "terminal" was on the other side of the airport. Consisted of a grass roofed hut where drinks were served and a small building. I don't remember much about it other than the dancers, music and free drink on arrival. There are still remnants of the old terminal visible.
When you took that deep turn on the plane and land right over the water and open the door and the stairs are set and you walk into that Hot Hot Jamaican sun.
Then the round bar when you are finally out of the airport.....First Red Stripe.....It' ON,,,like Donkey Kong.
How about fly in get off the plane,no check in bags,get off fast. Booked the Tim Air to Negril.....Get a Red Stripe at the small room for Tim Air,,,,Pilot says "plane is ready! Lets GO!.....
I'm like what about my Beer??? He says "bring it" so now after I was on the big plane maybe 30 minutes ago & landing....
I am now on this puddle jumper in the Co- pilot seat with a Red Stripe in my hand and looking at the sugar cane fires in the hills and my wife Scared Sh!t in the back. Yee Haa....Arrive Alive.
Back in early 90's at age 21 I got deported for "over staying my welcome" A little over a year into stay I went to the airport to meet some friends flying in. As I waited two men in uniform walked up behind me, asked my name, and handcuffed me! They took me to a small office and locked me in. Showed up an hour later with a letter stamped from consulate saying "to the best of our knowledge this is Patrick Pattison" as all my ID and everything I owned in Jamaica was at the villa that they wouldn't let me return to. 2 hours later they walked me onto airplane, escorted, and in cuffs. They undid cuffs and let me take my seat, and waited by door until they closed it for takeoff. 4 hours later in Toronto. Came through customs with flip flops, shorts, and t-shirt with a big pink fish on it that said "I did fishy business in Jamaica" and the letter. That's it! A month later I got a bill from Canadian government for $800 for the flight home. OH to be young and stupid again!
Never did pay that bill, and never heard another thing about it. Been back to island twice in the last few years and no problem entering. WHEW!
hahaha that's awesome. they probably didnt have a computer database in 91 to track you.
Oncedeported, what did Canadian Immigration say to you, and about the letter? Funny story looking back, and you came out okay. :cool:
The airport in Punta Cana 2 years ago was crazy! Most everything was open air, and thousands of people crammed together. No organization, tempers were flaring, etc. At least at Sangster, there's pretty good organization, even if it's busy. Only started coming to paradise {Negril} in 2006, even since then, the improvements have been nice. The only other time, we traveled was Cancun in 1993. Now that was primitive! Thanks, for the cool pictures of the airport back when, and yes those 80's glasses!
Wakling off the plane onto the tarmack and hitting the hot humid air was an 'I'll never forget it' experience
Midnight Express ?
this thread made me get some of my oldest pics from first trip in 87 to Negril. Wow we were young once lol, im going to try to take a few pics of the old pictures , then try to figure out how to put emon here. Iv never downloaded a pic to this site even tho , been here a long time
Hubby and I honeymooned at the original Couples in Ocho Rios October 1984 (coming up on 30 years!!) We have such fond memories of our arrival in JA. 22 year olds who had never been out of the country and wow - what a great time we had that week! Some photos of our departure - just waiting on a plane to take us home. After several (too many) Stripes on the goodbye bus it was nap time on the berm until the plane came to take us back to reality :-).Attachment 35150Attachment 35151
ahhh the air...the heat hit you as soon as they open the doors. I usually sat at the back of the plane, cuz back in those days they used to let you out the back door/stairs
That story is hilarious! I can picture you walking along like spicoli,cops grab you...wait.....what?Quote:
Originally Posted by Oncedeported
1977 - sitting outside overlooking the runway before leaving Jamaica
Attachment 35165
My first arrival was in 1984. Had a similar experience to Todd of weed in the airport. And yes that smell of salty humid warm air as soon as the plane door was opened was sweet enough to melt your soul and I could hardly inhale this sweetness quick enough. Loved travelling the old road!
Sangster airport.
This thread has turned out better than I ever expected. Thank you for all the cool stories and pictures.
Attachment 35167
1977
That photo above from Sunwise is the old Charter Terminal ( or so my memory thinks!) - I remember watching the plans pulling away from the old Charter terminal with that same view as Lisa C's pix.
Yes - we were on a charter Ryan Air! Back in the day when they could change plans at a moment's notice. We had to stop in Baltimore on the way back to Philly to "drop off" some people before heading back to Philly. Just pulled up, opened the plane, let them off, and we took off again. I don't think that would work today :-)