beginnings of a trip report from an Old Timer

i have been staying on the West End for many years and i love it and am sure i will return. But this year, i decided to stay on the beach, and realized i had forgotten just how wonderful life can be, living on the beach for my stay in Negril.

customs at the airport in Mobay was like nothing I've ever seen.. took forever, I heard there was a strike of airport workers, but no one could verify.

of course, after finally arriving in Negril, my days soon began to fall into rhythm with my surroundings.

i awake every morning snuggling deeper into the sun dried sheets that feel so comforting and smell so good. then, i remember where I am and look out of the open shutters of my little cottage. i can hear all sorts of birds chirping their first chirp of the day, so i know the new day is dawning, even though i can see only the faint beginnings of light over the hills behind Negril.

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i get up and sit on my front porch to be a part of it.

Glorious sunrise. and some of the largest flowers i’ve ever seen, just about to open. and they are everywhere. at 6:30 a.m., i walk the few steps it takes to get to the beach and to the coffee., along the way i pick sea grapes and pop them into my mouth. i see hummingbirds that look like they are posing for pics (but i’m always too late to catch them).


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i hate to give this secret away, but Firefly has complimentary Blue Mountain coffee that begins around 6:30, and continues until about11:30. every morning i have coffee with people from all over the world. a young man from Israel who just fulfilled is mandatory three years of duty, a woman from England who is now living in Kingston and has started three charity projects there, a couple from Italy, and also a girl from Peru. facinating and thought provoking conversation every single morning.



then it’s time for a swim, and to claim my beach chair to read for a while, and await breakfast to come along before the adventures of my day begin.


but, i don’t read that first morning.. or any other time throughout my whole stay in Negril… reading is for when I'm scrunched up on the plane, or for having an unfortunate layover in Miami. not when I have the Caribbean Sea in front of me and can observe the early morning runnings going past me on the beach!


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I am from Florida and this is the only place I've ever seen raking of the sand every morning. I ask Chris why they do it when moments later it gets messed up. He said, "because it looks nice in the early morning". Chris has it going on.


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soon, Neville comes by, with his fresh baked and warm cocobread. he would not be distracted from our business of buying one, when a beachchair neighbor said to him, “you know you are famous on the internet, don’t you?” Neville could not care less.. he just wants to provide for his family.

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and breakfast is not complete without fruit from the fruit lady.


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Hi Sonja,

Click on the "insert image" icon, 3rd from the right. If the pics are on your computer, select "From Computer", "choose file" to select the picture then "upload picture". Repeat to upload more pictures...

Looking forward to more and of course, to some pictures :)

Great start..... I am looking forward to reading and seeing more!

Just beautiful Sonja I feel like I'm just starting a new book and don't want to put it down. Please keep it coming. Felt every inch of what you are describing from past trips and will be living it in 61 days!!!!

Nice! Sonja! Made my morning today reading your post. We will be there in December. Carpe Diem! Todd & Deb . Minnesota

oh my gosh, Rosalie, thank you so much. I've never written a word in my life, but this just poured out last night. I need to try attaching photos like 2nuts described.

thanks rocknrollfarmer and beachballer.

Can't wait for more. Great start.

sounds heavenly

Love it Sonja, we will be there in 18 days and can hardly wait to put toes in the water!

sweet start~~Waiting for more.

I feel like such an idiot, but I can't find 'insert image"

It's on the toolbar right on top of the box where you're typing in stuff in to reply to posts.
On the far right, you'll see a cartoon bubble, then the film strip, then the icon to add a pic. :)

i too love early morning coffee in Negril. Thanks

thanks KC, I found the icon but am still having problems with photos. maybe Rob can help, I asked him. can reply with text but still not able to put photos in my Trip Report.

Sonja, you may have to downsize the photos and save them before you post them.

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Originally Posted by Lorax2

Sonja, you may have to downsize the photos and save them before you post them.

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Agree with Lorax, I resize mine first, works a LOT better, but then again, my internet speed isn't all that good...

I did it! now let's see if I can do it again. more soon come. thanks for help

Nice Job Sonja!!! Great report and awesome pics! Keep em coming.....:)

apparently I can't add more than 10 photos, and I have a lot. suggestions?

Maybe that's just 10 at a time ? if so then you post and go back and add the next post with pics.
But you are making me very homesick.

Great pictures and report so far,please keep it coming.Thank you!

Nice report and pictures :)
More please !

you might try starting a new post when you run out of space. every new post you'll be able to attach more pics.

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Originally Posted by tombo

you might try starting a new post when you run out of space. every new post you'll be able to attach more pics.

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What he said.

It never fails, some new pictures and a trip report. I start to get excited. My mind starts to swim with all my exciting thoughts of trips past and trips in the near future. Thanks for the pics.

thanks a lot for the feedback, everyone.. I always thought I could never write a trip report, but this yr was special, so I did.

Keep it coming, we love trip reports!

Great pictures!

tease~~

lol... soon come Jim-Donna :)

i'm an internet neophyte, but i'm learning!