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That's a great article papa. I myself enjoy the vendors on the beach. You get a rogue one once in awhile but I find most are really good people great to chat with each day
Agree takinitslow.
The vendors are one reason that we stay on the beach. Every thing that we want i.e. fruit, veggies. bread. juice etc. comes to us. Sure, we pay a premium over going to the store, but it is worth it to us.
Got a bottle of fresh squeezed OJ from a vendor last year...for cheap. Good juice.
I forgot his name.
I don't mind the vendors at all and find a no thanks (if I'm not interested) works well. I have bought peppa shrimp, gizzarda etc from them and all was good. I think that the "beach police" go too far at times. They think they are the real thing. Yes, they are there for the tourists but if we're not complaining then leave the vendors alone especially when getting a license is not a possibility for them.
"Flex" worked the area around Sun Beach with juice.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Papa Georgie
Good article but false statement by the police. They go after the regular vendors, many who are familiar names here on the board. I talked with several & they had court dates when I was there. The irony is they are required to have licenses but the government will not A.) tell them how to get one & B.) just out & out refuses to issue one. It's very frustrating for vendors who have been on the beach for many years.
Some of my most cherished pieces of art that I proudly display in my (Canadian) home have come from these beach vendors. I always get compliments from people who visit me and I can usually remember the name of the vendor who sold me the piece and can usually tell a little story about him/her. These people definitely add something special to vacationers' experiences! I know there are tourists who would rather not have them around, but I know there are plenty of others, like me, who really appreciate them.
Attachment 38764
Above is a wooden carved crocodile I bought from a vendor named Rise-N-Shine! My favourite!
One Love.
Jody, The Tropical Tourist
love the Jamaicans on the beach, and I think its great I can call them over or go to them for fruit etc..but if they all and I do mean all, could just go up to your chair you would never have a relaxing time on the beach just saying Lacdeloo
In the 90's there were "vendors" who were licensed. The massage ladies all wore pink uniforms and had a license badge.
See below a picture of the "banjo man" who was always proud of his license.
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Hey there, Papa Georgie. Hahahaha!! that's a nice pic...is that you? It's really good to see how far we as a small Island as come to present. I can just hear you playing now..."3 little birds set by my door steps" lol
We would arrive each December and bring him fresh banjos strings...he would always say.. "Come back in March!"
Hahaha!! great memories...great times as well. Thanks for jogging my memory!
There needs to be a happy medium.
There obviously needs to be vendors to meet the needs of the tourist but there also needs to be some controlls established. Personally if I am laying in a beach chair I do not mind the vendors strolling by every few minutes offering their goods but it is when you try to walk the beach that gets a bit over the top, I cannot stand the feeding frenzy. Many times if I need to go from one part of the beach to another I will walk on the road to avoid the constant calls of the vendors to stop and talk.
Most of you seasoned tourists know how to handle and interact with them .
When a new tourist steps on the beach for the first time it is overwhelming. When I talk about visiting the Island I quite often hear negative things from people who wont return because of them.
Agree treefrog.
Seasoned tourists to Negril probably mostly ignore what has become the "Negril Beach vendor culture". However, many visitors to Negril Beach come from countries and cultures where being accosted and solicited by strangers is perceived as an aggressive act. I sympathize with the negativity.
Once I witnessed a vendor in the shade away from the water call out to a tourist walking by the water, "Hey YOU!, Hey YOU!" I had to laugh. "Hey YOU?" Really?
The guy was sorely in need of a marketing consultant. :cool:
Idont mind them ,thats why i always have my vacation at Negril ,they make it special
I've only had a couple bad run-in's with beach vendors, and one of those I could have clearly handled better. That said, the young guy in the Gleaner article was one of our negative experiences. He and a friend of his were very insistant that my wife give him one of her cigarettes, which she was running low on and can't be found in JA. She offered him the rest of the one she was smoking, but he kept on, and then reached to take one of her cigarettes. I stepped in at that point and stopped him, gave him her half cig, and told him to take what was offered and nothing more. At that, he grinned a bit and walked away. This was after we had bought some fruit for the day from him. I could understand if the police are hassling him, as I'm sure we aren't the only one's he has gone a step too far with.