A few pics and memories from the 70's- pt. 1

Attachment 45303Attachment 45300I first traveled to Negril in 1971 when it was an incredibly beautiful fishing village with 3 small hotels along the 7 mile stretch, Sundowner, T-Water and brain cramp on the 3rd but I know someone out there will fill in that blank for me. In 71, 73 & 75 I stayed in Red Ground like so many early travelers and staying with locals exposed me to the warmth of the Jamaicans who lived there at that time and I built relationships that continue to this day. I titled this part 1 because on the subject of Negril I tend to ramble on and on so I hope you'll bear with me. The pictures were all on 35mm slides until I finally dug them out and found a great company to do the conversion but some of them are still a bit grainy just from age but the memories are clear as the beautiful blue Jamaican sky. On those early trips the airport In Mobay was slightly bigger that a shoebox and upon entering you were greeted by a musical trio and free rum punch. My how things have changed. Back then I can only recall one pay phone on the pole outside the drugstore across from the Wharf Club. I have plenty more rambling but I suspect you'll find the pix more interesting.Attachment 45299 Attachment 45301Attachment 45302

Fantastic start. Love the "rambling" as much as the pictures.

LOL-smaller than a shoe box!- A bit grainy, but spectacular! Keep dem rolling Boss!

Loving this post!! So wish I had visited in the 70's or 80's...my first visit was the 90's. These pictures are off the hook! Keep posting please.......:)

I think the 3rd place to stay back in those days was Eleanor & Hans (original) Tree House, place to stay up in the tree & some other little cottages on the side. And I always remember "Miss Gloria's" from a really early time. I too stayed in Redground but would walk to the beach almost every day (usually to T-Water because it was only one of the places you could get food), passing that beautiful wooden building that was owned by West Indian Sugar Company. Redground was like a WAY different place back then, tons of fruit trees, especially bananna trees. And the wharf club had food too, amazing conch soup and I would get tuna fish sandwiches there too. Really strange walking from the bright sun into that dark place! I will always cherish how the people in Redground opened up their homes to all of us for an amazing cheap price and how wonderful they treated us!

The pictures and the "ramblings"... All entertaining and appreciated.

Very cool....keep them coming!

Very mich appreciated. Love your sharing.

Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

OMG this brought me back to the first time my hubby(then boyfriend) and I went to JA.. and we took slides too. It was so peaceful, no cars lots of goats roaming. Remember the Sundowner, T water and Sands club.. hung out there alot. stayed in redground 74,75,76 then in 78 we came with my daughter and stayed at the villa's hotel in the round a bout.... miss those days but still come almost every year I can. Gotta dig out our slides!!!

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I too can recall a much different Negril, Mobay Airport, and Jamaica in general way back in the early 70's when we were both there for our first time. I too found the tiny fishing village one of the best places I ever stayed in with Salt Springs a close second during my time in Jamaica. Since I was there when you were I'll mention the round about was not where it is now, there was no sea wall and the old bridge is gone. Thing is there are no correct words to explain how wonderful and peaceful life was there, then. There was the sense of being safe in the air, well that and ganja ;-)

This is a pic I have posted a few times before but this one pic is worth 1000 +words: The town of Negril back in the day mid1971. I was standing on the old bridge near the old round about looking West-SouthWest.
jn

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I love your photos. My first ones were 35mm too but not as old as yours.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jim Nasium

I too can recall a much different Negril, Mobay Airport, and Jamaica in general way back in the early 70's when we were both there for our first time. I too found the tiny fishing village one of the best places I ever stayed in with Salt Springs a close second during my time in Jamaica. Since I was there when you were I'll mention the round about was not where it is now, there was no sea wall and the old bridge is gone. Thing is there are no correct words to explain how wonderful and peaceful life was there, then. There was the sense of being safe in the air, well that and ganja ;-)

This is a pic I have posted a few times before but this one pic is worth 1000 +words: The town of Negril back in the day mid1971. I was standing on the old bridge near the old round about looking West-SouthWest.
jn

Attachment 45319

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Jim, would love to hear more about these sentiments:
"...how wonderful and peaceful life was there, then. There was the sense of being safe in the air..."

we will never get tired of the pictures or the stories....ramble on, please...and thank you

Thank you so much for the pics. I came to Negril in Aug of 1973, I always stayed on red ground up by where the Red Dragon is. I currently live in a house some friends and I built 25 years ago. Got my residency last august. Living on red ground now verses the 70's is totally different. No one had grill bars on doors and windows back then. I lock myself in a jail every night now. Still love living here and can't think of anywhere else I would want to live.