This thread was my personal feelings after the death of a friend.
Nothing more.
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This thread was my personal feelings after the death of a friend.
Nothing more.
Yeah I hear you, thinking the same. This is happening too often - I posted a couple months ago about a murder in Sav close to me. I bought a house in Jamaica but can and will walk away if I start feeling too unsafe.
It's a big world. Problems everywhere. People say "Life is hard in Jamaica". True, but globally, Jamaica is around the middle in per-capita income at around 10K, while it is #1 or #2 in murder rate at 57 per 100,000. Compare for example Burundi with per-capita income just $732 but murder rate 1/10 that of Jamaica. True of most African countries. Then again, in Jamaica you won't get bit by a malarial mosquito or attacked by an angry hippo. Risks everywhere I guess. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...PP)_per_capita
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._homicide_rate
If I look elsewhere I will consider the whole world, not just the Caribbean. Belize I would reject (will be underwater soon). I hear New Zealand is nice ... :)
I'm not saying stay away, but if your only reasoning for going to another country is because of the violence in Jamaica, maybe you'd best check some facts and figures.Quote:
Originally Posted by airswift
centralamerica.com/living/safety/crime-in-belize-how-safe-is-it/
142 murders in Belize last year and some reports on the web says Belize is one of the most violent countries in the world per capita, so your logic is not sound. I'm not saying Jamaica is safe, it's not, but short of the south pole, I can't think of anywhere in the world that is "safe". So, if you don't follow a high risk life style (drug dealer), don't flash money or expensive jewelry, don't smoke crack cocaine down a dark ally, Negril Jamaica is as safe as any where. In fact, IMHO Negril is quite a bit safer now than it was 10 years ago. The police, military and SOE have taken their toll on the criminal element. I'm seeing way more police on the beach and in the cliffs. The ATV patrol is great to see. Personally, I don't feel unsafe in Negril.
This just happened in Belize two days ago. https://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/194945
Browns, your logic is not sound. I posted earlier the murder rate statistics from Wikipedia. At 57 per 100,000, Jamaica shares with a few Central American countries the honor of being the most murderous country in the world, 10x to 100x higher than most places in the world. Belize is up there too, so it's not a good comparison point, but you could throw a dart at Africa or Asia to pick a safer country than Jamaica. The thing that disturbs me about this latest murder is that the victims, as far as we know, were not drug dealers flashing big money and expensive jewelry. Instead it looks like a house robbery. Like you, I used to feel safe in Jamaica. Not so much now.
Belize is not safe unless you live behind a gated community or on an island.
So, my wife and I aren't really "adventurers" so to speak. When we go to JA we use trusted drivers, travel during the day when possible, avoid the hot spots, all the usual travel security, and it would be no different than if we were going to Miami. Watch yourself, use people you trust and keep your eyes open. Mostly we are on or around the beach. In a post I wrote sometime ago about the changing "vibe" in Jamaica I couldn't completely put my finger on it. The bigger hotels, the money, increasing costs and the edge on the salesmen all seem to be symptoms to me now. In the gradual change in prosperity of the island and the influx of media showing what life could be like, I think we are witnessing the usual paradigm shift you might see in any country edging closer to a second or first world country. The gap, not unlike first world countries, between the upper and lower classes may be widening. Dare I say a new middle class may be taking a hold in Jamaica. The have not's with the means and numbers may be resentful that their status isn't changing as fast as they feel it should, and they may be taking matters into their own hands. The social economic period they are going through has happened in many other countries, it's not unlike the old west was in the united states. This might be the new edge I have felt from the salesman as the laid back pitch has more urgency to it than I used to see. In my humble opinion the crimes of passion and crimes of opportunity don't surprise me in this type of environment. What surprises me about this crime is that at first glance it appears to be premeditated, as if they were chosen as a mark. This appears to me to be outside of the obvious gang and drug premeditated crime. My wife and I are pretty much fly by the seat of our pants travelers and I'm sure we could go to Jamaica many more times and be unnoticed by the locals. Having said that, moving to Jamaica in retirement and trying to start a small venture to subsidize retirement seems more and more like a far off dream as that may get us noticed. Of course this entire post is just my feelings about the situation and maybe I'm off the mark, but I usually trust my feelings.
Good luck finding a destination without crime. I live in the country near a little town (4,000, maybe) in Southwest Michigan and we had cops all over our area this morning chasing a fleeing unsub. Crime happens everywhere, not just in Negril.
I have to agree with most of Irene's points. I also think that many of us have made good friends and good contacts in Jamaica and the news of violence involving any of our friends hits a little closer to home.
I don't consider myself an adventurer. I have a belief that people are mostly good and you can go most places, even very poor places, and people will treat you well if you treat them well. I don't travel around with a driver or with "security". We're all human beings sharing a planet. I travel to make connections with my fellow human beings (regardless of whether those fellow human beings are rich or poor, black or white, or whatever). I like this video by a young American couple who went to Haiti with an attitude to travel similar to mine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41xaVQ7KOJ8&t=644s
I don't really know why Jamaica's crime rate is so high, but I still feel like *most* people are nice and I'm still going to trust that I'll be fine if I treat people well and am friends with the good people. If I start feeling unsafe I will leave. I will not live behind big security walls with security guards.
You might be on the right track, Irine. My guess is the disproportionately high crime rate has to do with the juxtaposition of rich tourists vacationing in luxury, right alongside the poor rural communities. That, together with the history of being a brutal slave colony, probably leads to resentment, and may account for the high crime rate. Higher for example than in neighboring Haiti which is much poorer but does not have the huge tourist business that Jamaica has. Just a guess. I'm not a sociologist. There is a new book by an actual Harvard sociologist Orlando Patterson (who is Jamaican) which I have not yet read, but it appears to explore these issues based on the book reviews. https://www.amazon.com/Confounding-I...5489533&sr=8-1
Think of it this way. Tourism is the life blood of Negril. What tour company is going to send their people to any hotel in the west end.
I think the main difference in your comment about Michigan and the vibe in Negril is "we had cops all over our area". I'm not from Jamaica but I'm not sure the people there get the same feeling from their police coverage.
We just did our first cruise in 4 years this past September. We stopped in Belize and in Roatan. We found an awesome beach in Roatan it is called West Bay Beach. We want to go back. It only has 14 hotels and a few houses. A really nice vibe as spent the day with some locals. Really good prices. The water is the most beautiful that we have ever seen. One of the largest reefs in the world. Is it safe to go out on your own? Probably not. We will go and check it out. Its dangerous everywhere anymore. Some more then others . We will be in the West End in a few weeks . At this time I'm not sure we are gonna walk the road like normal. I guess we will see when we get there. There is no right answer.
that wasn't a simple house robbery.Quote:
Originally Posted by rtitle
Just got back (27Nov) from a beautiful 6 days in the west end. Absolutely beautiful, left the property every day walking or with road taxis, not a single bad vibe or even a hair raising (usually feel that a once or twice/trip).
I feel horrible about the violence and will always be vigilant, heck I bicycle commute through 2 of Chicago's 3 worst neighborhoods every day, all year long - I know the horror, see it, shrug sometimes, fight other times. I and I and the world is not perfect but I can't live without the hope of returning to Negril, so I will. I will shrug and fight there if I have to, but I don't expect to ever Have to.
Also, I will always think about this event every time I see a ketchup packet for the rest of my life.
Peace and Love
You can run but you can not hide from the violence in today's world ! Wherever you travel in today's world can be you last day on earth, its scary out there, you know where you are, always be careful. I live in a small town in Midwest Michigan, last night there was a shootings here where 2 young men were shot, 2 miles from my home so as they say "**** happens" they didn`t make it . Live your life the way you want to but always keep your head on a swivel and stay out of places you know to be bad you know where you should not be ! You can die crossing the street, look right, look left and always know where you are, its a beautiful world we live in but trouble is behind every tree so always be careful, understand ?
I am the one that has to die when its time for me to die, so I will live my life the way I want to. ( Jimmi Hendrix) !
Live well walk good !
semi(and crew) :) :)
I agree with you about the style of travel. We love to meet and talk with the locals. My wife is fearless. I have often watched from a distance as my wife wanders into a group of Jamaican men and strikes up a conversation like she's at the mall (Bnewb has witnessed this first hand :) ). Thanks for the book reference, I'll read this one for sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by rtitle
There is a new generation in Negril, I wish them the best, gotta be harder than we think getting old in Jamaica. Walk Good my friends.
3rd generation....
It has changed a lot since 1984 for sure !
Respect
semi(and crew) :) :)
Jamaica and Negril has had a strong repeat of visitors/tourist....
however mi personally can see that repeating visitors/tourist is dwindling pretty fast...…
this is from mi sightings and what other repeat fans of Jamaica are saying to mi these days...…
yeah the crime is the biggest factor though the raising cost in Jamaica hurts your wallet a lot too...
Jamaica's current infrastructure and law enforcement isn't close to being sufficient....thus the current problems
there are a lot of crimes, guns, poor judicial system, no current, no wata, bad roads, etc that most of us don't even hear about...…
mi afraid that the 2020's aren't looking good for Jamaica...….makes mi sad....
Jamaica and Negril desperately need new blood/visitors ....repeat visitors can only do so much
Cool Runnings, Marko
Caribbean Islands all seem to tend to be poor and somewhat dangerous. My experience is pretty limited: Curacao (1), Puerto Rico (2), St. Thomas (2), St. Croix (2), Bahama (1) and Jamaica (6). All of which will allow you to find yourself in dangerous situations pretty quickly and easily; especially if you are making poor decisions. That being said of all those spots I have visited Negril does feel the most dangerous. I am always very cognizant of where I am going, with whom I am going and at what time I am going. I am not super adventurous but I like to enjoy live music, meet people and have fun. I really don't venture out at night. I don't really venture out much at night at home either. This will be our first trip staying anywhere other than the Tree House and I am very nervous about that. We are staying a couple of days on the West End at Home Sweet Home and a handful of days at the Tree House. Each reach I am excited to go but always nervous that something could happen.
I agree about lack of resources to fight crime, and I agree poverty is a stressor. But I don't think Jamaica needs more tourism. What it needs is sustainable development. Jamaica needs to be able to feed/house and otherwise meet the needs of its people in an independent way. The country has resources - fertile land, abundant water, plenty of sunshine (for growing things, and for solar power!), a vibrant culture, and is full of intelligent capable people.
Tourism is the wrong way to develop the country. The jobs are inherently servile, and the whole industry can and will disappear in the blink of an eye when there is a global downturn. Actually there are a lot of wrong ways to develop. Here's another book recommendation "The Uses of Haiti" by Paul Farmer https://www.amazon.com/Uses-Haiti-Pa...5642108&sr=8-1 . It's about how the developed world exploits nations like Haiti (and Jamaica) for the benefit of the developed world, not for the benefit of the exploited nation.
In my own small way I am trying to do a bit of good in Jamaica. I bought a no-longer-functioning farm and am in the process of developing it into a working business that can employ a few people and feed myself and others. Looking into installing solar power. The plan is to eventually farm and live in a totally sustainable carbon-free fashion, in rural Jamaica.
Initially I was getting harassed by a neighbor who is a criminal of sorts. His day "job" is he goes into Negril and hassles tourists for money. When I moved to the neighborhood, he must have thought "great, I don't have to go into Negril, my next victim is coming to me". I was getting harassed, threatened, stolen from. I almost decided "time to go elsewhere", like the title of this thread says. But I managed to get rid of him, and I managed to hire a really great honest young guy who is working for me developing my land with great energy and enthusiasm. At this point I am cautiously optimistic that I can be successful in Jamaica. However it's still possible that the high level of crime and corruption will drive me away.
I am a little confused when when people keep bringing up the cost and how expensive it has got in Negril..my last reach in October I payed the least amount for a room I have payed in 15 years..at a very nice place...with the exchange rate at near 140 to 1..beers are around 250-300J give or take at many places..many meals for 700-1000J ..where in the Caribbean can I go for these prices? To each their own on the security comfort level they have I guess..but I look at the other options..security and cost of the other islands..and I keep coming back to Negril..
Marco. I respect your opinion but don't agree with all of it. Your observations, sightings and opinions from some other repeat visitors is a small sampling to make such a statement that "repeating visitors/tourist is dwindling pretty fast". Statistics show otherwise with visitors hitting a record 4.3 million in 2017 which is larger than the total population of the island. They may not be those whom you are referring to in that statement though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marko
https://jis.gov.jm/record-4-3-millio...arrivals-2017/ I think it is reasonable to assume that a high percentage are either returning visitors or will be visiting again very soon.
I agree that crime is a major factor in people deciding not to travel to Jamaica for the first time or even repeating visitors but I don't think that number is more than the increasing number of those deciding to visit Jamaica for the first time or visiting again as the total visitor count keeps rising year after year. I fully appreciate that the rising cost in Jamaica for staples like food and transportation etc. hurts everyone but not at the same extent. It is devastating to Jamaicans living on a fixed income, unemployed or underemployed but not that significant to tourists. Whether a meal cost $10 US one time and then $15 US later as prices rise just get adsorbed into the vacation budget and route taxi fares going up $100 Jamaican or more hurts the everyday Jamaican much more than a tourist.
I don't think that either you nor I can prognosticate Jamaica's future going forward as we simply don't have enough insight on what measures will be taken to make things better for the country as a whole. I see a country whose government is willing to act regardless of politics to solve problems. It is true that they may have different opinions on just what a problem entails but some action will be undertaken. I was just staying in rural areas and, yes, the water was often off and the electricity was going on and off and the roads were in deplorable condition but a backup generator was being installed to solve the water pump current problem and JPS is upgrading its power grid all over the island.
I too am saddened by the random act of violence that might cause a visitor not to want to visit Jamaica again but, I don't visit a lot of places for the same reason and, sometimes, for even less of a reason. Everyone has to make up their own mind as we all have different tolerances for safety concerns.
Visitor numbers are accelerating and one could argue that long time, repeat visitors like you and I who might be referred to as "cheap" ;) may help the local economy more by putting our money directly in the hands of everyday Jamaicans but we do, after all, spend less money per day than those who stay at All Inclusives and premium properties. I think if our numbers decrease, the void we leave will be readily filled by others so there will always be someone to do more if we are not there to do it.
Respect Marko.
Cost of living depends on what you're buying. Property is cheap to buy unless you are buying prime beachfront property. My house + 10 acres good farmland was about 130K US. (I read recently about someone who bought what is basically a big *rock* in Manhattan i.e. a tiny plot of land consisting of a big rock. They paid something like 10 million for it. Now *that's* expensive.). Rent is cheap, again except at prime beachfront tourist areas. Food is cheap. Outside of tourist areas, a restaurant meal is generally under 1000J. Sex is cheap (but I won't admit to buying it! :) ). . On the other hand, anything imported is expensive because then you're paying world-market prices plus Jamaica's import tax which is something like 100%. So for instance, cars cost at least 2x what they'd cost in the US. Same with computers, TVs, cellphones, etc. Gas costs at least 2x US prices. If you go into the local equivalent of Walmart, you'll find Walmart-quality merchandise (i.e. junky) at about 2x - 4x Walmart prices. While Jamaicans typically earn 10% of what an American would earn at the same job. When my wife married me and moved to Boston and found a similar job as she had in Kingston (administrator at a university) her income went up more than 10x, no exaggeration. No wonder Jamaicans feel so squeezed financially. I think it's that financial squeeze that causes the "life is expensive here" complaints.
Yes !! Hard to believe but this subject has come up lately in my household too.. Saddened to say:concern: We Love Ja !! Our April Trip had some issues with Rude Boy's !! And a New type of Higgler...Quote:
Originally Posted by airswift
It goes without saying that Negril and surrounding area's are more violent these Day's....
We will be Following Replies...
Would you care to elaborate on your issues and the "new" type of higgler Highlander? With all that's been going on it might be helpful information. Thanks.
Hi. T & A .. It seems to me .. In my opinion of course.. The New... type is not there as a Peddler of Good's as in the past.
They Very Aggressively approach you in a (Threatening manner). Demand you buy something (Usually Dope !!) They are on something ??? And even after saying a Polite No Thanks. They then want to berate you and anyone who is walking with you. ( My Wife )
Also my experience this year involved the lack of respect by people in the Hospitality Industry.. Had a couple Bad experiences I did not like .. To point of (Thug Life !! ) I want to add I have gone to Ja. for many a year now. And love my times there .. But for the 1st time in all those years.. I felt uncomfortable. And I do not that easily ... This last trip was not as Good !!! Bad JUJU !!
I'm traveling to Negril in Dec with my husband and 2 adult daughters and I must say that reading these comments make me very uncomfortable. What I find most disconcerting is the lack of specific information that might help us to be more aware and how to avoid trouble. What EXACTLY is going on in Negril? Stabbings? Rape? Getting jumped as tourists walk to a restaurant and robbed and beaten? Taxi drivers taking you to unknown places and stealing your money? or worse? I've read all the comments and haven't found specific examples or situations that I might avoid to ensure our safety. Also, the same people comment in this thread about feeling unsafe, are the same ones who assured me in my own previous thread that I had nothing to worry about.
We're not naive travellers but I get that even the most astute can become victims. I currently live in what is considered the "most violent city in Canada" where a**h*** kids or young adults are randomly macheting people, swarming stores to rob them blindly, meth is fueling rage and violence beyond anyone imagination. It's totally out of control but I also know that by avoiding certain areas and groups of people I'm safer then if I'm hanging outside the bar at 2:00 am lipping off to an angry gang ready to curb stomp any one who looks at them the wrong way. I also know a lot of the violence is a result of addictions and they're turning on each other so the numbers are skewed and the general public isn't as threatened as it may seem.
So again, my question is, what exactly is happening? And how do we stay safe? What and who do we avoid?
alix, I’ve been traveling to Negril for more than 30 years and we travel to many many other places in the world too. Yes, Negril has changed over the years but so has every other place we travel too. If you use the same common sense you you use in any new location you should be fine. Don’t wear flashy jewelry don’t carry more cash than you need too and decline drugs with a “no thank you, I don’t do drugs”. Get to know people working at your hotel or resort and discuss any concerns and any needs you have with them. They will give you direction if you need it. Our Jamaican friends and acquaintances have always watched out for us and give us great advice. I’m sure you will have a great vacation!!
All of this is very concerning, but violence is rarely targeted towards tourists. Daylight hours are safe, but I would start making my way back towards home base around 8p or so. You are generally safe all hours, but this is to minimize risk to a level that you should not be concerned.Quote:
Originally Posted by alix
This was likely not random. No "tourists" were involved. This kind of violence is always concerning. Tell me, do you read the police blotter of every place you travel. If you did you would probably stay home. Use the same common sense you would use anywhere. Enjoy yourself, but don't get drunk, stoned and stupid. Use the drivers at your hotel or a trusted route driver to get you around safely. It's the best money you will spend.
Bad news travels fast and a lot of the people on the board are repeat visitors so realize that they often know of the people involved and post their condolences which keeps the thread alive unlike positive posts that tend to sink into the oblivion. Jamaica has a population slightly larger than Toronto and the majority of that population is (obviously) in the big cities and Negril is not one of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by alix
Tourists are pretty much a protected species in Negril as it behooves the local businesses to keep it that way to avoid the negative affects of bad press and travel advisories. Most of the violent crime is Jamaican on Jamaican and, occasionally, a person who stays long-term around Jamaicans and less frequently a tourist in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you use the same common sense that you would at home, you should be quite safe and enjoy a nice vacation.
Respect.
Well said Accompong (as usual).
Alix, I have read your post several times and I believe I can pick out the city where you live based on what is happening there. We live in Brandon (and I policed Brandon for 33 years). Meth has taken over Brandon with a vengeance and everything you have described is going on in Brandon as well. Having said that, and I am 100% sure of this, I feel safer here in Negril than I do at home in Manitoba. Things are happening here in Negril but crimes against a tourist are almost non existent. My wife and myself drive around in an open air covertable. We have circumnavigated the island twice. We don't live a high risk live style, and we have never felt unsafe. In fact just the opposite. In Canada we meet on the street and we say "how's it going". It's more of a greeting than an actual question, and I swear if we ever stopped and told people how we were really doing the response you'd get would be......"Ya, let me know how that works out for you". In Negril, if you ever told someone that you were having a bad day, your car broke down, you have a flat tire, ran out of gas, you'd have so many Jamaican's trying to help out it would be crazy. One day my wife stopped to chat with the wickerman that we have know for years. She just let it slip out that she was having problems with her bicycle. 40 minutes later the wickerman is at the door with the bike repair guy (from under his tree) to fix her bike. That is truly what it is like in Negril. So there is a little humor to bring some light to a rather dark thread.
Alix those bad things you spoke of in your post may have happened, maybe not. If they did happen it was over a very long stretch of time and maybe a long time ago.
Alix, come to Jamaica, be happy, be careful, but be happy. Maybe you be one of those return visitors everyone is talking about.
For me there is no elsewhere. I love cruising for vacation but there is no elsewhere when it comes to Jamaica.
Cap
Thank you everyone for your reassurances. In 2018 we were in both Bloody Bay (one week) and Seven Mile (one afternoon) and there was definitely a different feel between them. We loved Jamaica and it’s people. We met others who visit Jamaica long term and these are the ones who interested us the most, so when I’m reading that people are maybe looking elsewhere I had more questions. My husband is retired and I can retire in 2 years, but I love my job so I don’t want to retire without a solid plan (hence a second trip to Jamaica, and not AI).
All your tips are well taken, and common sense will prevail.
brownsd54, I’m sure you do know my city – we made national news, several times ☹ Isn’t it sad what’s happening in our province? You’re right, it is a dark thread and I appreciate your telling of what is probably the true nature of Negril and its people.
Accompong, in my limited experience in Jamaica I can tell you the “tourists are a protected species in Negril” would definitely be a correct statement. What you describe for crime (Jamaican on Jamaican and, occasionally, a person who stays long-term around Jamaicans and less frequently a tourist in the wrong place at the wrong time) is typical of most places in the world.
16 days until we return to Jamaica. Time to put all the worrisome thoughts behind and focus on the Negril we loved in 2018.
You could be in the wrong place at the wrong time no matter where you are. Here is a perfect example: super "safe" area in So.West Florida ........... bad guys rob a jewelry store, hi-jack a UPS truck and driver, get caught in a gunfight with police ....... results are the 2 bad guys DEAD, UPS driver DEAD ............ and a totally innocent passenger in a near by car which was stuck in traffic DEAD......... tragic for sure, but a scary part of daily life. Negril no better or worst than the vast majority of the world.
https://www.nbc-2.com/story/41415221...r-police-chase
Alix, you mentioned retirement; are you and hubby thinking of retiring to Jamaica? I did that, or more precisely, am in the process of doing that, having recently bought a home in Westmoreland to retire to. It's an adventure. Not scared off by the crime (yet). Drop me a PM if you'd like to chat.
These days I don't go into Negril so often. Shopping is better done in Sav or MoBay, and beaches with less hassle can be found elsewhere in Westmoreland. If I go to Negril it's to go out for a nice restaurant meal or to meet up with friends. There's always been a lot of hassling in Negril, in my experience. My impression is that the aggressive hassling is more annoying than dangerous. Rarely, there is an actual assault, but mostly it's just the hustlers running through their playbook of ways to get money from tourists ("first let's try appealing to pity, then let's try scaring them..."). Whatever works. Which is why I say don't give money to hustlers, ever. It's like feeding the ducks at the local pond. If you do, soon your pond is overrun with ducks looking to be fed.
When I bought the house I thought I might occasionally go into Negril to party, but in fact I don't do that. Mainly because it's too darn scary to be travelling home late at night. Jamaicans in general lock up their homes (padlocked gates, grates around all windows and doors for security) and stay home at night. It's not like the US where I would think nothing of driving home at midnight from a night out in Boston. In Jamaica, the roads are bad, there are no services available at night, and while most people are nice, there *are* some criminals out there. Driving by checkpoints with machine-gun-wielding soldiers reminds you of that. So mostly I stay in at night. Which isn't bad since I've made some local friends I can hang out with.
Here's a little anecdote related to all this. Back in August, I was hanging out at home with one of those Jamaican friends, a young woman from Sav who was planning on staying the night. We were just enjoying an evening at home: a meal, glasses of wine, music. She gets a phone call: a friend of her family has just been shot dead in Sav! She wants to go be with her grieving family. Normally I wouldn't go out driving at night like that, but under the circumstances I thought I should drive her home. So I grab car keys and go. Now, I don't see so well at night, so I drive slow. On the way back from Sav, I got one of those aggressive drivers in a big vehicle with high beams on right on my tail like he wants me to go faster. Roads are narrow and bad so he couldn't pass. Flustered by the whole situation, I somehow made a wrong turn and wound up on an unfamiliar road. Then I hit one of those monster potholes and blew out a tire. Pulled over and thought "oh sh*t". Here I was, violating every safety rule in the book. Lost in rural Westmoreland with a broke-down car late at night and not entirely sober. Returning from a trip to Sav that was precipitated by a murder. I hadn't even grabbed my cellphone before I headed out, which I would normally rely on for maps or to call for help if needed. This could have been really bad.
This is where the "most people are nice" comes into play. Someone came out of a house and offered assistance, and he was soon joined by a couple other guys. They helped change my tire and got me pointed in the right direction to get home. They were very nice and we exchanged numbers and I made some new friends.
So it ended well.
Peace and love,
Richard (still alive)
Well said.