Pon de balcony at the Charela Inn

Reach #18 since '99

I love waking up in Jamaica!

Tuesday, travel day. The taxi man got us to the airport in plenty of time. I just hadn't figure it would be that busy. Silly me!
After a small confusion and delay on the part of the USAir check in staff we got in the TSA line as the clock crept closer to our boarding time. Get to the gate on time only to hear that the crew wasn't there yet. Oh well soon come...
Rough ride into Charlotte and a mad dash to make our connection only to find that they aren't boarding yet. Once we board and start taxiing for take off we are delayed about an hour by the strong and shifting winds from the storm that made it a rough ride. Rough take off but once we got above the storm it was smooth sailing all the way to Mobay.
The flight from Mpls. was packed solid but the flight to MoBay was only 2/3 full so right after they closed the door the game of musical seats began and Donna and I wound up with an exit row all to ourselves. More space and leg room than first class at no extra charge!
I deliberately haven't flown USAir for a long time because the most unpleasant trip I ever took was on USAir and I like Delta's itineraries better besides. These flights were about as good as it gets and on top of that they were promoting their rewards credit card and if you signed up on the flight you got enough bonus miles for a free flight back to Jamaica!
Immigration and customs were a breeze and soon we were in Kenny's van and on the way home.
Charela Inn is fantastic as always. We haven't stayed here in 6 years or so. We have stayed many wonderful places in Negril, Charela was the first and on the beach it is still the best.
Wedding this afternoon, but both the bride and groom have been suffering with tourista. I hope they recover sufficiently in time.

That's all for now. Time for a run to town for cash & Digicel.

Bless,
Ed

Ras,

Nice start, keep da good stuff coming!!!

Thanks,

VVHT

Let the fun begin!!!~Bless!!-Ochie trip the reach?

Awesome, cant wait to get my butt to Nirvana, love waking up in JA too
Keep us posted

It looks like you truly love Negril. Let the good times roll, my friend!

Oh, rats, I didn't get to my computer until just now. I'd have walked down to see you if I'd read it earlier (first time wedding crasher but I blew it - LOL). See you around the beach soon though.

Hey Ras.......

Have a great visit...

Hey Ras,
You giving the castle a rest?

Enjoy guys nice to hear you are living life good on the beach....:) SLP...you too ...

All the best in the New Year ... :cool:

BIG sigh.... :cool:

Ras,
Have a great time ! Let me know how the wedding went!
Farmer

First, to answer some of the questions. Yes we are going to Oracabessa on Monday. Yes we miss the Castle but the wedding is at Charela on my recommendation so we are here with the entire group. This is my third wedding at Charela. They have the best beach and the staff here do a fantastic job. Mr. Grizzle himself help serve dinner. Farmer, you won't regret her choice of venue.

Tuesday night all 14 of us went to Miss Sonia's for dinner. Mike's favorite memory from our wedding was dinner at Sonia's and wanted to do the same. By then Marcia was sufficiently recovered but Mike's troubles were just beginning and he wound up going back to the hotel rather quickly. Everything was delicious. Soup, lobster, fried chicken and fried fish as well as escovietch fish. My only complaint is that I could never get Sonia to give us a per person or total price and in the confusion of Mike getting sick I think more money changed hands than should have. When he is feeling better we'll get it figured out.

Breakfast on the beach at Charela is one of my favorite things in all the world. They really do have the nicest part of the beach.
Election is in the air, but everybody seems upbeat about it. The radio is full of election reggae tunes and the 2 parties seem to be more civil to each other than their American counterparts. The buzz has been though, about the double holiday. Person after person has said that Sunday is the perfect day for Christmas. But because of that the government (I guess) declared Monday the national Christmas holiday. So here it was both Christmas and boxing day with Tuesday becoming a second boxing day. Meaning that we arrived on Tuesday, me thinking everything would be back open, to find everything still closed. Which meant that yesterday when I went to the Hi-Lo to use f/x trader cambio the line was about 30 deep. Wound up using the cambio up by Bourbon Beach. They were a point lower than f/x but no line.

The wedding was beautiful as was the bride. Sadly just before the music started our camera malfunctioned and is still down for the count so I can't add any visuals to my report. Mike was a trooper and stayed mostly upright through the ceremony and pictures but missed the really quite delicious dinner. Everything was delicious, especially the filet mignon and the coconut rundown snapper.

The Charela property looks great. The garden, which suffered for a few years in recovery from storms, is looking gorgeous and they rebuilt the massage hut bigger and better, 3 tables no waiting.
As I sit here pon de balcony the beach is beginning to wake up with just a touch of that rosey glow, like the smile in your lovers eyes as she wakes and sees you. Speaking of which, I here my Empress stirring so thats all for now.

Bless,
Ed

P.S. OMG how can I forget to mention meeting TicToc and the family. We were sitting in the massage hut chatting with our friends when I saw this group walking up the beach. I said to Donna that looks like TicToc's husband, and those look like her daughters, so that has to be TicToc! Hugs and chat and pictures and they were back on their way to Margaritaville.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WiscoJudy

BIG sigh.... :cool:

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I so hear ya Judy~~ April soon come. Ras have a WONDERFUL time!
TY for checking in. Will be waiting for pictures.

Sounds wonderful Ed....sorry to hear about your camera....but the report was great. We spent a day on the beach at Charlea this past reach...and the service and drinks were awesome!

:) Enjoy!

I got ya a likkle Jerk Shop a likkle out side Ochie for ya'll to check out on your way to Oracabessa:)-Thanks for the report:)~Bless!

Using the camera on my smartphone. Charela Inn, beach and garden.
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Donna just came back from her workout with a cup of peanut porridge. I'm in heaven!

Beautiful pics.. Great spread Miss Sonia had for you all. She could have easily charged you $20.00 a person--she seems very humble..

I have to go visit her on my next reach.. Beautiful pics!!! I must try the peanut porridge too. Enjoy!!!!

With each passing day the keyboard holds less and less fascination for me.
On the patio of La Vendome at Charela for breakfast. I love this place!
Yesterday we hardly left the hotel. Donna went visiting down the beach and we met up at canoe.
Today is the gathering for Musicmon and TicToc's party, gonna try and get to both.
Just met boardie negrilmaven and her husband having breakfast here.
Another beautiful day in Negril.

Bless,
Ed

The hotel looks incredible. I've noticed the Charela is a bit more expensive than most beach hotels -- what is the key selling point???

We are Enjoying your report Ras,thanks for taking the time and have a great time!!

Love to see you both
Gail Jackson

Fabulous Ras, we too pretty much stick with delta as american air left us at dfw coming home swithching us from gate to gate for 8 freeking hours! NEVER again!.. and we also had a camera malfunction on me this last trip...I got on you tube and searched flip camera quit working, got wet..and up came a instructional video from a 8 year old telling the world how to fix my camera, well it worked perfectly and still does..lmao! who knew! :)..
Love your report and Hearing and seeing what you are up too....CHEERS! and happy new year, you lucky people..:)

sorry for the spelling errors..im doing this fast and drywalling at the same time..hahahah..long story...not for here..:)

Gerry, the number two selling point for Charela is that they have simply the best stretch of beach. Consistently wide and clean with a great mix of young and mature trees for optimum shade. Number one would be pure style points. The grace and elegance that is attempted at a place like the RIU naturally exists here without stuffiness or pretense. We haven't stayed here in awhile partly because of the price. A comparable quality beach hotel at a slightly lower price is Negril Treehouse. The breakfast buffet alone is reason to stay there. I think the rack rates are similar but Gail advertises specials here on the board and is a charitable and creative hotelier. The ocean front suites at treehouse rock! The main reason is that after years of being a confirmed beach girl, Donna has succumbed to the peace and tranquility of the cliffs and the Blue Cave Castle.

Breakfast beckons (or would that be bacons...?)

Bless,
Ed

Sunset After Dark! The only burger ever to live up to it's advertising, and the seafood pasta was the best anywhere!

if it's not too late and you remember tell mom I said merry christmas and happy new year.

Charela inn looks amazing! so lush! Love the circular pool.:)
Thanks for sharing these pics and your experiences!
Have a wonderful New Years in Negril!

You two deserve it....Let the party begin

Ras, Sunset After Dark is a must!!! That burger looks awesome, so does the pasta. When you get tired of eating the local cuisine you can have a nice burger. :p