Trip Report: Negril One More Time

We are just back to Ohio from our Negril respite. Seven and a half days of white sand and turquoise water, just wonderful. It wasn't easy getting there though, we woke to snow-covered roads, made it to the airport to find out that our plane had mechanical problems and we'd be delayed. The outcome of this was that we got to MBJ at 9 that night instead of at noon. Found Ernie right away and headed out to Negril, stopped for some jerk chicken and red stripes and made it to Country Country around 11. Not really what we'd planned but as we walked through the gardens to our room we could breathe a sigh of relief that we were finally there. :D

Nice start.. I be ready fir more now

Before we went to sleep we did sit out on the little porch for a bit, looking at the sea, marveling at how bright the stars are in Jamaica. It was so quiet, no Margaritaville music tonight, Treehouse quiet, all is well in Negril! Up early on Sunday morning, a quick look around, yes, Negril is still there. Lee and helper are tidying up the grounds, lounges and umbrellas are already out, the breakfast staff is in place, speaking in the patois that is a backdrop of every morning for us at Country Country. Soon we will face our first major Negril decision, what to have for breakfast? But the view from the porch is the same as every other time and we are content.
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Love your TR so far, What a view!
Now that's the way to wake up in the morning!:D
Keep it coming!

That view is WOW! What kind of room has this view? Thanks for posting.

Mrs. Wilson, it is the upstairs room at Country Country, in the building closet to the beach, the famous room 514! We got it by accident the first time, ever since we have requested it, even choosing dates when it is available. It is a little exposed by Country Country standards, a little noiser than some others, but we have NEVER (knock on wood) at a problem with mosquitos like some of the lower level rooms. My first view in the morning is of the sea, I can lift up on one elbow, peek through the shutters and there is my Caribbean Sea, I have been a lucky girl to have found this gem!

yes, that is an amazing view, and an amazing pic with the boats in action .... looking forward to this report, as we don't get many Country Country boardies ....

So that you can notice it the next time you walk by, our room is the top of the two story cottage to the left, behind the restaurant, sort of. I can't imagine being anywhere better on the beach. I go to sleep to the sound of the tree frogs and crickets, and wake to the sound of sweeping of the walkways and the patois of the people who work there.
It is so sweet.
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nice pics!

we've stayed at CC the last 4 years and this year we were bumped to room 514, it's got some pluses like that view but we were disappointed we didn't get our regular room unfortunately when we book through One Stop they can only request a room, not guarantee it and this year we didn't get our favorite room

heres a shot of the fisherman we saw every morning going out, one day we saw him selling part of his catch to the chef at CC so I had the fresh grouper that day, delicious

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Homebrewer, I love watching this man go out everyday! We saw him on our first trip in 2007. I like that CC is small enough that they can get fish from him for their dinners. I think he has the most beautiful muscled back! When I showed his pic to the ladies I worked with, that first year, they all laughed and said, "forget about bringing us little nickknacks from Jamaica, we want HIM next time!!

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Originally Posted by gerryg123

yes, that is an amazing view, and an amazing pic with the boats in action .... looking forward to this report, as we don't get many Country Country boardies ....

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Only stayed once, however it will probably end up being my last 3 nights in Negril next reach. Great place with great staff. Could use an Opal Purple Rain right now..... We like to day use the place when we want to chill on the beach.

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Let's not forget Romaine either.
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Here's the view from 513 below 514. Like 2 steps to the sand....

As we drove to Negril Saturday night I was surprised at how many people were filling the streets in the towns we passed through and surprised to see that so many beauty and barber shops were open at 10:00 at night. I guess people who had worked all week and on Sat were getting fixed up for Sunday!
Sunday was certainly a better day than Saturday had been. After the required big breakfast at CC we sat (maybe wallowed would be a more realistic description!) on the beach, alternating sunning and swimming. It was delicious, just what this winter and travel weary girl needed. The sea was perfect, flat, turquoise, a little bit of a chill at first dip then just wonderful. The red stripes kept us hydrated and since I have been on chemotherapy for nearly a year, decided to self-medicate just a tad with some medicinal herb. I was in heaven.
Sunday was a first for us, first webcast! Later in the afternoon we decided to wander up the beach a little, we didn't get too far, just to Seasplash to check out the changes, as it had been one of our favorite just-sit spots. Changes there are, must say I miss the round bar, looking at to sea, but new owner has really changed the vibe! The bartender told us there would be a webcast in a bit, so we hung around through a rain shower and were rewarded with great music, first a steel drum and then some reggae. Nice crowd too! We decided to order some appetizers, Norma's famous coconut shrimp and the smoked marlin. Coconut shrimp were great, smoked marlin was different, large chunks instead of the shaved slices from before. I fear Norma's as we have known it is gone, but, like so many things in Negril, change is inevitable, change can be good. Many Red Stripes later we stumbled home, and the tree frogs sang us to sleep again.Attachment 11099

Nothing heals the effects of chemo like Negril and all it encompasses! Hope you are well now.

My favorite room at Country Country. I was disappointed when I found out I did not have one of the stand alone cottages until I entered that upper unit and then I knew......I had had the best room on the property.

Delcey, I find it to be surprising that the porch is so private, at first I thought it would be visible to everyone on the beach and at the restaurant, but I've checked and the only people who can see what's going on up there are the people at the kitchen door and of course they don't care WHAT you do (not that much is "going on" up there with us!) I email Monique to find out when 514 is available and then we plan our trip around that. She told me her favorite room at Country Country is the upstairs of the building behind 514, one of these days I will go up there and see the view, although it is not as private I don't think.Attachment 11101

mmmm, a likkle bit of heaven....

Nice start to your report! Yes that is a NICE VIEW!!~

We loved the porch the best and were surprised at how private it felt. We could see everything ....and then some going on but nobody ever seemed to notice us up there. I wouldn't want the unit below it and I am sure I wouldn't like the second story unit behind this one as much either.

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The balconies for the upper cottages are one of our favorite things at Country Country

Our usual room, which will not be named since it was already taken this year LOL, has an even more private balcony - it always seems like you are alone in a jungle up there

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Homebrewer, is that one of the upstairs units about half way through the property? I looked at those this year and thought the same thing, it would be like having a treehouse in the jungle!

Back to my Negril adventure- I try to do at least one thing new each trip, whether it be an experience or trying a new restaurant, it is so easy just to do the same things over and over. Monday was a new day and after our relax on the beach on Sunday, well, we relaxed on the beach today too. Monday was overcast most of the day but we still lazed on the beach, lazy, lazy, in and out of the water. Don ventured down the beach a bit to a little store he likes, came back with Red Stripes and a little lapel pin for me, outline of jamaica, i promptly attached it to my beach hat, it will be there for the rest of that hat's days! We got a few patties from Norman, they are still as good as ever! The night brought an adventure, dinner at Ivan's. I've heard so much about it here on the board, so it was on my to try list. And wonderful it was, I liked my conch strips better than Don's jerk shrimp. Don had Pimento Coconut Snapper and I had Snappy Snapper. Both were outstanding. And I indulged in a dirty banana for my dessert! Oh my, why do they taste so good?? The driver from Ivan's, Wayne, drove us home, what a nice guy.
The next day brought us more lazy beach time. I brought out my float that poor Don had lugged for 15 hours through the airport and floated on that lovely lovely turquoise sea. I feel like the queen of the beach on my float and think every one who sees me is wishing they could be me!

I surprised Don later in the afternoon with an agenda for another new experience. We would go to Canoe Bar! So we gathered up our trusty taxi driver, Erdley, and headed off for the West End. Thanks to all the boardies who gave me info about this wonderful spot! We were there for the 2 for 1 happy hour, had great drinks and the fabulous onion rings, and sat and admired the sea and the boats going by. Then the most exciting thing of all happened. Don wandered to the end of the porch and then came back with a VERY excited look on his face. He had overheard a lady on the beach saying she'd found a piece of BLUE SEA GLASS! I LOVE sea glass and had not found any in our previous trips to Negril. I used to pay a bounty for pieces that my children found on the North Carolina Outer Banks where we went when they were little! I left my drink and the onion rings immediately and ran down to the beach, where I talked with this lovely lady. If you are a boardie and are reading this, thank you thank you for helping me that day! Of course I don't remember your name, you are from Manitoba and spend several months in Jamaica every year. She said that blue was hard to find, there was lots of green and white. Oh my I filled my pockets, I couldn't believe it, it was like I'd found the pirate queens'-Anne Bonny and Mary Read- treasure. My pockets were sagging AND I found two tiny blue pieces. Canoe Bar I love you and I WILL be back!

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