Christmas is done and gone. I feel like a new chapter is beginning, I have things to share . . .
This morning we walked back from the gym – the journey of 1,000 beeps. Things are getting back to normal, people out and about, everything is open. Since Christmas, there are noticeably more tourists in town; however, there seem to be fewer goats.
We had the gym to ourselves again so we cranked up the A/C and the music. Some of the lyrics this morning are interesting. Gone are the Christmas carols, we’re back to: ‘Down at the Ho-tel motel, take a dirty picture of me – CLICK!’ and ‘I’m drinking rum and Red Bull . . . blah, blah, blah.’ And it just goes downhill from there. Good beats though.
I wonder, why do people feel compelled to broadcast their tales of debauchery?
Exiting the super, cooled-down gym and walking out onto the hot parking lot it feels like entering a sauna; shocking. So much so that Bea lost her focus momentarily and stepped into a mound of fresh doggie poop. There’s a lot of it here, poop that is. Not just doggy poop, but horse poop and goat poop too. You gotta watch your step. It’s like walking around downtown Paris.
On the way back we checked out the new grocery store on the Sav road, right across from the bus park. It’s called Zhang’s Wang or something like that – brand new, clean organized and A/C’ed. Same items on the shelf as everywhere else, mind you.
Back on the sidewalk outside the store a guy approached me and started to ask all the questions, “Where you from . . . yadda, yadda.” He was looking for an angle that he could work me on. Then he asked, “Where you coming from mi friend?”
I kept walking but answered him, “The gym.”
“OK,” he said, looking back in that direction. “Where you staying?”
“Redground,” I replied.
“Redground?” He was a little taken aback.
I nod.
He considered this for a moment. “OK,” he said, then turned away.
I’ve learned that Redground has a bit of a bad reputation in Negril. Maybe this guy thinks I’m a rude bwoy from Redground.
Our walk back towards home takes us past Hammond’s bakery. I could go in there and buy stuff every day; they have such good pastries and cakes. As we approach the place I can hear the sweet likkle voices of the gizzadas in the display case inside calling out to me. “Kaaahuuuna . . . Kaaahuuna . . . come take us awaaaay!”
The aroma of freshly baked goods wafts tantalizingly from the open door. But, exerting great amounts of self-control, we don’t stop.
Further on in the little market we get bananas– $250J for nine sweet bananas. Then we get a dozen ackee – $150J, which is the going rate. Scallions and thyme are added to our bag. I’ll pick up some saltfish in the Hi Lo later. Ackee, saltfish and callaloo will be on the table tonight – I love it and I could eat it every day.
We stop in at the Burger King for tea and coffee and A/C – it’s getting hot and humid already. We had another torrential downpour last night just after sunset, there are puddles all around and the humidity is way up. We sit in our favorite booth, the one with the view.
This afternoon, we witness a shakedown in the Burger King . . . .
Yah mon, Likkle more . . .
Please, Sir - may I have more? She didn't like that little piece of bammy.
Night Jasmine bush, its flowers are closed now, but at night - the fragrance that comes from this bush is sensual.
The computer store - this store is actually a reclaimed refrigeration unit of an old truck, mounted up on concrete piers.
