A "Shiny" new Trip Report!

[BIG SHINY n Rootsy]

I found a few more pics from the last time we took the inland route back to MoBay.















As you can see we were driving so they are of no real significance but you can see a lot of the mountain views and the winding roads.

[Summer]

Loving your report, great scenery pictures

[Ziggy]

May have to try the inland road next year.
And yes we have a permanent pile of stuff we take every year, put in the basement till next year

[Bluez]

Great job!!! Loving the trip report and the pics... keep em coming

[BIG SHINY n Rootsy]

Off to the Cliffs.....

You WILL Be Assimilated:

This trip we decided to try something different. We have been to many of the places up in the cliffs before, but we had never stayed at any of them......until now. With the help of another awesome boardie on here, (Thanks again for the advice and all the feedback Melody!!!) we pulled the trigger on a three night stop at Le Mirage before heading to the beach.

Mirage was great! It's a really nice place that's situated right on the water. It was pretty quiet when we were there. (except for a deranged wild jungle dingo that barked insanely for about 2 hours one night. I understand that's not really the hotels fault however) There were only 2 other couples there when we arrived and another came in the day before we left so we had the place pretty much to ourselves. All the other guests were very nice and we were glad to have met them. In fact, the couple in the room above us were Bears fans......and they were even pretty cool. We did meet a cool couple from England the day we left and said we would see them around town but we never did so....Nicko.....if your reading this.....PM me man! lol

I should probably say that every person staying there told us NOT to tell anyone about the place so it wouldn't become too popular but, if I can get them a few more guests so they can better their business, why wouldn't I? Sorry everyone.....the secret is out!

Some shots of the view from our balcony.




No problems with the hot wata here!


A look at the property from down by the cliffs.




How's this for nice sunset? What a spectacular view of the sea. The infinity pool was incredible too.


So we checked in, met the hotelier Nadine (who is a sweetheart), Mr. Bobby grabbed our bags and off we go to the room. Two minutes later we step out onto the balcony to check the amazing view and BAM!!! Mental alarms start sounding in our heads. RRRRR! RRRRR! RRRRR! Naked Guy Alert!!! Naked Guy Alert!!!

Yes......that's right.....we found out after we got there that Mirage is a "clothing optional" hotel. (all you folks who are bummed about Firefly should check this place out) Not really a big deal for us, we are not prudes by ANY stretch of the imagination but it was a bit awkward for the first few seconds.....we just ended up having a good laugh about it after that.

We checked out the grounds and walked down by the water to absorb some of the Na-trall medicine that Jamaica seems to provide for us mentally. Does anyone else on here feel better, I mean actually Feel......Better when you're on the island? I know that I sure do.....and I ain't talkin about the brownies. (yet)

Next up.....first night follies.

[Melody]

you're welcome, enjoying your report!

[BIG SHINY n Rootsy]

Haha! That view looks familiar.
I wonder why?
Thanks again!

[groove16]

we were sitting at the bar next to firefly, sun beach, i think, a few trips back...did not know anything about firefly...wife got a full view of naked old guy as he was getting up from his lounger...i didnt see the guy, but her face was priceless...lol....

[BIG SHINY n Rootsy]

Go West Middle Aged Man:

We decide to take it easy on our first night as we are sure tomorrow will be an eventful day. (Boardie Bash) We take a little walk up to Fire Water to have a beer or six where we will meet up with a local friend of ours. Fire Water is a cool little bar that overlooks the sea and is a fantastic place to see the sunset. Here is something I've always wondered....Why do we say the sun is "setting" when it's actually staying in the same place and we are just rotating away from it?

So we take a little trek up the road and let me say, you guys on here weren't kidding when you said to be careful walking the West end. Woah!!! Its not all bad, but there sure are a few rough spots. We saw a few other people that weren't having a very good time with it and one lady actually turned her ankle and fell down right in front of us one day when we were sitting at AhhBees. Luckily she was ok. You definitely need to pay attention where you are stepping up there. (not so much on the beach)

When we got to Fire Water it was dead. One white dude washing glasses behind the bar who I erroneously assumed was the owner for the first hour or so, and two local guys selling herb/bracelets/artwork etc. So we sat there chatting with them and getting primed for the next ten days in paradise. We were actually sorta glad that it was gonna be a quiet evening and then..........up pulls the One Love Bus!

We actually burst out laughing and start high-fiving because we know it's gonna be a BIG party now. Well, we could not have been more wrong. There were about 12 people on the crawl and I could almost compare the vibe I got from them to going to a strangers funeral. Most of them just sat two to a table and talked quietly. There were a few people drinking and having fun but it was a small percentage. We chatted with them for a while but eventually we just sat and BS'd with Lenbert. He said that every once in a while he gets a group that just doesn't "get into" the tour for whatever reasons and this was one of them. Oh well. A few of them were having fun at least.

We asked what nights we could get in with him and he pulls out this ratty old crumpled up spiral notebook from under his seat that looked like it went through a car wash. We gave him crap for keeping his records for such a vastly popular and successful business in something like that. He just looked confused about that and laughed at us like it was no big deal.

Did I ever mention that I really like most Jamaicans a lot?

Nice notebook!


Lenbert, us, and the bus.




View from Fire Water

[Roy Mon !]

We have NEVER had a quiet pub crawl yet !!! I will not let that happen lol.