I was babysitting my grandson over MLK weekend and that forced me to allow my keyboard to cool off.
My apologies.
Monday June 2
I've never stayed at Catcha before but I found the snorkeling marginal. There is a bay off Catcha's point, between Rick's and Catcha that holds a few more fish than Catcha's tiny bay. I did see a huge ray holding on the bottom, straight off of Catcha's point. One day we fed bread to the fish between Catcha and Rick's but all in all fish were relatively scarce compared to what we saw around Xtabi (not that long ago). A positive is that I saw zero lionfish - one can only hope.
We took about a 40 minute walk to SunIsland and picked up a couple T-shirts.
From there we walked to the Corner Bar to re-hydrate. Michelle was beer tending.
From the Corner Bar we took the long way to Redground, past the roundabout and down the Sav road. A little way past Juicy Patties you turn up Redground Rd. Then as long as you bear slightly to the left (which I always do anyway) you can't miss the Red Dragon. It's an interesting walk. I recall an ad hoc motorcycle repair shop being conducted on the roadside.
As we were settling in for the pork I started wondering if we were honing in on this one dining spot too much. I mean, why do we go on vacation anyway?
To try something different right? Hmm, if that's the case why do we keep coming back to Negril? Wait a minute is this too much navel staring? Probably.
But at the cost of a vacation maybe it's a question worth asking. Why Negril and why repeat Negril? I can only answer for myself but I don't mind sharing the answers I came up with.
It's not the opportunity for cannabis-tourism. If that was it, then the palm strewn beaches of Denver would always be crowded. I'm not dissing JA's ganja growing techniques but your average Colorado specimen will beat anything you score on the 7 mile beach, but it's not the opportunity to be a sub commander that brings me back. As I'm sitting in Raggabones waiting for the pork to be served I'm convinced it's the people of JA that draw me back, the people and their ability to take simple fresh ingredients and crank out culinary masterpieces on a regular basis.
Hoho. No, there is nothing wrong with repeated trips to the Red Dragon for their pork. When I leave the island I'll get nothing like it. No, there is nothing wrong with repeatedly returning to Negril, not when you consider the way they treat their guests. The lack of pretense demonstrated by the people of Negril is amazing. So as I'm scarfing my pork and the losing scratch off cards are tossed to the floor by the locals, I have to ask: how many other world class destinations can you think of that present themselves with the humility of Negril. I say:
Viva Red Dragon Pork!
Viva Negril!
Viva I will return and return and return!
OK, I apologize for that trip through my tangled brain, meanwhile back at the trip report . . . we started out walking back. We saw a curious (gotta be Negril) sight. Running parallel the Redground Rd./Tankhill Rd. is a green space about a block long and maybe a quarter of a block wide. We saw a mare and her foal grazing on this green strip, completely unfettered.
