Manda's first trip to jamaica sept 2011

[Manda81]

Driving down Norman Manley Blvd now and I’m sitting right up on the edge of my seat with this enthusiasm that I’m not sure I’ve exuded since Disney World when I was 9 years old. ”Look there is Mariners!” Swwooosh we’re going a bit fast and I feel like I’m giving myself whip lash but there is “Yellow Bird! I know that place I watched the sunset there like last week!!”

Hold up, you said it’s your first time in Jamaica you been down here before?” I tell him about Negril.com and all the wonderful people and all the help and before I can finish he’s laughing at me and tells me you sound as if you know more about Negril than I do and I stop because I feel like I’m talking a mile a minute while viciously whipping my head back and forth trying to catch every sign and I smile .. What? Why are you looking at me like that?? I hit Andre on the arm with the back of my hand, “Andre I’m really here!” “Ya Mon” he says, “You ARE really here but since you know so much can you please tell this man where we are going?”

"Coco La Palm please it’ll be right up here on your left hand side” and I can’t stop smiling.

Andre pays the driver, I stroll into the office, check in easy breezy no problems and off to the room. Big room 2 double beds, the biggest shower I’ve ever seen, small table with 4 chairs, fridge, safe, TV, Air Conditioner, Bingo!

Andre tells me he needs to go buy papers. I’m alone in a big room at Coco La Palm in NEGRIL and I start jumping up and down on the bed, a happy dance just for me, because again I just realized I’m finally here and I say to myself “Once you go, you know” and I can’t help but laugh.