OK...here we go. Our #17 Negril trip, and report. As you may recall this is a re-scheduled trip from January. Plus, to try to book rooms last minute in early Feb. is hard. Bear with me, as my typing skills are limited. Sunday Feb. 13 head to Minneapolis {4 hour drive} and stay at a park & stay hotel [the one with the Outback steakhouse} get acclimated with a nice meal... coconut shrimp & steak. Monday Feb. 13 fly out at at 9:10 am from MSP. No de-icing of the plane! Freaky nice weather we've been having in Minnesota. We sat next to a young newly-wed couple, on their honeymoon. They are staying at Couples Swept Away. I gave them some advise etc. like "since you're staying at an AI, you might as well try a Flaming Marley". And I gave them Lenbert's phone number. We arrive in Mobay airport on time, and we tried Club Mobay. Good thing as the airport was crazy busy. So, rum punches, cold Red Stripes & snacks! Then out to the taxi's and find Clive's Transportation waiting for us [and Red Stripes}. It was just the four of us in the van. A couple from {guess where?} Canada. were with us. We always enjoy the trip to Negril, and drop the Canadian peeps off at Sun Quest. Our first resort is Merrills 2. {This is a small AI} Check in was good, and just drop the bags off in the room, and head to the bar, and check out the property. It is nice and tucked in between Merrils 2 and Merrils 3 is Yellow Bird, where those tasty Dirty Bananas are! Then we have supper, with salads, fish, beef, mashed potatoes, desserts etc. Very good! Long day, then off to bed.
TUESDAY FEB. 14. Up at 6:00 am! What the heck? Too anxious maybe? As soon as coffee was ready, I had a few cups. Deb finally came down for breakfast. We ate with Ernie. No Skip sightings yet. Breakfast is pretty darn good there. Then Ernie took off, and we went over to Travellers for the Kids Culture day. Lots of school children doing acting, singing, dancing etc. Good time. We bought a brick for $10 for the newly planned library. We got to paint our names on the brick. Spent quite a bit of time there. Then walked the beach checking tings out mon' {starting to get into my JA groove} Then dinner at Merrils. Great meal. Rested for a bit, then started in on the Dirty bananas, & Red Stripes. It is Valentines Day today. Beres Hammond is at Woodstock tonight. We didn't go. Not too familiar with Beres, and it was $50. We splurged and had lobster for supper. WOW! That was good. We went to bed at 9:00 pm, and there was the LOUD music til 2:30 coming from some where. Not complaining.
WED. FEB. 15 : Up early, had a great breakfast again. Fruits, callalou, omelets, porridge, juices, etc. Then for a long beach walk to deliver cartons of smokes for somebody {no name} we bought at duty free in Mpls. airport. Ran into Joe Isaacks at Boat bar, plus Jeff from Kentucky, and some friends at Sun Beach from {guess where} Canada! Still haven't run into Skip. We are going to go swimming in the ocean today, as the water looks very inviting. Start walking back to our resort to have lunch. {Don't want to miss out....this farm-boy from Minnesota} Been talking to a few other guests, and we find out there are very few folks who speak English here. I'm guessing Italy? French? French Canadian? Total "deer in the headlights" look when you say "Hows it goin'?". Lunch was fantastic. Very tasty. Good variety. Find out the chef there is from Italy. So there is quite a few pasta dishes. Delicious. We just hung-out there for awhile, and walked back down to The Boat Bar for the afternoon music. The sound system is vastly improved. Just a lickle loud at times though. Pinky Dread was great on vocals, and Frank as always great on trumpet. Nice crowd. After a while we left, and walked back down the beach. Stopped at Sunnyside to say Hi to Maureen & Robert, plus gulp down a few Red Stripes. They have a new sign in front. Looks good. We kept walking, Drifter's had music, we didn't stop. Waved at Big John Cold beer guy. Took our time, and geez, it's almost time for supper! Need I say??? Yeah I will. It was great. Merrils had a one man band playing Bob Marley songs. We go to our room, as guess what? The music at Drifter's is loud and clear from our balcony. Almost like being there. Then for these "old folks" it's time for bed. 9:00......there, am I doing ok with the trip report? It's 8:35 Minnesota time, and getting sleepy. To be continued.....Yamon'