Trip Report - Bringing family and friends to Jamaica!

[Kiknback]

The final morning for the big crowd, everyone is up and at the beach for a last swim. It was just so nice to see everyone out and in the water enjoying themselves. My in-laws have a beach house in Ocean City, MD. We visit every summer. In 15 years, I can count the times my mother-in-law actually dragged herself away from housework to go enjoy the beach on one hand. I have never once seen either one ever actually make it into the water. It was fantastic to see them actually enjoy a vacation, have no responsibilities, and swim in the calm, warm waters. This made the trip worth it in itself, but combined with all of the other fun times, a great trip. Even my dad, who is not a beach person and generally just stayed in the Villa, seemed happy to have made the trip.

We say our goodbyes, and load up everyone in the van to the airport. We have them take a quick detour to take my wife and I to Red Dragon for lunch, giving us one more opportunity to horrify our parents. "you're going HERE??? How the hell did you find THIS place???" Anyway, they drop us off and , after one last chorus of "Happy Birthday" to my wife, made their way to the airport and home safely by evening. Having completed our mission to get the the parents to Jamaica and back safely, we were ready for a beer, and there is no place in Negril I'd rather have a beer at than Red Dragon. They claim to have the coldest Red Stripes in town, and I believe them. Every beer I have ever had there has been covered in icicles. Not to mention the pork. Oh, the pork. This is the food I had been dreaming of for the past year. Well, until earlier in the week. I think we made it here for lunch 3 times during the trip. But, oh, Red Dragon pork is probably my favorite food in the world. In fact, I have decided that if I am somehow ever on death row, this would be my last meal. First I would eat the delicious pork. Then, when the time comes, I would eat one of the scotch-bonnet peppers. At that point, I would be begging to die. Perfect!

So after a few Red Stripes, it was back for a little beach time. The family was back home, but we still had a group of friends with us. For dinner, several of us had heard good things about Sweet Spice, so we decided to taxi there for dinner. Nice, friendly place, everyone enjoyed the food. A little strange in that they did not serve any alcohol. However, a local is right outside with a cooler of Red Stripes, and they are fine with you going outside to get drinks and bringing them back. Worked out just fine. We enjoyed it, I would go back. After dinner, back to White Sands to see Tony at the bar. When the crowd was good and lubricated, the metalhead of the group persuaded Tony to let him take over the music, and next thing you know, the sounds of Social Distortion were rocking the beach. When the dancing started to "Ring of Fire"and people started getting on the bar, it was one of those unique memorable experiences. Another fun night in Negril.

Tuesday is another "standard" day in Negril: Day spent relaxing on the beach, evening spent bar hopping. Two more were leaving the following day, so we had to take them out to some of our favorite places. First stop, the Police Station. Yes, the actual Negril Police Station. They have a bar there. One of those places you go to just to say you were there. And nice to visit there on good terms. We get a drink, take some pictures, chat with the bartender a bit, and on our way. Next, a stop to visit Connie/Dawn at 10 Square Feet. Always a good time there. In addition, with our friends having only tried Best in the West chicken (which I believe is over-rated), I had to let them sample my favorite Jerk in Negril, which I had only recently discovered. Tayon is Connie/Dawn's brother, and he has a restaurant on the other side of Jenny's. Best Jerk Chicken in Negril. We got a quarter each to go and relaxed outside of C&D, eating good food, listening to good music. One more stop, we head to Red Dragon to finish the mini bar crawl. I had never been outside of lunchtime, but still a fun place. We stayed for a round or so, and headed back to White Sands. We get back, and the bar is already closed. Alfred's it is! Several of the group head to bed, so in the end it is just three of us. Me and two hot blondes. Life is good. Anyways, had a great time as I usually do at Alfred's. The goal for most nights is to make it out here, but rarely does it actually happen. But its always fun when we do. We have a great time, close out the bar, and our friend got to meet a nice Norwegian guy. Too bad it was her last night or we may have had a love connection.