Back at the hotel we head up to the room for the last time. We pack trying to account for the need to grab extra layers of clothing before we grab the shuttle to our car tonight. We’re supposed to meet Coolbook and HH for an Academy Award Short Film Festival after party in Detroit tonight so we’re trying to figure out how we’ll look decent as well as semi-warm. Even with those concerns significantly less effort goes into stuffing the bags than did just over a week ago. Toss it, smush it, close it.
We haul the bags down to reception and say our farewells to Charlie and the staff and make sure everyone who has been a part of our wonderful week gets a little something. We head down to the cliffs for the last time and take a moment to soak it in. What a beautiful place, what lovely people, what a great week.
As we come up to the hotel Chris is there waiting. We load up and are on our way. The ride down our daily walk brings conflicting emotions of so many pleasant memories and disheartening pangs of departure. Chris is such a good nature guy, though, that you can’t be down for too long. He has us talking about our trip and future plans in no time. We are talking about the amazing colors in Negril and the great paint jobs so many places do on their buildings.”I want you to tell me what you think of these buildings coming up,” says Chris. We have fun disparaging the color schemes of the RIU’s, we’re going to see if we can find a more abhorrent color on any building between here and Mo Bay. We don’t.
“We haven’t had a Jelli Coconut all week,” I say, “If you see any on the way can we stop?” “I know a place,” says Chris. Somewhere around Orange Bay or Green Island we see lights being strung up between a few roadside bars and a number of people busy pulling things together. “Gonna be a Jump Up here tonight?” I ask Chris. “Yah, mon, you know it!” “Gonna be the place to be tonight, eh?” “Yah, mon, exactly!” Sweetie Pie doesn’t know what a Jump Up is. I explain that it’s a big street party mostly attended by locals but it wouldn’t be unusual to see a few tourists there. “It’s a real Jamaican party,” I say. “That’s what we need to do next time!” says Sweetie Pie. “Yah, mon, there’s one just about every week someplace,” says Chris, “I know where they’ll be, I can take you next time.” Hook up!!
