After a romantic day of snorkeling, lounging and enjoying good food, we decided to chill out at our Gemini cottage at Catcha Falling Star....
We were really wired and talking together about everything. It was our last night in Jamaica and We needed to be up early to pick up Jamar at the Blue Cave Castle.
We just couldn't sleep.
“Oh! I know what might help us”, Markus said.
(If this confuses you, you really need to read Rumpolephoreskin and Giurigay's trip reports!)
Afterwards, Instead of sleeping....we decided to explore the grounds of Catcha falling star... We're only going to be in paradise for one more night. We wanted to make the absolute most of it. It was a beautiful warm night with a soft breeze. We walked past Ivans bar, the pool area and the Jacuzzi...
We sat down in a little rocky cove at the very edge of the cliff overlooking the water that was sparking in the moonlight. It was a seductive sight.. the way that light danced on the water, It was utterly mesmerizing and couldn't look away. My body felt light, like I was floating above the sea...away from everything stressful in my life...
Eventually we decided to lay down on the ground...
We were laying there stretched out on the ground feeling the cool flat stones beneath our back. The gentle breeze was caressing our skin and with the whole sky filled with bright stars stretched out before us. It was utterly peaceful and absolutely beautiful. We gazed at the stars while holding hands and listened to the waves crashing on the rocks.
We had left our camera on, so we could record the sounds of the surf until the battery died. I remember Marley saying that she missed the sound of the ocean off the cliffs, how the sound would lull her to sleep.
So here is the sound file we recorded that night for anyone that wants to close their eyes and return to Negril for a while:
Markus knows a lot about astronomy and hasn't had much of an opportunity to stargaze in San Francisco. The nights can be very foggy and the visibility is not that great.
But that night in Negril was perfect. You could see every twinkling star in the galaxy..It was amazing! I've never seen anything like this in my life...
He began pointing out constellations and different planets. I was so fascinated... Everything else fell away.. It was just the two of us and the stars...It was one of the best moments of our trip.
Then we lapsed into a quiet contemplation together. Just drinking it all in with a deep appreciation..
I thought of my brother at that moment. My mother had bought a star and named it after him. We have the official star graph.. .I searched the heavens for that star, wondering which one was his. I never felt more connected to the realization that he's still with me. It was the most peaceful feeling that washed over me.. I was so happy that my brother had urged me to visit Jamaica and that I could take him with me in this way.
This trip and our last trip has been an awesome celebration of his life.
I looked over at Markus and felt such love for him. I was so grateful that he had agreed to go on this journey with me. We cut back on so many things to afford these trips. He never complained about the sacrifices he made. He even put in overtime hours so we could fill up our “iriebox” faster. He's been by my side for nearly ten years, through everything! I'm so lucky...
I hugged him tightly... and we began to kiss
“Ready to go back to the room?”, He asked
I nodded
...And THAT'S when the flip switched...
I stood up and heard the screech, the creepy leathery flapping sound..
A big furry rat-thing with massive wings flapped by my head...way too close for comfort.
I screamed and ducked back down.
“What the hell was that?!?!?!” I whispered in horror.
Markus had ducked down too.. His eyes wide “A bat. I think it was a bat.. Yeah, it definitely was a bat...it flew into that cave down there..”
“What?!?!? A BAT?!” I started hyperventilating. Suddenly that submarine sandwich caused my state to go from complete bliss to absolute paranoid terror!
Another screech and another one flew close overhead dipping down and disappearing behind the wall towards the ocean.
“Oh my god...” I scooched closer to the curve of the stone wall.. hiding into the enclave. “this is not happening.”
“It's okay.. They're not going to attack you. It's fine. It's just a few bats”, Markus laughed. “It's actually pretty cool..”
“It's NOT okay and it's NOT cool”, I whispered
“It's just a...”, He started saying
“Shhh.. they'll hear us”, I whispered
Markus tried to get up and pulled him back down. He started laughing and I covered his mouth.
A horrific vision flashed through my mind.. I imagined standing up and a bat swooping down.. getting caught in my hair, it leathery wings flapping in my face...screeching loudly in my face with it's mouth wide open, sharp little vampire teeth gnashing at my cheeks.. it's little clawed hands strangling me. Markus trying to pry it off my face..
and then me falling backwards over the cliff with the bat still attached to my face and into the deep dark ocean water...
...Right onto a a group of hunting lionfish that would sting me, The venom causing paralysis so all the sharks could easily eat me alive.
Why were we on the edge of a cliff in the middle of the night? What were we thinking? Did anyone even know we were there?? How long would it take for them to find our bodies?
Another bat flew overhead and I hunched myself down lower..
15 minutes passed. Or was it two hours? Who really knows...
“so..”, Markus whispered “um...Are we going to be leaving anytime soon? or will we be sleeping out here on the rocks tonight?”
I just shook my head, absolutely paralyzed with terror.
“You know I think we can make a run for it”, He suggested. “I bet they're all gone by now”
“No.. I can still hear them”
And I could! A whole lot of them in the distance. I was convinced that they were waiting for us out there...planning their attack,,,
After a little while, I decided that Markus was right. It would be safer to make a run for it. If we stayed here any longer, they would certainly find us.
“Okay, are you ready?”, I asked Markus. “1...2...3.. GO!”
I broke into a run, ducked down and clambering up the cliff steps at full speed. I just kept running! We ran all the way to the Gemini cottage.
Once we reached our cottage and whispered “The key!!! The Key!!! Where's the key?!?!”
Markus fumbled with the key, trying to get it into the lock.
“Hurry up... Hurry up!!” I hissed , looking over my shoulder...
He finally swung open the door, we both tumbled inside breathless...I closed the door as fast as possible and leaned my weight against it.
We both stared at eachother.
“Do you think the bats are congregating in hoards outside our cabin?”, I asked “Are they going to start busting in the windows and doors like the zombies in Michael Jackson's Thriller??”
(silence)
“No more submarine sandwiches for you.”, Markus said. Then he burst out laughing.
At that point it dawned on me that my fear might have been a LITTLE irrational. we both collapsed onto the bed laughing. I laughed until my sides ached. Despite the temporary terror, It was a really an amazing day. A day I will never forget.
But folks, If you wander along the cliffs at 2 AM, you just might encounter a few bats.
Just a heads up on that.
To be continued...
Jamar is up next with his Trip report on his stay at Blue Cave Castle and day excursion to Little Bay
Originally Posted by Marblehead
Love the sandwich, it looks so tasty!
