Mr. X does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

[Mr. X]

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 42 – Idle Awhile
September 8th, 2010 – Wednesday – (Day 5)

It is the hottest part of the day. Let’s get whatever done we need or want to so we can be chilling at the castle when its starts to cool down.

We jump back in car and head towards beach. Probably 5 to 10 minute drive we arrive and pull in Idle Awhile.
Park. Walk in office. Say we would like tour of the property.

Noticed on Greg and Lizardbeth’s (hope you are doing well!) posts.
They seem to really like the place.
Did full tour can only say EXTREMLY IMPRESSED.
Rooms are huge.







Luxurious. Hip. Tropical.

Nice bathroom. Much bigger and nicer than RIU Tropical Bay rooms.


Covered patios are so so so nice.



Sit out here with beautiful view. Open air yet fully covered with lights etc.
wow.


These 2 over 2 are facing beach


Which makes ones to left I guess the garden view. We really liked all.
Unlike my bad photos you can very clearly see the water.
Beautiful.

Mrs. X LOVED the room. Rooms great but really set up for a couple or a couple with small kids. Not really set up for 2 couples because only 1 large open room. Walked the property not many rooms. 14 total rooms.



Large beach. Both depth and width. Me likey this place.


Got a drink from bar at idle awhile


Looked at beach and beach going into Coco La Palm.

Huge beach with very few people selling stuff.

[Manda81]

Those patio areas are gorgeous !

[Mr. X]

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 43 – Coco La Palm
September 8th, 2010 – Wednesday – (Day 5)

Moved the car next door to Coco la Palm.



On the beach. Coco La Palm gets excellent reviews so I want to check it out for myself. Lobby was busy. People checking in and out. Phoning ringing off the hook. We ask for tour of place. Not overly friendly but not rude in any way. Had our 2 Jamaican friends with us. Don’t think it made the slightest difference.

Viewed about 3 rooms. Big place. Showed us the least expensive rooms first.

Because people like it so much I guess I thought it was going to be nicer. I thought little dated. Clean functional. Standard motel. Progressively nicer rooms.

We just were at Idle Awhile next door which has total of 15 rooms vs. lots here at Coco La Palm. The rooms at Idle Awhile were really really nice. At Coco we looked at least expensive room first. She had no interest in looking anymore after that. I am a research got to keep on going.

Have checked in to 4 hotels this trip and all have been 15 rooms or less. Having the time of my life at small hotels. Regular room at Coco La Palm probably half of what cheapest room at Idle Awhile.

I walked the property. Pool is nice. Restaurant area is fine.




In Coco La Palm's defense (like they need it) they were busiest lobby I saw in all of Negril. It was just a big place compared to all the other places I have been staying. I am really appreciating the small boutique hotels. I am 100% cliffs person I realize. Same stunning beach. Beach area huge. Secure. Lots of sun and shade.

I know many people love this place. I would hazard to guess an excellent place to get ur “feet wet” leaving an AI. Couple with kids of any ages. Group of girls. American style owned and operated hotel. Which can be taken as a plus or minus depending on you.

[Mr. X]

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 44 – Canoe
September 8th, 2010 – Wednesday – (Day 5)

First chance to stop into Canoe this trip. Nobody there except bartender and us. Relaxed had a drink.



Old Jewish guy that appears to be a local and looks like he might have had a rough night or rough life. He appears to be a little out of it. He hears us talking and asks where we live?
Atlanta
“Everybody in the South is prejudice against black people”
I grew up in the South and unlike my wife who grew up in New York I have never been to a school that was not fully integrated (black and white)
I did not need to turn on the “Jeffersons” to see strong black women in the 70’s. Most of my school teachers were strong black women.
Only white guy on the basketball team.
I live in the most integrated city in the US
I come to Jamaica (not many black people) on my vacation
I am standing in Canoe (owned by Mr. John Kirby)
With my Jamaican friends who we are having dinner at their home on Thursday. (They both have much better tans than me)
Yup that’s me Mr. Prejudice against black people.
He said not you just everybody else from the South.
Well sure EVERYBODY else.

He was not getting any traction in his that argument he switched over to prejudice against Jewish people.
Well I (not Jewish) grew up in a mostly Jewish neighborhood in the South.
Wifey (not Jewish) was in a Jewish sorority in College.
Cannot count how many Jewish weddings I have been to.
I have Jewish cousins and nieces.
Yup that’s us racist to the core.

Maybe try the Gay tact?
He doesn’t try it but my best man at our wedding is gay for starters …

Truth is I did not say much to him but just ignored him. No upside in having prolonged discussions with idiots. In my past life if someone had started in on me I would have let them have it and been pissed off all day. He does not even get a slight rise out of me. I know he is just an old drunk trying to start sh*t with the wrong person.

Staff at Canoe kind of shoos him on down the street. I really don’t care and actually thought it was funny. Nothing bothering me this week.



Canoe can be very hit or miss as far as how many other people around. Does not matter to me. I got wife and friends and am perfectly happy the way it is. Just wanted a nice place to relax before we continue on today’s journey.

Canoe always works for me. Check out a couple Jamaican newspapers. Mr. and Mrs. Kirby are off today. (9 nights tomorrow. Read online where they knew Roger (our little brother) and they will be closed tomorrow).

[Mr. X]

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 45 – afternoon at BCC
September 8th, 2010 – Wednesday – (Day 5)

Back to Blue Cave Castle about 5pm for sunset. Hottest part of day has passed and a few clouds and breezy.



Feels so good. Play in water. Jump off lower edges.

Easy access to water. Fewer places to jump in but easier to get in and out of water than Catcha. 2 access points plus u can actually swim out from underground cave into ocean so I guess 3.












So I am on my float and I go all directions. Out into the ocean. I know I keep saying this but the water is crystal clear and I am floating in the middle of ocean (my story). I swear it is deep but I can see clearly. Still cannot believe I am floating and the water is deep like 100 feet!!!


Towards the beach and then towards the Samsara.

As I am near the unfinished castle I see a local has made his way out to the edge and is fishing with just a line of string no pole. As I get closer I can tell this person is kind of trying to stay below the radar. As I kick along on my float I say hello.
He kind of gives me that slightly nervous look.
Then I say “Am I almost to the lighthouse?”
Finally his silence is broken and he gets this shocked look on his face and says “it’s a long way from here to the lighthouse”.

I say “really damn I thought I would be there by now”.
“I put in at Green Island this morning I thought I would have reached the lighthouse earlier; do you think I will make Kingston by Dark??”

His eyes get really really big and he does not say a word just stares at me like he is looking at a ghost. I keep kicking and round the corner at Samsara and disappear from his sight. I was going to say something like “What you never seen a crazy white person before?” Damn did not want the guy to have a heart attack on my account.

[Manda81]

hahahahaha

[Seveen]

exceptional trip report
it was nice to sit down and read so much at one time
hey i made an honorable mention in your report - lol
i was holding my breath when you were staying at BBB
i know all the "characters" and they know my son and i
my son talks so much no one bothers us anymore
mark is a nice guy - took a bunch of us to treasure beach in december
glad you enjoyed my spot on the beach
did you meet Angela? i see her car parked out front :-)

[Mr. X]

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 46 – L & M (or M & L) Grocery
September 8th, 2010 – Wednesday – (Day 5)

Wife not feeling so good. Will turn out to be too much pre birthday sun and fun. She mostly just hung out in room and rested. While I floated.
We decided to walk to L and M (or M and L) grocery store which is just down the road to get drinks and snacks.

I am feeling pretty good. I am on vacation in Negril. I am staying in a freaking castle. I am staying in the Penthouse (prepaid) of said Castle. Since hardly anybody else staying at the Blue Cave Castle you could say (my story) I am king of the castle
I am feeling way better than good.
Sh*tty year but I am king of the castle today!
I wonder if people outside the castle know there is a new king?
I am sure word filters out among my kingdom. We walk from the Penthouse down to the gates of my castle. Right before we leave I ask the security guy “How is it out there?”, He looks at me with a serious look and maybe a little worried look “It’s pretty rough out there” I smile and say no worries brother not our first rodeo.

We exit the Blue Cave Castle and kind of stood right outside the closed gates to soak it all in. Well word MUST have reached the people that a new king was at the castle. I notice out of my peripheral vision people coming at me from all directions. Cars are stopping and honking at us. I am just soaking it all in. Love me some Jamaica. Love me some castle. Feeling pretty good about myself right now.

2 minutes pass and I notice that I am involved in 6 separate conversations. Yes me and 6 people except they are all ignoring each other and all are having 1 on 1 conversations with me. Some are in the early stages. Greetings, What’s up? etc.
Others are in more advanced stages. Like weather, sports, weed etc.
1 of the conversations we apparently are in some kind of heated negotiations over what I don’t know. He appears mad that I am driving too hard of a price. Whole time since leaving the castle I have not said 1 word.

I glance over at my wife and she is talking to 3 other people don’t really know what they are talking about but they are waving shinny trinkets at her. Not good.
She is reaching for the bracelets...
I felt like I was in a dream state and then I woke up. I laugh and grab my wife’s hand and start walking to the grocery store.

Obviously new to the action, I was quickly surrounded and a bit overwhelmed despite my foreknowledge that this would likely happen. I ultimately just threw up my hands and walked away from a group of hustlers who made it clear they considered that poor form.

From A Modest Trip Report by jon c (12/17/10)


That pretty well describes it. Lol
I did not care in the least. I remembered the dangerous part of this trip was not these clowns it’s the freeway that I got to cross with wife. Soon as I started moving in my fast walk dragging the wife behind everybody was left in the dust. Easy walk to L & M Grocery except you still had to be extra careful on the road. Pop in store. It’s like a convenience store at home except its small and the aisles are very tight. Lots of stuff I recognize and stuff I don’t. Excellent selection of what I want. Drinks and munchies. Some stuff does not have a price on it. Get a few things including several fresh juices. Trust me if something does not have a price on it I am going to ask what the price is before I buy. This is where quick calculations help.

Get a few things. Wife definitely not feeling well. Walk by No Limit Bar they do not appear open. Maybe they should cover the sign when they are closed. No limit except when we are closed. Slow season.

She sees bracelets and decides she wants to look and get some for her “nieces”. She picks out agrees to dumb price for cheap bracelets. It’s her birthday. What am I going to say. She forgot the part about this is the one time u do want to negotiate hard when it’s cheap stuff that everybody has and you can get everywhere. Anyhow. He can’t make change. Course not. No problem I will wait for my change.

We are walking and she said he was nice. I said yes he was. In fact it was very nice of him to offer to sell me some coke. HE DID NOT! For a fact he did. What did you say? No thanks I am cool. We get back to the castle and guard lets us back in.

Mental note I will have to get some kind of public works program started to improve conditions in my kingdom. Right now I got to deal with the queen who is not feeling good and just wants to go back to bed. Get her situated. Back down 39 steps from the Penthouse to find the Teddy of Teddy’s Hideway Restaurant which is located in the back corner of the Blue Cave Castle.

I ask guard and he said Teddy left for the night. Damn. Off season. Slow ass season. Not like I have not been looking forward to ordering Teddy’s Lobster Thermodore and Famous Mountain Pepper Shrimp. Well actually I have been thinking about it since the day I made reservations at the Blue Cave Castle. I was mentally prepared to order same thing 2 nights in a row. Been thinking about it every day since then. Sure I mean split these 2 entrees with my wife. Lol. So truth be told I have been looking forward to eating with Teddy since a long time. And of course it’s my wife’s birthday dinner.

I get over my personal problems and think about my wife. Well if she is really sick then she would just stay in bed. I am guessing my wife is going to feel better about dinner time. Which means I got zero plan for her birthday dinner.

[countryman]

In Scooby Doo voice..." RUH ROH!"

Loving your report!

[Mr. X]

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 47 – L & M (or M & L) Grocery – part 2
September 8th, 2010 – Wednesday – (Day 5)

No really telling whats going to happen with wife in next 2 hours.


I got some time you see before sunset.

Thanks and praise
You have read stories or seen TV shows where whole groups or communities pull together to help some dumb guy trying to be sweet to his woman on her birthday.


Thanks and praise

I thought about this and how pulling out all stops to replace my perfect plans of eating Teddy’s food while watching the glorious sunset from the Blue Cave Castle for my wife’s birthday dinner.

I could pull every favor and call every number and work some magic and make this the most romantic night ever.

Whatever.
We had the best birthday dinner last night at Catch with our friends.
She is sick and might not even be hungry.
I am wore out from having so much fun since I landed in Jamaica.

Got to correct situation outside castle first. I was daydreaming and not paying attention last time I ventured out. This time I will be prepared. I got my iPod playing with my headset before I go.

Mood music.
Eminem - Lose Yourself
Because that’s how we do it in the US of A.
Damn compared to Detroit outside gates of my castle is like nice suburbs.
Not even counting all Mr. Eminem’s baby mama troubles etc.

Last time I left castle I was the king of the world and came back 15 minutes later scurrying in the gates like the king nobody likes or more importantly respects. Practically tail between my legs

I head for exit of my castle on foot for the second time. When the gate swings open I am moving. A man with a purpose. Got to walk back to store to get a few more things she wants and maybe check to see what might be open and close by that I could bring Queen to eat later.

I am moving up street the second I leave the gates. Sure it’s a little like a supermodel walking by a construction site I get a lot of looks and yelling at. I can’t hear that well anyway. Don’t give a sh*t only thinking about moving vehicles on the Autobahn outside my castle. Few people try to walk with me but a man with pace and purpose quickly drops all but one.

I have 1 escort trying to talk to me. I notice its cut finger guy. Last trip out of castle he keep trying to get us to look at his “doctor’s note” about the cut on his finger. While she was looking at bracelets 1 time I opened the old note that looked like a piece of paper that had been outside for a year or so. Unreadable. I looked at the cut on his finger. I am not a doctor but as a foreigner often called upon for medical advice. Dude u are not going to die from that. Soak it for 20 minutes in warm salty water couple times a day. Don’t have money for salt. Lucky for you ocean is right there for free. Soak it the ocean 2 times a day and quit messing with it.

Yup its cut finger guy again. I say hello as we are walking stride for stride up the street. Normally you might be creeped out by that kind of thing but I am a man with a purpose. I might need some man on the street information about what is going on in my kingdom.

He starts in about his hurt finger. As we are walking he is in the outside position of me so if anybody is going to get hit by flying vehicle it’s him not me. When a car comes I notice his reaction. If he does not react no problem but when a bigger vehicle comes and he starts leaning a little towards me as we are walking I know to lean the other way so we don’t slow down and don’t get run over. Nice to have a bodyguard. Nobody gets a chance to talk to me because we are moving and I got an escort.

We get to store again.

If that finger is really bothering you I will get a machete in this store. When they are new they are really clean. I have had to do this before. We will cut it off right below the knuckle and within say 2 weeks it will stop hurting. Probably.

Should I get a machete while I am in the store I ask him? Now he is a little worried he has invested all this time in me and I am a little crazy or worse not going to give him anything. He says no on the machete but maybe would I get him something in the store. I tell him to wait here we will continue our discussion upon my return.

Pop in store grab few things hit register and ask what my price is.

Walk out with my bag. Sure enough my escort is still there. Probably happy I did not walk out with a machete. He walks me back to castle. I ask a few questions about places open etc. He never mentions his hurt finger again. He always stays in the outside lane walking which is all good with me. I get a better idea of where to walk on each part of the road. Only a couple spots where u got to really watch. 5 minute walk at most and we are back at castle.

I say see u later. My friend looks a little sad. Reach in my bag and give him a Pepsi, a red stripe and all the money I had left which was 100J ($1.20US). Since he had already figured he was getting nothing from me he was a little surprised and was thankful.

I am not big on rewarding bad behavior. In this case I felt I was rewarding good behavior. He escorts me up and down the road. Kept me from getting run over. Answered my questions. Cost me 2 drinks and a dollar. If I gave that to him from the start he would have been disappointed. Since he was planning on getting nothing by the time we got back he was happy.

So trip number 2 outside the castle I would say more even exchange with the people of my kingdom. Start to feel better about things. Wonder if the Queen is feeling better best go find out.


Back up stairs


Look I got rocks in my pool. Yes but there is 20 feet of water on top of those rocks it is so clear hard to see. Besides rocks attract all kinds of pretty fish.



Nice not having neighbors on that side of my castle. Whats up with that big empty property beside me? Maybe I will buy it. Put that on my to do list.