Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations
Chapter 36 (cont) – Afternoon at Catcha
September 7th, 2010 – Tuesday – (Day 4)
Leave big building and walk along rock pathways with beautiful landscaping and flowers all around you.
Have visited Catcha earlier in the week and came for dinner here last year. Have not stayed at Catcha in about 15 years. Water and cliffs look exactly the same. Catcha is way different. Before no restaurant, bar, and no pool.
The property along water is made up of 2 coves. 1st one is shared with Ricks (quiet side) on far side, Banana Shout in middle and Catcha on the right. This part of Catcha is a sheer rock wall down to the water for about 25 feet or so. A short rock wall runs in front at cliffs edge from the front left of property where it meets wall between Catcha and Banana Shout. This is basically directly in front of the big building.
Top middle.
Mostly for hanging out and viewing. You can jump off anywhere along that wall except in 1 or 2 places where the rocks are visible below in the clear water. It’s a little high for me for jumping. You can see and hear the ocean crashing against the rock wall. Great viewing. The wall turns and goes directly out into the water for 50 feet and it runs right beside the Sagittarius cottage and on the other side of the cottage is part of the open seating for Ivans Restaurant and Bar.
Pop in Ivans bar which is a roofed hut type. Always relaxing at Ivans. They ask what room we are staying in on ur first visit to the bar. I tell them normal answer Aquarius but you can put our bar bill on anybody's tab u want. They write out longhand all u order per shift. I never pay when I order. Pretty nice. Don’t have to worry about having money with me.
Everybody is nice. Not many people here at all. Practically have run of the place. Drinks. Drinks
From in front of Ivans the cliff curves around for a nice size area and then does a tight U shape which makes for Catcha’s private cove. From in front of Ivans all the way to far edge of property the cliff is cut up with stairs going up and down.
Nooks and Cranies everywhere. Rock wall and edges go up and down. You could jump off the cliffs in 100’s of spots from as low as 2 feet high all the way up to about 25 feet. The water is clear and deep. About 5 spots u can see big bolders so u know not to jump there.
Cliff jumpers dream place. I sometime like to add a little running to my cliff jumping. Several places no wall so u can just run off edge.
Lots of easy ones in the 10 ft range that are fun for me.
Big difference is the current Catcha has all these nooks and crannys filled in with nice padded loungers. Many have thachet roofs and umbrellas. So u can always get in the shade.
Ladder getting back out not so easy. You don’t want to touch the rock edge period. Fornately the rock edges mostly go straight down and the water is crystal clear. Its easy to stay away from the edges except when u want to get out. Then you got to go in close. Like landing a jet on an aircraft carrier (guessing). Done right looks routine and easy. Done wrong ouch!
Water is always going in or out so you situate yourself in the right direction and the water floats you over and you grab on with ur arms and then pull feet over to ladder wait for surge to go by and then it just like climbing a sturdy ladder. Slight problem you have been floating in ocean you feel very light and as soon as the water goes by you start climbing and thinking how heavy and/or weak you are. The ladder is rusty. Every ladder I have ever climbed out of ocean in Negril is rusty. This ladder is solid and steps are evenly spaced. Its heavy duty. Anchored into the rock. Once you get the hang of it, it’s a piece of cake. I see people ouch a little first time and shy away.
Get a Huckleberry Finn/Tom Sawyer feeling. Love jumping off cliffs into water. Does not have to be scary or dangerous. Lots of places to jump at any height. Get a thrill without hurting urself. Best part for me since nobody is around you don’t have to worry about people looking at you. Around 2 corners from here at Ricks hundreds of people watching the jumpers. My private cove its mostly just us. Don’t have to be cool (or graceful).
Thanks and Praise.
Got lots of sun in 2 hours.
Forgot about staying out of sun when its still hot.
Some people may have gotten too much.
