Mr. X does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

[Mr. X]

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 8 – My First Trip to Negril

I had visited Ocho Rios (70's) from a cruise ship and later stayed for 1 week with the parents in Ocho Rios (80's). So it's the early (90's) I guess. Now this was my first trip where I am paying. Girlfriend at time wanted to go on vacation so I said we have to go to Jamaica. Talked to travel agent etc. Ocho Rios was the only place I knew besides MoBay. Came up with Sandals. Funny how travel agents always put you into an AI. Sandals at the time big advertising was stay at one Sandals and play at any of the other Sandals. I guess they were doing this to show they were a big chain etc. Anyhow so we split the 8 days over Ocho Rios and some place with supposedly the best beaches called Negril.

It was a nice luxury resort at Sandals Dunn River Falls. High rise building. Enormous pool. Beach small and just ok at best. Dress up for dinner etc. had fun but was really looking forward to seeing something new in Jamaica.

So on the appointed day we are supposed to catch the Sandals shuttle bus to Negril at 9am. We are up packed and ready. Looks like it’s going to be a long ride so we load up our drink things with a strong cocktail to at least last until the airport.

Way it works is a lot of hurry up and wait. Stopped and picked up people at this Sandals and other Sandals who were on the way to the airport. We enjoyed view but still spent about 2 hours getting to airport. Once at airport we wait another hour for new people at the airport to load up. Drop them at Sandals in MoBay. Drive 30 minutes and then stop at their approved stop. Where it’s clean and safe and expensive for beer or food. Of course we want to get to Negril. Finally about 330pm we are pulling in the Sandals Negril. Then got to get off big bus and wait to check in with everyone else. 30 minutes later we get to our room. We had a view in Dunn River because it was a high rise. Less expensive rooms face away from water. I liked inland view.

In Negril we have the least expensive room which is still pretty expensive. No patio no view but we knew that and not a big deal. Put all stuff in room. I get my groove on. She wants to unpack. Of course tons of outfits she does not want to get wrinkled I guess. No problem I am going to beach. I hit beach and then go to right - away from all the people. At the time it took about 1 second to realize the beach in Negril is way way way better than Ocho Rios. Natural beach verse man-made beach. I get situated with my towel, frozen drink and try to relax after long travel day. Beautiful property, beautiful beach and beautiful water. This Negril place is pretty cool.

They always say out west in USA is Big Sky Country. Felt like Negril was really Big Sky Country. Could see so far with nothing but beautiful sky and water. Chillin. Finally starting to relax. Way in the distance I can see a tiny little plane flying. Cool because the sky is so big and vast that I can follow this plane. Appears to be headed this way. Wow flying really slow because it seems to be taking forever to come this way. Chugging along not too high above the water and appears to be heading directly towards me. Too funny. Couple more minutes and the plane is slowly coming at me and is still what looks like 20 feet above the water. Truth is I have been drinking on the long ride here but I am not tripping the plane is coming directly at me. Nobody else within 100 yards of me. Nobody else even close enough to notice plane. I am laughing to myself that I just got here and now a freaking plane is going to crash into me on a deserted beach.

Now I don’t want to look like an idiot and move from my lounger because a plane is near me on the other hand I don’t want to be so cool that I let a plane crash into me if I can move a few feet to the left or right and save my life. Closer. Closer. Damn that plane is going 100% directly at me and only 20 feet (?) above the water. It’s going really slow but I sit up in the chair just in case. I fight the urge to move and the small plane passed directly over my head. Of course it was probably higher but seemed like 20 feet. Anyhow I stood up dumbfounded and turned to watch the plane crash into the marsh or whatever is on the other side of the road. I don’t hear anything. No crash. No sound. No nothing. Just quiet. WTF?

Girlie finally gets done unpacking and makes her appearance at beach. I tell the story of the plane and it must have crashed or something over there. She has no interest in the mystery plane (crash or no crash) just wants to know if her hair looks good.

I got other things to worry about instead of that plane. We sit on beach and see our first Negril sunset. That did it. Relationship with her did not last but the relationship with Negril sure has.

Was not till a couple of days later when I went parasailing that I noticed the small airport and runway across the street. No wonder, I knew I was not (that) crazy.