Name: Negril 2012 003.jpg Views: 1010 Size: 88.8 KBJamaica first impressions (this is a bit of a recap and expansion of the above)

My landing and trip through customs was uneventful but took about an hour. I set about to find the restaurant that I saw online, in the Sangster Airport. I had told my friend that I was traveling with, whom found a flight arriving an hour after mine, that I would meet him in the Bobsled restaurant. (Hah, I know some of you are already laughing.) I couldn’t find it. I found the Groovy Grouper by wading through a gauntlet of taxi drivers.

After approaching the bar for my first reach red stripe I was greeted by a driver who not only arranged a table for me, but also joined me and offered his many services. One of these was if I wanted ganja. I’d heard that this was a bad place (the airport) for this, so I politely declined, but also wrote him off as a possible narco-man. He had so thoroughly latched onto me (in his mind) that I was his fare, even though I’d pointed out I had other transport arranged, that I had to wander back into the lobby to lose him.

I was planning to use and had reserved a spot on a Juta bus. I asked the girl at their desk about the Bobsled place and was informed it was down in the middle of Mobay. She directed me to the bus side of the arrival area and I found the mini Jimmy Buffett place. I ordered a rum drink and just took it all in. I loved the view of the hill with all the homes hanging on it across from the airport. I had a hearty laugh as a trio of lovely Midwestern women ordered from the bar and just said to the bartender to “just fix us up with a rum drink” – boyo did they get that and some. Seven different rums, a shot of juice and $18 bucks later walla, welcome to Jamaica!

My friend and I connected after he couldn’t find the Bobsled either. (Imagine that!) He managed to get through customs much quicker. Then out to a van for the ride to Negril. We were teamed up with a couple of other parties and then we rolled.

The drive was so wonderful. So much to see, goats, goats, camels, boats and did I mention goats! We were driving through just after school let out so we saw all the different uniforms of the town schools. It was amazing. All those kids in colorful uniforms just standing by the road with everyone whizzing by inches from them and they are so nonplused about it all.

The views from the hills are amazing. The trip was a visual cornucopia of trees, flowers, bright buildings, rusting shacks, smiling people and friendly honking. The bus driver had different honks for different people on the road. Loved the ride. We dropped peeps at a two RUIs and then rolled on into Negril proper. Had a quick stop for Red Stripe and Dragon Stout at the Hi Lo and then onto Xtabi.

We arrived in light misty rain. It felt refreshing. I met the ever lovely Natasha working at the front desk. She is the one I corresponded with as I set up my trip. Not only was she nice - she is hot!
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Paul at the hotel set us up with a cooler for the beer and some ice. We kicked our feet up for sunset numero uno! The sky was steel gray and yet the sun pierced it for us. So relaxing to know that the next nine wakes would be in this fresh!

The Dragon Stouts were wonderful and the Stripes much fresher than in the states. We wandered over to 3 Dives for jerk chicken. That was some killer food right there. More beer. Yet more beer and then to bed. Those who spoke of the fans in the cliff side rooms at Xtabi were right. B 52 prop wash! No mossies though. Eventually it cooled enough to turn it off and then I could hear the water pounding the rocks and caves of Xtabi’s cliffs. No sleep sweeter. No air better.

The sheer drapes caught the wafts of sea breeze and through the cabin on the cliff it blew. I woke to cool refreshing salt air feeding my need for oxygenation. A couple of sighs, a couple of snores and off to dreams of discovery, dreams of rum to come, dreams of people to engage in word play and laughter. Ah to be in Jamaica is so far a very good thing indeed. Did I mention goats?