Sunrise ... Sunset. Is there any place better that I could get? Trip Report

[bjritz]

Beep, beep! Swoosh, swoosh. Beep, beep, beep! Swoosh, swoosh.

The last flickers of a great night’s sleep are slowly peeled away by the cars announcing themselves as they round the Xtabi blind corner. These unfamiliar sounds are followed by soothing splashes of waves gently against the cliff walls waking me. Song birds call to each other, “ya mons” drift into my vacated brain. Ah, the now familiar deep breath of sea air inflates my chest. The salty oxygen my being engages in a fresh morning in Negril. Waking slowly, letting light in very gradually, my eyes adjust to the rustic layout of my bungalow.



I ramble down to the covered deck at Xtabi for a welcome cup of joe. No need to ask, Omar, hands it to me, “Cream, mon? Ya mon, all good mon.” Settling into a morning ritual of gazing and sipping, I find the rest, the peace, has worked on me a bit more this third dawn. I settle in, no paper, no phone, no laptop just all good mon. Alla dees tings no matta now, not a likkle bit, no mon. I let my eyes wander out to the fishermen plucking traps, their entourage of pelicans swooping for tidbits. Some fishermen toss the pieces up for diving midair masters. Eventually the fishermen are gone, but along comes Famous Vincent, a wave today, but no takers here, he rumbles on up the cliffs and returns shortly having caught his own charges for the morning along the way.



Once my breakfast is over, my peace and piece of morning light is complete. Next up back into the sea, what has changed since yesterday? What creatures did I miss that will greet my morning swim. Clopping down the cave steps, these are wet, I’m not first today. Other guests have had their morning dip before me. Out into the blue, the perfect blue I go, looking, and learning, like a kid delighted at every turn. Today the effervescence of the wave caused bubbles breaking and fizzing around me catch my eye. My wee friends, the little silver slips are moving through the bubbles like the oxygenation is somehow better in that action of water and air pressed together for a dance. Floating, bobbing, fluttering around this majesty is nearly overwhelming. What a great morning!



The octopus is on the sand bed today. He hurls along in some hurry looking like a rock trying to find a place to hide. Eight writhing arms furling the sand into puffs of sea “dust” leaving a little track of his progress. The flounders scuttle eyes always to the sky and slip into the sand to disappear before me. The lion fish are out flashing those wide feathery fins in all their poisonous glory. As I pass overhead they scurry under rocks to hide as though they fear me! The old four cylinder motor block is still anchored to the sea floor. The fisherman’s boot is upright today, moving as though it would walk away if it just could find the other one. Clarity’s nemesis out in force clinging to each and every rock, black beauties these and one has caught a fish. It is impaled and held for many a nibbler to partake of this unexpected treat. Then back to the wee beach, up the stairs to the spray of the get the salt off shower. What’s next, I have no idea. I don’t care. I’m on vacation my mind has been cleared for take off.