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

[bjritz]

Queenie and four other people (two not in the picture) were hanging inside the lounge area. These two women, whose names I’ve unfortunately forgotten, were a couple of expats that had been in Negril for many years. They were so fun. We talked and laughed so much that evening. I was glad that Queenie met these two as they seemed interested in her success in her move to town. The vibe that evening was just awesome.



Talked briefly with Rob, he was quite busy with the webcast and seemed to be just having a ball. What a job, work, life he has going. One truly amazing guy.

Queenie and I rambled back up the cliff road and found that the Fi Wi bar was open. I had walked by it so many times and laughed at the misspelling of WiFi. Duh? Me the guy who knows nothing about Negril. Well, I asked the lovely barkeep what was with the name Fi Wi. (I said it fy wy) She laughed with that infectious smile and said ‘Fee Wee, Mon, all us together, all together, Fi Wi.’ Okay, I have it now, loved that little place. She said she and her family owned many small bars throughout Negril.



Like I said Queenie knew everybody. We’d walk a few feet and meet someone new. We had lots of great conversations. One was with a family that invited us into their backyard, somewhere along past Ciao. We hung out while one guy carved a little cup from a calabash fruit shell. He gave it to Queenie. Really cool. This family has lived in that home since 1955 and watched it all come up around them. Salt of the earth, these, we also noticed this little pile of puppies they had, so cute.

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After all the walking we were both beat and said our goodbyes. Queenie headed back up to Bella Donna’s and me into the Xtabie bar. We had a new batch of ‘yardies’ as the rooms had turned again. Many pleasant peeps to get to know. They had their ‘just arrived’ vibe on, lots of excitement, lots of plans, lots of loudness and hearty drinking. I was so much mellower after the many days of unwinding. The work of the Caribbean Sea, the salt air, the dirty bananas had been done. My watch spring was unwound. How absolutely refreshing this was to discover.

I was done for the day, no more need for anything but a great night’s sleep to prepare me for my last full day in Negril. I loved showering off the day in the outdoor stall overlooking the road. Flopped out on the bed, fan blasting, and quickly fell into the deep peaceful place of a totally vacated mind.

The cold woke me; I groped for the fan switch, off, ya mon, all good. The surf enveloped me again; the breeze wrapped my shoulders and eased me into the calm of the Caribbean Sea. I drift upon it, just off the cave beach, looking up into a starry night sky. I hope the lion fish and morays are asleep, I hope the tide is coming in, not out, but mostly I hope I’m on my bed not really out in the cove.