I've got to find my way back, back to summer paradise - Nov 2011 Trip Report

[CherryNorth49]

It is interesting how as we get towards the end of the trip, your minds seem to be turning towards the return voyage. That is very much how it went down on the trip too.

Bnewb, Marley and RockRobster – I don't know whether to hope it was or wasn't Canoe owner Kirby who drove us home that night – I did really want that OJ and I didn't want to walk back to Shamrock's in the rain, but still

Clarity – Thanks for the kind words. The only reason I haven't started packing is because I have been too busy with this trip report! Working on it has been a nice distraction from the countdown. I said to Sunshine this morning that the suitcase was coming out this weekend; his response was that he was surprised it wasn't out already. Regardless, I will still be shuffling things in and out at the last minute.

T&A – I am on your nephew's team on this one, but I am still LMAO! Laughing with him, of course

HoneyBee – there are a lot of sandwich artists in Negril, the temptation was just too great for us. I don't want to make it sound like a free for all though. For any newbies reading, it is worth noting we were almost exclusively enjoying them within the confines of our resort. One doesn't need to attract unwanted attention. Now HoneyBee, get on that trip report.

Lady Jane – they were guys selling juice on the beach, though we were often late to the beach and missed them. I like to enjoy my OJ in bed, so we needed to get it the night before.

Groove – I am beginning to think there are more of us just smiling and nodding our way through their trips than I previously thought. Love the Rum punch knockout story. I am looking forward to returning, meeting more people and maybe, just maybe, understanding something of what is going on!

Mamade – we are in the same boat with the walk this year, but I am sure it is going to be worth it. I think am going to have to find an alternative up on the cliffs though. That is just too far!

2nutz – I imagine you could cut through from the beach at Alfred's. I have no idea how long the walk would be. Our experience with chartering a cab was that making quick stops along the route didn't add to the fare. If you are heading back from the west end, it is east to stop on the way past.

Rina – We will for sure have to connect – I'm sorry that we will be arriving just a bit too late to crash the wedding!

Now, back to Friday in Negril...

[Lady Jane]

YAY, Friday!

[CherryNorth49]

Chapter 11

“It's often just enough to be with someone. I don't need to touch them. Not even talk. A feeling passes between you both. You're not alone.”
― Marilyn Monroe

Friday started with the sun shining, which seemed to be how it went every day. This being our last day, we were determined to be willing victims of the sand gravity. Are you still a victim if you are almost begging for it?

Shamrock's OJ in the room, along with some coffee. Sunshine drank the stuff that came out of our in room coffee maker. I thought it was terrible. Down to the beach for a couple of fruity cocktails. It counts as a good breakfast food if they blend real fruit in, IMHO.

We snacked off the vendors for a bit and then decided it was time to go for a walk down the beach. For you dedicated beach walkers out there, you will probably be appalled by this, but it was our last full day and we had not been more than 50 feet north of Rooms on the beach side. I had read that Niah had some of the best patties on the beach, so we set off walking to find some lunch.

Though we hadn't even left Negril yet, I already knew we would be back and I wanted to see some of the other properties beaches first hand. I understood that the beach had been on the move last year, so there were a couple of spots along the walk that we literally had to take to the water.

We continued along the beach, up past CocoLaPalm. I had my map and knew that I should have seen Niah's already and then the patty man appeared pushing his bike. We grabbed some patties and coco bread from him. Now food in hand, we realised we hadn't quite thought out how to eat this away from our own beach. I had my flip flops in one hand and with a patty and bread in the other it was a bit of a juggling act. Never fear, a friendly fellow at a bar waived us over and for the price of two Red Stripe, we had a table to enjoy our patties. (I know now that it was Dennis from Sun Beach who hooked us up).

There were a couple of resorts I noted. CCLP had a lovely wide, deep beach. Idle Awhile had great shade and wasn't crowded. Charela Inn had nice umbrellas and the lounge chairs looked comfy. Nirvana on the Beach was wide, deep and shady and didn't seem to have much built up on it. Lazy Dayz had a great porch style swing raised above the surf.

We eventually wandered back to Rooms and lazed about like sloths on our loungers or floating in the sea. We chatted back and forth, alternately solving all the world's problems and solving none of them.

We talked about our trip and wondered about how we were every going to describe the whole experience to our friends and family back home. We agreed that it kind of seemed like we had been hazed by Jamaica, but not in an unpleasant way. It felt like we had to earn our stripes before we could claim a piece of Negril for ourselves and that, like most things you have to work hard for, we would value it more in the end. Time away has not altered this perspective.

Sunshine was walking tall. He still had no idea what most anyone was saying to him, but he wasn't bothered by it at all. His spirit was easy and I could see his mind was at rest. He seemed to find some extra pep in his step on that beach, which in all honesty followed him home.

It had been a great trip and I didn't want it to end, but that afternoon there was a part of me that was ready to go home. I was getting tired of everything being new and was ready for a bit of the familiar. I had stretched about as much as I was going to that week and I was getting to the end of my rope. There was a bit of time that afternoon where the risk of my turning into thundershower was high, but Sunshine's enthusiasm was so infectious, it turned out to only be a passing cloud.

[signmon45]

His spirit was easy and I could see his mind was at rest. He seemed to find some extra pep in his step on that beach, which in all honesty followed him home.

There was a bit of time that afternoon where the risk of my turning into thundershower was high, but Sunshine's enthusiasm was so infectious, it turned out to only be a passing cloud.

Really great perspective on your TR.
The writing, to ones heart.

[mn negril fan]

I believe the fruit lady is Jenn and she makes me lift that #### basket also.

[JaJodi]

I have really mixed feelings - I don't want it to end....but I want to read the rest! Sure hope we get to hear about your upcoming November trip when you get back - it's been a fun report!

[Tanfastic]

"Tanfantastic – I am going to think that in my boss' direction for now – that four letter word funds my Negril habit!"

Unfortunately my dad did make me a trust fund baby so that four letter word pays for all our habits as well!

[Lady Jane]

Cherry, I stay at Nirvana, I love it there. We stay 3 weeks

[Lorax2]

Cherry, I'm really loving your T/R and I'm kinda sad it's coming to an end...We still have a while to go 'till our next trip so we depend on these reports to help us through (sounds like some sort of addiction doesn't it ?) so...now finish this one up, finish packing, and get to Negril and on to another adventure so you can write another T/R and feed our appetites and sooth our longing for our favorite place. :-)
~Dave~

[CherryNorth49]

Then it was sunset and it would be our last, for now. It was a heck of a show.

Seriously, could Sunshine look any more relaxed? I just love the light at this time to day. It really was a golden hour.

This shot may look familiar. It seemed like the perfect shot for my avatar; Sunshine caught me at one of my favorite passtimes, sunset.

The colors of the sunset seemed extra vivid that night, so much more red than we had previously seen.

The very last sliver of the sun dropped and just like that, we had shared our last sunset in Negril. I had hoped all trip to catch a green flash, but no luck. Just add that to the list of reason why we have to return.