Trip Report - DAY 6: Last full day in Negril

[Clarity]

That's when we met Maureen and instantly liked her. She was warm, witty and fun to talk to.



Red stripes were cheap and ice cold. We drank a few while enjoying the sunshine that had emerged after the rainstorm. I loved how the bar was right in the middle of everything. It was great for people watching.





Our new Canadian friends from Coco La Palm were there too. We chatted about the adventures we had gone on over the past few days and they talked about what they'd been up to.

“So what are you doing tomorrow?”, They asked us.

“Flying home”

“WHAT?!ALREADY?? You just got here”

I nodded and quickly changed the subject because the thought of leaving caused a lump to form in my throat. I quickly gulped and switched gears.

I glanced at my watch and realized the time was slipping away. We still wanted to walk down the beach to the vendors station and pick up a few more last minute souveniers for my friends before heading over to Xtabi for some snorkeling.

So we said goodbye to everyone and told Maureen that we'd come back for another cold one after Xtabi.

For Real Bar had quickly become my new favorite hang out bar in Negril. It was so chill and I couldn't believe we hadn't checked it out earlier. I wanted to see her again before leaving Jamaica.

We headed down the beach, walking through the water...The soft warm waves lapping against our ankles was so calming.



Our stroll was relaxed now and surprisingly we didn't have anyone approach us to sell anything. It was so different from our first days on the beach when we were staying at the Grand Pineapple. It's always the same rotation of people walking the beach. I realized that after a while, they just get to know you. They just waved and walked on by. It was really nice.

[Clarity]

Back at the hotel, we packed up our snorkel supplies and walked across the street to see Tall man again at “Best in the West”.


“Ready for Xtabi?”, Tall man asked

“Ready!”

We packed into the Taxi and headed up to the cliffs. The weather was perfect and for the first time we could see the view as we headed towards Xtabi.

“Have you been to Ricks Cafe yet?”, Tall man asked during the drive.

“naa”, I said “I heard it was a tourist trap”

“True, but the cliff divers are a must-see on your first trip to Negril. You can't fly home without seeing it!”, He said “I can take you there after Xtabi for sunset viewing if you'd like”

“Okay!”

So when we reached Xtabi we made arrangements for him to pick us up in 2 ½ hours and bring us over to Ricks Cafe.

Xtabi was beautiful. Little hummingbirds darted around through the lush fiolage in the front area. It was so quiet and peaceful up in the cliffs. We walked along the pathway to the front bar and sat down gazing at the view of the water in the distance.

I ordered a Dirty Banana at the Xtabi bar.. It was thick, creamy, strong with chocolate syrup laced around the inside of the glass.



It was hands down the best Dirty Banana I have ever had. I still dream about it...

This was my first experience standing on the cliffs.

[Clarity]

I gazed down at the clear blue churning water below.. It truly looked like a snorkelers paradise.



Markus was already pulling out his snorkel gear and walking quickly down the winding cliff staircase. He had picked up a cheap underwater camera at the CCLP giftshop. He was eager to take his first underwater shots.

“Come on!!”, He said waving me over “This is amazing! Lets get in there!”



Markus has a lot of underwater pictures to share and He can describe the experience better than me because He snorkeled a lot longer than I did

This is due to the fact that 20 minutes of snorkeling off the cliffs... I saw a fish that caused me to rapidly scramble out of the water and tremble. I feel like my fear wasn't entirely irrational. Markus on the other hand was fascinated and thrilled with this encounter. He stayed in the water and continued swimming far out past my comfort zone.



I watched him and then gazed off past the cliffs to the expansive ocean stretching out before me.

Negril, Jamaica has entirely captured our hearts and I knew at that moment that this trip was just the first of many in the upcoming years...

This was only Chapter one.


Our last Sunset - Ricks Cafe