I started my trip report and then lost it to the demons that inhabit my keyboard (translation: I messed up). So instead of trying to recall what I had written, I shall make a valiant attempt at coming up with something even far more interesting and amusing than the original effort. The first effort was no doubt a deeply relevant statement on society`s condition... or not.
It`s 10:00am as I begin to write this and the beach is virtually deserted. This is clear evidence that the economy here has been adversely affected by the bigger picture. Let`s do all that we can to help out those in need, and be generous to those who make their living making us feel welcome and who keep us fed and `hydrated`.
Day 9 - This was a huge day for Bev and I. We did something - actually we did two things. Bev has needs, as we all do. They may be very similar to your needs... Pinot Grigio, and not just any Pinot Grigio. Barefoot Pinot Grigio. Bev also needs cigarettes... Canadian cigarettes. With Power`s help (Not a higher power, Power is one of the drivers at White Sands. If he was taller than me then he would be a higher Power.) we ventured off into the metropolis of Negril.
I have always, always, always loved being in town. For me the Town starts at the traffic circle, on the south, west and north sides. Burger King - not in Town. Bank of Nova Scotia - in town.
First stop, Hi-Lo (like that wouldn`t be on the list of places to look). Jackpot - Barefoot Pinot Grigio. Only 2 bottles of it left. Apparently it is a very popular seller. No Canadian cigarettes though. Next! Stopped at Times Square. Being Sunday most everything was closed. Of course the one shop that was open insisted that we could not get Canadian cigarettes at all, anywhere, so we might as well buy Bev`s smokes (Cdn term) from him. We politely demurred and headed on to stop 3.
Stop 3. Heads up all you Cdn smokers - Shamrock. It's a small convenience store on the morass side of the road about 1.5 - 2 miles east of town. What is significant about that statement is that as a Canadian, we rarely if ever measure distance in units of distance. We measure distance in units of time. Ask how far it is and we`ll tell you how long it takes to get there. You can tell that they have Canadian cigarettes by the two Craven A signs on either side of the door. They also have Rothmans. Last year Bev was also able to get Du Maurier (her brand of choice). Haven`t seen any this year.
So that was our big adventure for the day. Please understand that we have done the things to do (except Rick`s) over the previous 3 years of coming to Negril. They are ALL worthwhile ventures.
But wait - there`s more!! Hold on to your thongs - we went out to dinner and a show. What started out as a quiet walk to Chance`s for pizza became a great but brief evening with a good friend Dawn. Arriving at Chance`s the three of us were unexpectedly treated to some great jazz and impromptu classic reggae by a group named `Kattz` - the name is an homage to the days when the jazz musicians were known as cool cats, when beat poetry, jazz and blues were the staples of the coffee house scene. Taj Mahal, Johnny Hammond, Ramblin`Jack Elliot, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee... and the list goes on (Hmmmm... methinks I`m waxing nostalgic, better get back on track). Suffice it to say, the music was just great, and greatly appreciated. Our eyes were certainly bigger than our stomachs (while mine is quite substantial - hence Big Poppa) when we ordered our pizzas. We ended up brining back what constitutes a whole pizza for the gang at the White Sands Bar, Bistro and All Around Great Place to Be.
It was only about 10 minutes after arriving back at White Sands that I retired to our room for an inhaled night cap. Dreams of beach vendors danced in my head as I drifted off to sleep. It was a late night - must have been almost 9:15pm.
Day 10 - back to normal. Again the beach was vacant in the morning. I guess that`s just the time of year that it is. But I can't help but recall how many more people there were here over the previous two years. Bev had her second of three booked massages. I get quite a kick out of her walking back to her chair on the beach in what is clearly a state that is similar to a drunken stupor. Connie`s massages are a thing of legend around these parts. A full hour+ of the ultimate in relaxation. If you are wanting a massage, we highly recommend Connie. You can find her at the White Sands Bar, Bistro and All Around Great Place to Be.
Some new arrivals today. A combination of regulars and newbies. It was good to chat with faces from the past and exciting to share our past experiences with and answer the questions of some of the newbies. You can tell almost immediately who will be back over and over again.
I don`t know what he does or how he does it - but when Tony gets the bar hopping we get all kinds of beach traffic hanging out. Good to see. The bar was steady from about noon until 5:00pm or so.
Went up to the room around 5:30 or so for a nap before supper. Now you know how I feel about naps. Naps are a privilege that come with age. Unlike wisdom that comes with age, naps do not require any thinking or sharing of profundity. While sleep is a necessary bodily function during which we repair ourselves and readjust our chemistry, a nap is simply a suspension of a current reality to which we will return - after our nap.
My `nap`became sleep. I woke up at 5:30am this morning.
It`s now Day 11. I have a lot of nothing to get done today. Better get at it.
