Jsteil Trip Report Jun 7th -15th 2013

[jsteil]

Hello, I've been on the forum for a few months now and wanted to share my trip so far.

I've been to Jamaica three times now in the last 5 years. The first was at Sandals Grande in Ocho Rios. The second time was in the West End at Banana's Garden and this time we are at the same place.

Friday

After 5 years of asking I told my parents at Christmas we already purchased plane tickets and they are coming with us this time. Fast forward to June 6th. My parents arrive at 11pm at my house for a 5am flight on June 7th. We have about six hours of flying and a 3 hour layover in Atlanta. The first flight to Atlanta was on time and great. The second plane from Atlanta to Montego Bay was fantastic. The captain of the plane set the mood with Jamaican phrases and asked if it was the first time for anyone to which half the plane raised there hand.

We landed in Montego Bay and it took us about 45 minutes to get through customs. I brought the food processor for St. Anthonys and put it down as a donation, so they flagged my wife and I to station 1 to look through our things before saying thank you for thinking of Jamaica have a good vacation.

Contacted Robert to let him know we were being checked, so it would be a little bit, but he waited nicely out front of the airport for us. Robert was filling in for Kingsley because Kingsley was out of town. Robert took us to Negril and we stopped off at Hilo for some preparations. My father quickly filled up a cart full of Red Stripe and then found out they had cases. The young man went and got him two cases for the week. Mother got some coffee, rum, and food for lunches. I stocked up on the sour sop juice. Now on our way to Banana's Garden to off load. We were greeted with hugs and fist bumps coming into the West End.

Unpacked our suitcases and thought about going down to 3 Dives, but my parents just wanted to walk to LTU for some pumpkin soup and fish.

Saturday

Ate Breakfast at the gardens and then headed to the beach. Picked up a taxi for $10 to take all 4 of us to Margaritaville since that's were my parents wanted to start first. My wife and I put down our stuff and my parents walk the beach. I spend about 5 hours in the ocean and my wife reads while sun bathing. Parents come back and tell us that Negril is fantastic and tell us about places they might want to eat at (Alfreds, Chances, Fun Holiday, etc). I told my parents that we are going to Seastar, so we will eat something lite.

It rained three times while on the beach, but it didn't phase us one bit and we just waited 10 minutes and it was over. Everything dry again and back in the ocean. At about 6pm we walk the beach toward town and my parents point out all the places the looked over. Talked with a nice gentleman named James who drove a licensed taxi and offered to take us home for 10$. James washed our feet with bottled water and took us back home.

We come home eat a sandwich, swim in the pool, take a nap and head down to Seastar when the music starts. As we are walking we come across a fellow named Dilbert who has a friendly conversation with us about fruit and the lighthouse on the way to Seastar. We make it to Seastar and CaptainD I believe got up on stage and gave a speech. After the speech the drummers came on and then back to live music while enjoying the food.

Sunday

Got up and ate breakfast, swam in the pool, got out to dry off because we were doing the One Love Pub Crawl. Waited outside the gate for the 2pm pickup and waited about an hour and a half before making some phone calls to see what was up. Chatted with a few people who walked by from our past trip to Negril and caught up. Gave up on the bus and walked down to Ahhh Bees for the best hamburgers I've ever had.

Monday

After banana pancakes for breakfast we swam in the pool until noon and headed to Chances Pizza. Called up Niah who hangs out at LTU to take us to Chances. Ordered some drinks, but they didn't have everything to make dirty banana's, so we went with Jamaican rum punches. My mom wanted to take a picture at a palm tree the entire trip and Chances had some small palm trees that meet the need. The Pizza at Chances is very good. Ordered the Jerk Chicken, onions and escallions pizza. Stayed on the beach until 6pm and headed back to the west end. My dad wanted something to eat, so we called up someone we knew who was at Debar, but Eddie wasn't cooking yet. Tried a new jerk stand across from Ricks where the buses park, but wouldn't recommend it. Tomorrow is another beach day and then an early day at St. Anthony's.

Tuesday
Pretty much did the same thing as the previous day. Ate breakfast, took a nap in the hammock, swam in the pool, then went to the beach. Went to Idle Awhile because we were told they have really good dirty bananas. My wife and mother said the dirty bananas were great. My dad on the other hand kept ordering the casadias because the paddie man wasn't on the beach. Headed back to the west end to get dressed because we were going to Eddie Debar's. My father got a taste of good jerk at Eddies. Pam, Eddies wife was in town, so we got to talk with her about things we were doing. Nicole, who owns Bananas Garden was at eddies also, so we all had a good time.