If you love Jamaica let me see your hand - A Trip Report

[jojo p]

That shot with the two Red Stripes with the lights in the background.... best Christmas card ever!!!! Didn't you
love CoCo. Fun report.

[murph]

Awesome report! Such perfect timing... cant wait for my first stay at CoCo!!!

[nutz4travel]

Very interesting. I someday want to get to the other side of the island to do the Mystic Waters thing for just that experience. I love the concept of the water literally lighting up around you. Do you know how far out into the water they had to go? I stick my feet in the water at night, but getting any further in than that kind of freaks me out!

I think they just went in about waist deep, too much for me at night

Don't forget to print your itinerary this time LOL What can I say, I'm a paper girl, always print copies of everything... Old habits I guess

[Seveen]

here's a link to glistening waters you can swim or boat --- and don't go when there's a full moon

i would plan it in as a part of a longer trip to that side of the island --- maybe hit up Ocho Rios and 9-mile and spend a couple of nights

not sure it's worth the trip from negril for the night

http://www.glisteningwaters.com/

[jcjcnj]

Loved your report and photos. What a nice trip. We don't have our trip booked but your report reminds me we have to get to it! We will be bringing our grown family with us this year so we have to wait until June. Man, the winter will be a long strange trip, indeed, here in Jersey without a trip to Negril.

[DConkle]

Loved looking forward to you report these last several days! And the pics too! Also look forward to the report from your upcoming trip!

[Lady Jane]

Oh I so enjoyed this report Cherry. Love you style of writing. Anymore?

[CherryNorth49]

Oh I so enjoyed this report Cherry. Love you style of writing. Anymore?

There is one more chapter, we aren't home yet! I'm just finishing it up...endings are hard

[Lady Jane]

There is one more chapter, we aren't home yet! I'm just finishing it up...endings are hard

Enjoy the last of your trip, as I know you will. I can't wait for next years now!!!!! :-)

[CherryNorth49]

Chapter 14

“Don't worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright”
― Bob Marley

Waking up on the last morning in Negril is bittersweet. I know we need to leave so we can come back, but I don't have to get excited about it. We get most packed and have breakfast. We wander around the property and take a few last pictures.

If you are looking for ice at Coco, take the right fork at Bob. There is a big commercial ice machine in that wooden fenced space you see. The sign on the gate said keep closed; since it didn't say staff only or do not enter, we peeked. We accessed it at all times of day and night, no one seemed to object.

I was anxious about the amount of time we had to get to the airport. I thought we were cutting it a bit close. If I hadn't drowned my phone, I would have likely emailed Kingsley and pushed the time up by at least half an hour. I was trying to be calm, but my inside voice was howling.

We were done checking out and sitting at the curb fifteen minutes early. I don't have a watch; that is my phone's job. At about two minutes to twelve I am losing my cool. Sunshine got to be the calm, cool and rational one. He literally has to tell me to chill. At five past twelve I am just shy of hyperventilating. Two minutes later Robert pulls in driving Kingsley's van. I've got my bag to the door before he has the van in park.

I have to admit, I wasn't quite sure how long the drive was supposed to be. On the way in I'm so lost in the just landed feeling of bliss that it could be 30 minutes or 3 hours. Our other trip out was on the JUTA run, which has too many stops to really judge time. I also don't know the road well enough to be able to reassure myself as the landmarks pass.

I know that I am supposed to be looking for a safe, law abiding driver, but in this moment, I wanted Robert to drive like the wind. Instead, we are out on a casual Saturday drive. I'm sure it's purposeful because I was such a gawker on the trip to Mayfield Falls. I'm watching the clock in the van. I should be checking in right about now, but I'm still on the coastal road with miles to go.

I start a conversation with Robert, trying to get him to come to the conclusion that he needs to put the pedal down, without actually tell him to do that. When he realizes how tight we are on time, he gives a bit of a grunt, picks up his phone and calls the boss. I don't know what is said, maybe it was patois, maybe I just didn't understand. The outcome is all that matters, because all of a sudden Robert's driving style has dramatically changed. We might have set a new record for the amount of time it took us to get through Mobay. He was weaving in and out of traffic like a pro. If I hadn't been so stressed, I would have been cheering. I felt like he was totally in control and never took unreasonable risks. Some traffic laws may have been violated, but the man knows how to drive. We pulled up to the airport with the tires almost smoking; we paid our fare and sprinted into the airport.

The line at Westjet is painfully long. Sunshine gets in line with the bags and I try to at least get us checked in on the self-serve terminals. At least that way they would have to consciously leave us behind. Nope, need that blasted confirmation number. We are literally the last in the line for the three flights all leaving about the same time. In the thirty or so minutes we stood there, no one came in behind us.

There is only one agent and we are on Jamaican time. I want to scream with frustration. Finally, there are only two groups ahead of us. A couple decked out in AI logo wear steps up to the counter. Their bags go on the scale…and now we spend five minutes watching them repack half a suitcase into their carry-on. I mean what is the point? Do you think the airplane really cares whether the weight is in the hold or in the overhead bins? Burns the same amount of gas either way.

Then it is our turn. I ask the agent if we are going to make our flight. It's like he doesn't hear. I ask again and get nothing. A third try and I give up. Just give me a yes or no for pity sake! The good news is he checks us in and we make a dash for immigration/security. The only plus side to being late is the line has gotten considerably shorter.

We make it through, manage to get duty free and a pretzel to eat and they are calling our flight. It seems like an instant and we are pulling away from the gate. Oh sweet Jamaica, I don't want to say good-bye.

This is the last picture we took in Jamaica. It is of our balcony at Coco.

This is the very next picture on the camera.

If I close my eyes and sip slowly, maybe just maybe I can imagine my way back to the island.

Do you see it; see my hand raised up into the sky?