Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

[grandma2]

Re: Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

keep it comin girl

[goldilocks]

Re: Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

Put mi down fi de July Girlfriends, please! I will NOT miss it, even if I have to swim down the East Coast. In fact, I'm taking pledges..... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[AngieB]

Re: Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

Queen, Surely there is a way and we will find it. We simply cannot do Jamaica in March without you. So that settles it.

MsMention, please don't stop writing your report. You can never talk about Jamaica enough for any of us. The more the merrier. We love your writing style and use of words. I was wondering why you had not written anything recently. WAITING!

[Tiger Eye]

Re: Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

queenb,

come on now, us peasants in the town square are waiting!!!! so get off your royal throne and give the people what they want. i realize we cant vote you off the throne, but you can expect anarchy soon. DON'T MAKE US STORM THE CASTLE.

[queenb]

Re: Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

Monday, July 22:

Today Marilyn is supposed to leave, having postponed her departure in order to spend an extra day with AngieB. Her plans are to have Sala return her to MoBay, then have Chef take her to Ochi. First, Libby calls and tells her that Chef’s car has broken down, by Tsmall’s hubby can do the job; then Sala is not available, so his uncle is going to do the duty. We convince her that it would be simpler for Tommy to do the whole job. **nobady tell har mi jess wan goh a Ochi** [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
Sidebar: Tommy is a licensed route driver who will also take you safely on daytrips. Call Tommy at: 1-876-423-5770.

We head out, stopping at Mobay for lunch. We visit a craft market above some fort (?—Marilyn, help mi nuh?) and then travel onwards towards Ochi. We stop at Ms. Marilyn’s former digs at Silver Sands, a gated community , to visit with her adopted Jamaica mother, Ms. Inez. The guards fully remember Miss Flirtatious, and wave us in. I swear I saw some of those guys grabbing their crotches as we drove away! We go to the unit this pretender to the throne has previously inhabited and pull up in the driveway. Marilyn asks the current resident if Ms. Inez is at home. This rank an outta order yute says that “there’s no one here by that name.” Marilyn informs him that that is the maid’s name, and he says, “Oh her, they’re inside”. It never occurred to him to even learn the name of his maid! Grrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!! Mi sey, UGLY AMERICAN!!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

Marilyn introduces us to Ms. Inez and her daughter, and gives them her gifts. After a very short visit, we resume our travels. This episode has put a damper on our afternoon. Mine at least. These women work long and hard to provide impeccable service, and that jerk didn’t even bother to address them by name, as though they were mindless automatons and not human beings. After griping for a while, I shrugged it aside, and resumed enjoying the ride, until we arrived at Skycastles, Marilyn’s home in Ochi.

The Skycastles Episode
Let’s get this part straight. Marilyn is a very organized and together lady. She had all her documentation and faxes from Skycastles confirming payment by credit card in FEBRUARY. Her unit was supposed to be reserved from 7/21-8/2. Libby called and told them she would not be arriving until the 28th. Correct me if I’m wrong, but since those days (7/21-8/2) were already paid for and confirmed, shouldn’t they have held the unit she requested and was confirmed for until she arrived, no matter what day she got there, especially since they were told of her delay in arrival? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] Apparently this is not the practice at Skycastles, since they gave her unit to someone else. This, and the delay in getting Marilyn another unit in the same building outraged all of us. (She likes the view, and had paid for it.) They finally offered her another unit directly above her preferred unit. She even admitted the view was better, although she had to climb steps in order to get to it. That was ok, but this unit was not prepared for her!! The bed unmade, no drapes at the windows, etc. Marilyn agreed to take this unit if they could get it prepared, which they promised to do. I was glad, because I didn’t feature going to jail in Jamaica. I knew that was the next step if Marilyn wasn’t satisfied. I thought Tommy and Alberto were going to have strokes right in front of me, because of the attitude of one of the office workers, who offered to return her money. The nerve!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

While we waited for Marilyn’s unit to be ready, we went into Ochi so she could lay in some provisions. I liked the stores; the prices there seemed cheaper than in Negril. That was about the only thing I liked, though. Ochi was just too busy, even more congested than MoBay. There were multiple lane roads and traffic lights!! Beaches are widely separated. After a while we returned to Skycastles, and hung around the pool for a while, then bid Marilyn goodbye. None of us really wanted to leave her, because her sweetie hadn’t shown up, which kinda ticked us off. She said she would be ok, so we left. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

The ride back was long and dark. Alberto and I took turns staying awake, to keep Tommy company, but I think he did most of the ride on his own. We stopped only twice; once to eat and once for Tommy to take a little break. Around 11 P.M we arrived at our little home in Negril.

[Marilyn]

Re: Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

Queen
It sure was nice having you go to Ochii with me. I missed you all the moment you pulled out. I wore Tommy's jeans to work today with my Bob Marley backpack. I guess although Tommy never got in my pants, I go into his.

[queenb]

Re: Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

And you know I will quote you on that the next time I speak to him!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[grandma2]

Re: Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

nice Queen

[gmarieggers]

Re: Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

Queen,

Lovin' every word of this report - you're just too too good to us. Haven't been on the beach since Feb, but your report is helping me make it through to Sept. One question though...

We Jamaicans don’t swim in the sea at night.

Explain please? Why not?

Murry

[queenb]

Re: Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

The locals that I've spoken to, say the sharks are out at night. There must me some fact to this, because that's when sharks feed. Also, if the sea has a fishy 'raw' smell,like rotting fish , they say sharks are about. Their caution must work; there hasn't been a fatal proven shark attack since 1922 according to my research.

[queenb]

Re: Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

Tuesday, July 23

I am determined to recuperate today; I am tired from the ride back to Negril, and all I want to do is wallow on the beach. Unfortunately that is not to be—there are new guests at Bar-B-Barn; a lively group of women from St. Louis (Ya hear me, Connie? I will be looking for their card to send you.). There is 10 or 12 of them traveling together. Of course such a concentration of femininity draws a lot of attention from the local Rentas, and Rastitutes. These women vary from about mid-thirties to 50-ish, and show all degrees of reception to all the attention. They are only here for 1 day, though, then they move on to Ochi and Port Antonio. Also there is a family from New Jersey, of all places; father, 2 sons, and a young woman whom I presume is his girlfriend, not the boys’ mother. (She seems too young and aloof towards them to be related or even well known to them.) The boys and their father are having a ball together in the water; she has to be coaxed by him to join in; and when she does, she complains continuously about not knowing how to swim and getting her hair wet.

Wednesday brings other new groups, one family is great fun and company, even just to watch; a man and woman and their 2 young children. The father is white and at least 40, gray-haired but fit, the mother no more than 30 if that, very attractive and black. The oldest child is a little boy of about 3 or 4 and the youngest a baby girl about 1 or so. I loved watching the father take time with his little boy, and both children were well behaved and very sweet (and adorable!). Also appearing is another family from N.J; a man and woman and their little girl and his sister. The world is so small. After talking for a little while to the father of the 2 boys, it turns out that the sister lives right around the corner. The brother and his family live in New York. They are awaiting the arrival on Friday of their aunt and her son, their cousin. They have been to Negril before and just about all around the island.

Sidebar about the weather in July, 2002: Every day started identically. The sun was out each and every morning. By 12 or so small waves began to appear, and the water became more choppy. Puffy clouds began to appear in the sky. By 3 P.M. or so it would begin to rain; either a short shower or a deluge. Most days it would clear up in an hour or so, but some days the rain would continue off and on for about 2-4 hours. This occurred more frequently as the month wore on. Twice the electricity even went out; once in the middle of the night. There were only 4-5 days with no significant amount of clouds at all and/or no rain.

[queenb]

Re: Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

I’m going to keep on writing, because I want to finish this! This is like being back in school!!

Thursday, July 25:

Again, a wonderful day to laze on the beach. The water is like glass, but by 1 the clouds come. After a while the rain falls in a total deluge. Thunder and lightening bang and flash. I hang at the bar with the NJ sister, but after a couple of hours I give up and go home.

Disclaimer reminder; I’m just guestimating days and times and even weather conditions here. I’m in Jamaica, who cares?

Friday, July 26:

The new arrivals today are Mary and her 14 year-old son, Anthony. Mary is the aunt of the NJ sister and brother. We hit it off immediately, having much in common as to age, education, and many life experiences. Alberto comes to the bar & I introduce him. Mary and her niece make plans to go snorkeling tomorrow. Meanwhile Mary is very dissatisfied with her room at Legends. She feels she must have t.v. for Anthony to occupy him when she’s not around. Alberto suggests Sandi San Hotel, since he knows the owner there. They go off down the beach to find out if they have room for her. Later on, I find out she is moving in the next day.

Saturday, July 27

We wait until noon for Mary to get moved into her new room. Alberto comes and picks us up at Bar-B-Barn beach to go snorkeling. We load up: Mary, Anthony, another Anthony (bwoy di gyal wuk fast yuhsee!!), Mary’s niece, Tiger (works the boat)

Tiger, looking crazy,

Robert , the driver,

Robert, in shadow

Alberto, and me. We go to Booby Cay, but this time no nudity, (after all, we have a minor with us!!), although Alberto and I spend our time distracting the son so mother can get some “away” time. Tiger meantime, is working his magic on the niece. It is a great day for all. Alberto, ever the host, invites everyone over for dinner. (There go his profits!) After a bath and nap, Alberto comes to me with his phone. My former co-worker, Vinnie and his wife Maria are on the phone! I give them directions from CoCo LaPalm, and they are on the way. I am so excited that they have made the long trip from Idaho to Negril. I have told them all about it, even emailing pictures from Jamaica and pages from different posts to them. I love them dearly. I taught happily with Vinnie for about 6 years, until MS forced him into early retirement. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] I haven’t seen them in over a year, since they moved back to Idaho. We sit and gab, making up for lost time. After dinner, Alberto decides to go out with the NJ people (I know to distract son again), but I want to go out with Vinnie. He leaves; and shortly later, so do we. We tried to catch the bar at CoCo LaPalm, but it was closed and dark. Maria decided to stay in, but Vinnie wanted to go for a drink. We catch a cab up to Miyard, so I can kill to birds with one stone: drink and access the ‘net. We ask the cabbie to pick us up in an hour; and he does.

[Peaches12]

Re: Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

I'm still enjoying your report. I'm looking forward to the next entry. How much is does it cost to access the next at Miyard's?

[gmarieggers]

Re: Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

Queenb,

I know ...

I’m going to keep on writing, because I want to finish this! This is like being back in school!!

and Thank You - Your efforts on this are greatly appreciated.

But ya know, when we were here and you and Marilyn (and everybody else, it seemed) were down there and we were reading the short posts about the great trip all of you were having nudity, bumping and grinding , Alberto having to rescue Marilyn... it's tough to be popular and in high demand. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] (poor Queenie) If you hadn't had so much fun your report could have been short and sweet, so you see you brought it on yourself. You're the Queenb, so you should be use to it by now. One of the penalities of being the Queenb is keeping your subjects happy and content, right? (LOL)

Seriously, Thank you - Peace and Respect, Queenb and Marilyn!

Murry

[queenb]

Re: Negril - A month in Jamaica--Trip report from queenb

Originally posted by ATL Peaches:
[qb]I'm still enjoying your report. I'm looking forward to the next entry. How much is does it cost to access the next at Miyard's?[/qb]

DelRoy charges $100JA/20 minutes, the same as most of the other cyber cafe's, but he doesn't stand over you with a stopwatch. Besides you can listen to some tunes and have a drink. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]