Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003

[queenb]

Re: Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003

That's ok, zookeypr, maybe next time. I never had even one drink at Legends. I was always at "my" bar, Bar-B-Barn. On the 6th, the day you came down the beach, we went to Roaring River, and didn't get back until about 7 PM.

[zookeypr]

Re: Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003

QueenB, That is exactly what Soloman said....he said what is QueenB doin at legends? she usually stays at Bar-B-Barn he knew!!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] yes we will have to try try again until we get to meet.

[Marilyn]

Re: Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003


This just CANNOT be real

[odessa57]

Re: Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003

Oh yes, Marilyn,

This is real, I have so many photos of the Moondance on our website and so many happy clients from the property.

SOme of the greatest villas available and they are always quite busy, although not cheap, but fantastic, right Kareen?

Just to let everyone on the forum know, that if you are interested, as tour operators, do do offer great discounts on the Moondance and other properties to the members of the forum.


I will be going down in February and can't wait to stay at Moondance and the Prospect villas again in Ochi.

[Marilyn]

Re: Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003

Stop Please StOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
This is really my style, but as a single Mom with a kid in college this is way out of my budget. I would love to treat myself to such, but for what I would pay for these accommodations I could make a whole nother trip to Jamaica. Unless I hit the lottery or something this ain't gonna happen.

[zookeypr]

Re: Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003

I was really hoping to have more pictures by now but I am waiting for the other people in the group, I didnt bring my camera...but I took alot of pics with thier cameras [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]


Day 2 was basically a very laid back day. We all felt that we needed a day of calm after or 1st day of travel. There were a few us up real early and we needed coffee!!
We tried making our own but we wcouldnt get the massive perculator to perk so off we went up the beach in search of coffee.
We would stop when we saw people up and about but being so early there really wer'nt to many and the few that we did see didnt have coffee. We finally came apon a nice spot, shame on me for not remembering but it was very nice and there were people with coffee!! By the time we got our coffee and walked back others had woken up and figured out the perculator thing.

I enjoyed my 1st cup the most, I had a beautiful little walk on the beach at the most peaceful time of day, I met two very nice people who made me the best coffee and offered some very nice conversation and the greatest smiles to go with it [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

As i said the day was laid back we hung around the villa and took in our sourroundings. We discovered that moondance had added alot of lawn art and we had alot of fun walking around and finding all the new pieces. We also did alot of floating around in the water soaked in the sun. We have also started the eating process!!

Food, food, and more food! We had a mixture of different food at each meal some of us wanted jamaican fare while others wanted thier eggs and bacon so went every meal. We also enjoyed the pool table, which was a nice addition since we had been last Nov. With a stocked bar A pool table, the beach steps from the door life is soooo gooood [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Day 3
Today was another very early day, I was up before the sun. My husband thought I was out of my mind but I thought it would be nice to see the sun come up. On went the suit and my wrap and downstairs I went and to my disbelief someone had been up before me and put the coffee on! How nice [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] It had been raining very hard all night and into the morning and was still pretty wet outside. I walked out onto the patio to take in the beautiful but stormy sky. I saw one of the security gaurds walking around in what looked like hurricaine gear turning off lights and just doing his thing. I thought if there is anyone who would really appreciate a hot cup of coffe it would be this poor guy. I walked down to where they sit and asked if he would like a cup of coffee and for the second morning in a row I got the biggest nicest smile. I took that great smile as a yes and asked how he would like his coffee black with a little suga is what the man wanted so off I was to get his coffee.

I returned with the hot coffee to find a different gaurd waiting he said that the othe gaurd would be right back but he had said that a nice girl was getting him some coffee, I asked if he would like a cup, he said sure so off to the kitchen I went for more java. I returned and received two more great smiles what a way to start your day.

[zookeypr]

Re: Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003

It was'nt to long before others started to get up and pretty soon we had all settled into what would become our routine for the week.....we grabbed our coffee and went out and sat on our beautiful patio and watched the beautiful morning.

We had finished up our breakfast and were sitting around trying to decide what we would do for the week. Some wanted to take tours while others were quite content with what they had along the beach. Well we didnt get to far into it when we looked up and saw Soloman, Great!! now we could plan our week out. The only set day would be the day we would go to St. Elizabeth school in Little London. I was soo excited for this, we had brought some things for the children, some books, one special one that my son chose for me to read to the class and some supplies and of course enough hair stuff for all the girls and matchbox cars for the boys.

Soloman said we would do this trip on Thursday as he had to secure the time through the principal first. We also dicided that we would like to take the Appleton Rum tour. Our only other out that we wanted to do was to go to the Jungle on Thursday night for ladies night.

After settling all our times with Soloman we all just hung out and enjoyed each others company and some music and of course the pool table for a bit. With a fully stocked bar and good friend it is really easy to get into that really laid back irie mood [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Soloman was great he was always available to shuttle us all around wether it was to take Joe to the lotto to cash in his winnings(which he did alot [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] ) or if we wanted to go out and pick up something at the Hi-Lo or to pay our respects to the many wonderful food and craft vendors, he was always taking care of us. Of course we cannot forget David, Solomans friend who was aslo really cool! to David, we love you to!!

Our days were pretty much the same, up early have coffee, hangout, eat breakfast, float, walk the beach, see Soloman and David and take a ride. I wish I could have 365 days a year of this!!

On one of our morning we had headed up the beach to see a wood carver named Mason. We had him do a beautiful carving last year and we had wanted him to do another for us this year. Masons shop wasnt to far down the beach maybe a 15 min walk. We passed a few vendors who we remembered from last year and one in particular "cheap Tony" [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] Oh my god is this man a character!! We truly enjoy meeting up with people whom we remember and who also remember us. Well we got to Masons shop and said hello and shook hand, it was very nice to see him again and we spoke of the piece we had wanted him to carve for us....a set of three monkey's that depict the "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" I was dissapointed though, Mason said he could not do this because he does people and faces, not animals [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] but he did say to go next door and see Robert, Robert does animal carvings and he said he was good. Off to see Robert we went and explained to him our "monkey carving" he said he could do it but he would have to get started right away, it would be a good size piece! We also saw and fell in love with this giant fish carving uh oh huny bunches is looking at me like "your not serious are you" but he know in his heart that it's probably gonna cost him [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[zookeypr]

Re: Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003



This is Mason's shop which is right on the beach and you can see him working in the background on my "sun" carving. Roberts shop is right next door.

[ohliz]

Re: Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003

Nice! Tell me, I have never stayed in a staffed villa and had to make coffee...does Moondance not provide this service?

[zookeypr]

Re: Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003

Hi Oliz,

Yes they do provide this service but the staff doesnt arrive until 8 a.m. and we are early birds (6-7a.m.) so Wendy would set it up for us before she left for the night and we would just have to switch it on when we woke up. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[zookeypr]

Re: Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003

The rest of the day was pretty much the same lots of relaxing and hanging out on the beach.

Day 4 would be a fun day, we had decided to go to the Appleton Rum tour and had Soloman pick us up after breakfast. Soloman was on time as usual and off we went with a full cooler that Wendy had so thoughtfully packed for us

The drive was very nice and we had a chance to take some very nice pictures. We arrived at Appleton and we all poured out of Solomans van and headed in to learn about rum making (I just wanted to do the sample part )

Soloman took us in and got us all set up with our "tour guide" and off we went. Now I dont know how many of you have done this tour but I must say I thought it would be alot cooler than it was [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] silly me, our tour guide took us right back outside, and it was a hot one out there!! We walked around and saw how they crushed the suger cane and looked at all the old machines used to do this. It was all very interesting but I was having a real hard time focusing because not only was it really hot but I was also noticing this really nasty pungent oder that kinda smelled like horse manure [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Our tour guide kept us moving and we went from the pretty but hot smelly lawn/garden area and headed off to this very unpretty and very very hot and smelly industrial vat type area. I am thinking at this point and also quietly voicing to my sista that I could really ditch this part and go back for some rum sampling, she just laughs at me but I am not kiddin

I have no idea what happens after you squish the sugar cane because I just couldnt concentrate but I kept following the tour guide. Next we were bieng brought into this building that had big vats and metal walkways. We all filed up and when I got to the top I couldnt believe how hot it was in here!! And the smell! it was a different smell like a fermenting smell and I swear that smell and the heat made me feel like I was goona pass out I grabbed my sista's arm and said come on. We made our way back ouside and she said whats wrong? I told her as I proceded to take us back to the nice non smelling, airconditioned, rum stocked building that we should have stayed in in the begining....I was really hot and thirsty

We walked back through the security gate and the gaurd gave us this what are you doing look so we told him that I was too hot and needed to go back inside, he smiled and nodded.

Back inside I felt sooo much better. The smell was gone and it was very cool. Now we just needed to get us some of that free sampling rum that they had promised us

We found it with hardy any problems, it was this very small little room off the main foyer and it had this cute little bar set up with ALL kinds of rum WOOOHOOO we hit the jackpot

We poured ourselves a likkle, just a likkle sample of rum when all of a sudden in comes this man with a very bad look on his face askin us what we doin in here We explained we were VERY hot and had to come back before our group and that we just NEEDED a likkle drink of somethin. Well he was having no part of us nor our explanation and moved us right outa that room [img]/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

We just stood outside the likkle room and just shot that man deadly daggers from our eyes until he dissapeared to help another employee. That was our chance and we took it, back in the room we went and this time we were filling that whole cup up!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

We filled up and scooted out before the mean man could get us again. All was good again, we poked around in the little shops for a few minutes and then the others had arrived back. My sista and I were really happy cause now we could go back into that room this time and not get thrown out!! We had many many samples and bought a few bottles of our favorites to take home.

When we were done we piled back into Solomans van and took off back home. We had'nt gotten far when we all decided that we were hungry, we needed something to soak up some of that rum Soloman stopped at this great spot, shame on me again for not remembering the name but we had the best fried chicken and rice mmm mmmm makes me hungry just thinkin about it!

We were eatng our chickin and chatting when I remembered I had brought lollipos with me, I like lollipops and they are a big favorite with the kids. These were not just a lollipop eather these were "blowpops" with gum in the center, yummy!! well all the likkle ones just loved them and I must admit I enjoyed mine alot to! well we all did the pile back into the van thing again, popped open the cooler and settled in for the ride back

We made it back to Moondance in what seemed to be a very short time...time does fly when your having fun!! and did some more hanging out, played some more pool jammed to some music and of course hit the water for some floating.

Tomorrow would be a big day for us, we had the St. Elizabeth school to go see in the afternoon and then the Jungle at night. Seeing it was Thursday night ladies were free, we hoping it would be hopping. We would need to rest up for this.

[BND1999]

Re: Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003

((zookeypr))...sounds like you had a great time.. spoke to Sienna..she said soloman really enjoyed himself when you guys were in town...... he really is the best.. love that man.. can't wait to hug him in a few short weeks....

how far up the beach was the villa? seems like it was a good choice for such a big gang of people...

you know ive always wanted to walk the beach as far as i could away from town. but never made it much farther than charela.. this time i am going to set out early.. and go for it...

cant believe my time is just a few weeks away...

[zookeypr]

Re: Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003

((BND1999)) We had a Blast!! and Sienna, Soloman and David made our stay our most memorable one yet

It just seems to take so long to get there and then the time is gone so fast. 1 week is not enough time to share with old and new friends [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Please give them hugs and Hi-Ups for us please!!

Moondance is right in the middle of Margaritaville and Chances. We have made it just a bit past Bar-B-Barn on our beach walk and it was a goood walk [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[ohliz]

Re: Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003

Great report so far....I too have never been particularly moved by the phrase "factory tour", even when preceded by the word "rum"....I'll probably never make it to Appleton....

bnd, Moondance is not that far up, just a few past Margaritaville as I recall.

[Nanook]

Re: Negril - Moondance Villa Negril...Nov. 1, 2003

I just love the way Moodance looks, I've never seen this one, but I don't usually get that far up the beach. Gonna have to go have a look see though, it looks absolutly beautiful!

I'm with Liz here, about the rum factory tour thing. I spent 14 years of my working life in a factory so I have no desire to see the inside of another one! BUT...the ride there is beautiful!

I am loving your trip report, looking forward to more!!