Sep 1, 2017 - Jamaica weeks 3 & 4 - final

Arrived back in Negril on Aug 18th and bummed around the rest of the month. The only time we left was to rent a scooter and take an all-day ride to the "border" where we wanted to buy some escovitch fish from the roadside vendors. That ride took us southeast from Negril through Sav-La-Mar, Bluefields, and Whitehouse to the border between Westmoreland Parish and St Elizabeth Parish. We had stopped here in a taxi years before and were astonished when about a dozen vendors rushed the car with large platters of fish and pickled vegetables. We...

Aug 17, 2017 - Jamaica week 2

After a slow start to our second week we rented a scooter and visited a few tourist spots. It was fun but thank god Gordon knows how to drive one Guyanese style because we were flying down narrow hilly roads fighting with taxies, buses, and trucks all driving flat- out as usual. Plus deep and raggedy potholes of course. On Monday we hit the road by public bus to travel around the island. Negril - Mandeville - Kingston - Port Antonio - Boston Bay - Ocho Rios - Falmouth - Montego Bay - back to Negril. Mandeville not a tourist spot but all the...

Aug 7, 2017 - August - Jamaica week 1

Decided to flee the heat in JAX and go to Negril for a month. Found a shack for $800 for the whole month. Way up on the west end so we rented bikes to get to town (bank & grocery) and the beach. No water the first day and night but water delivery came next day and cold shower never felt so good. Also no AC or internet but we do have 2 dogs 1 cat 1 mosquito net and a fan. Long days spent reading and drinking red stripe and rum. Contemplating taking public bus around the island for a few days stopping at major cities. Have a little outside...

Jan 31, 2017 - Falmouth

Falmouth used to be the most important port in Jamaica. It was part of the infamous rum triangle - slaves to Jamaica, sugar to Boston, rum to London, British ships back to Africa. The wealth this port generated resulted in magnificent homes built by the slave owners. But after the British crown freed the slaves and the price of sugar fell in the late 1800's, Falmouth and its magnificent houses fell into disrepair and ruin. When we used to come to this area on cruise ships, we would dock in Montego Bay. An enduring memory is how hard it was...

Sep 5, 2016 - Samsara, Negril, Jamaica

August 2016 Samsara, Negril, Jamaica Samsara is a unique, very comfortable resort to vacation at. The big attraction is the cliff jumping of course as the sign outside indicates “sleep, eat, and jump”. Once I overcame my fear with Abe’s encouragement I was hooked! It is an exhilarating experience! The staff are friendly, courteous and attentive. The atmosphere is laid back and was quiet as the summer is the “off season”. The restaurant sign says “home cooked meals” and they really are absolutely delicious. It is buffet and Kerry Ann is...

Dec 23, 2015 - Falmouth Jamaica

We chose to forego shore excursions in Jamaica. Good choice for water ones as winds were over 30mph. Royal Caribbean has developed a port shopping district at the Pier. We wandered through it, bought a few things including a large wooden angle fish that seemed like a good idea at the time. We returned to the ship and from the upper deck windows realized that we could walked a bit farther and visited the town. The Cruise lines are doing everything possible to harvest every dollar, or at least the kickback part of it, they can. All the shops...

Mar 15, 2014 - Sharing the love in Jamrock

After arriving in kingston, Jamaica, with the fierce morning sun blaring down on me, I sat back in the car and soaked in my surroundings. Brightly colored buildings, stray goats wandering aimlessly through the streets, smells of barbecued chicken and spices, noisy crowds and the sweet sound of reggae music. As I walked into the building I was welcomed not only by the coolness of the air conditioning, but by this picture, of a smiling Jamaican lady surrounded by flowers. It brightened my day, as did the fresh plate of salt fish and aki which...

Feb 3, 2014 - eDay 3

Wow this was a big day. We had a tour of Bob Marley's Nine Mile on our schedule and planned to head out to Dunns River Falls afer that. We took some bob marley shots in the bar before our tour, I wasn't sure about it after the taxi ride up the mountain, my stomach was iffy. Our tour guide lived up to his name "Crazy" and was highly entertaining! We learned about what it means to by a true "Rasta". We decided to take on the falls without a guide and hike up the falls ourselves. It was a lot of fun but after I realized I ripped my toenail...

Feb 1, 2014 - Arrival to Heaven

We arrived early and were greeted with Champagne and given a tour while waiting for our room. The resort is truly beautiful and well kept, the staff is friendly and incredibly attentive. We got our bracelets which tell the staff what your VIP status is. We kept looking at everyone's bracelets and wondering what all the colors meant. It was a little hard to get used to going to any restaurant or bar and leaving without paying! Our room was small but nice, it didn't take long to make ourselves at home :)

Jan 31, 2014 - First Day

We arrived in Jamaica in a drunk like state induced from sleep deprivation. After nearly 12 hours of flight time and something like 14 hours of layover time, 12 of that sleeping with the bums at the Chicago airport. Our first night was to be at Toby's Resort, a small hotel near the airport, to pass a day till we could get to our true destination, the Royalton, aka heaven. Still, tired as we were we couldn't just pass up a chance to explore a little. We decided to walk through town to the beach, we were instantly recognized as easy prey,...

May 2, 2013 - 6 Days in Negril, Jamaica

Right off the plane we felt that now our holiday had begun. The Jamaicans are a little too laid back though. It took 2 hours to get from the airport to the hotel when it should have taken 1 hour and 10 minutes. We planned to organise private transfers back to the airport with Elvis Bike Rentals back.(Sherwin - 1876 425 4588). I really found the "Hussle" as the Jamiacans call it, a painful experience. After we negotiated price for jet-ski's, the cheeky buggers tried to short change us and after a stern word he asked for a tip. On the first...

Apr 14, 2013 - 7 day caribbean cruise - Jamaica, Cayman Islands, and Cozumel

We arrived in Montego Bay, Jamaica on the 3rd day of our cruise. We decided that we would take a shuttle bus to Doctor's Cave Beach where we would just relax for the day. The beach was beautiful and the water was 3 different colors of blue. The Jamaicans that were on the beach trying to sell us stuff were very polite and respectful and I was very grateful to not have aggressive sales people approaching every 5 mins which is what I was afraid of. After the beach we walked up the street to Margaritaville, where we enjoyed a fun lunch before...