January 31st - Woke up at 2:45 am to head to the airport! Dropped car off at Thrifty and had to do paperwork in the dark as their electricity was out. We were the first ones in line at the airport. Security went much quicker than expected. We arrived in Charlotte and made the long trek to our outbound gate. At the counter, US Airways offered us two free travel vouchers to give up our seats into MBJ. How could we resist? They sent us to Grand Cayman and from there to MBJ via an Air Jamaica Dash 8. We got into MB only an hour and a half later then planned, but $73.00 lighter after paying the departure tax from the GC (they should have warned us about that). The singers weren't there and there were probably only 10 people in line for customs/immigration. We had planned on taking JUTA to Negril, but they were going to make us wait on the bus for who knows how long. I peeked out the airport door and asked a taxi driver 'how much to negril?'. He said 75 dollars, but negotiated 60.

We went to 3 Dives (of course!) for Dinner and ate with a couple from PA who were staying at Rockhouse and leaving the following day. We rode back to Idle Awhile with a Taxi Driver who had a huge spliff dangling from his lower lip.

February 1st - Greg and I split the french toast and a pot of coffee at Idle Awhile (so-so for the price). I called Christy to tell her to bring syrup because I didn't think she'd like the thin, not very sweet Jamaican syrup. We headed over to Jah B's to haggle for a scooter. They had some brand new ones but they wanted 35/day for them. We offered 230 for 11 days but he said he couldn't go that low. We had a ting in the resturant and waited for the boss. We settled on 250 plus the DOT helmets that we brought along. Off to the new Texeco to fill up on petro. We stopped at the other station first, but they were out of gas! While Greg filled up, I had a great time trying to get a picture of a goat dragging a severed rope. Then back to the beach at Idle Awhile for some yummy sun. We laid out and swam until 1:30 and then headed to Sunshine Plaza and to  Rockhouse for lunch and some backgammon. Rockhouse is so awesome. I love eating in the resturant and then heading over to the comfy chairs for a game. Afterwards, we rode up to Negril Cabins to meet Greg's sister Becky and her husband Jeff. Negril Cabins looked pretty neat, but I would hate to be so far away from the action. Becky and Jeff took a taxi to Idle Awhile and we walked across the street to get beer at the liquor store (how convenient is that?!). Then we all took a walk up the beach and stopped at Margaritaville.
 

After our walk, we all took a cab to Rockhouse for dinner. They had two for one drinks and "James Bond" was our waiter. Rockhouse has awesome Dirty Bananas. The cat decided to hang out with us while we ate, and I'm convinced that it ate more than we did! We took a taxi back to Negril Cabins as our scooter was still there. Becky was yawning so we headed home. It was a surprisingly chilly ride on the scooter.

February 3rd - Greg and I got up around 7am and went out to sit on the patio. A short while later, Mel came back from her morning run on the beach. She tried to make it all the way to the cliffs, but ran out of beach to run on. The three of us sat and talked while Christy got ready for breakfast and then we headed down the beach to the Boat Bar. We all headed to the beach for a couple of hours. Mel spent the the whole time in the water hanging on her raft with a french guy named Stephane. Afterwards, Greg and I took a shower and joined Christy and Mel at Margaritaville for lunch. (Margaritaville has some awesome jerk cheeseburgers). Mel and Christy swam out in the water to jump on the trampolines. Darn it, I didn't have my suit on. Greg and I headed back to the room to take a nap. Greg continued playing phone tag with Jeff. He never expected to find himself wishing for an answering machine in Jamaica! Greg and I rode down to Sunshine Plaza to do some shopping. Christy and Mel stopped at a bar on the beach for 50J Red Stripes! They said they were walking along and passed the guy as he called out "50 J Red stripes!". They said they stopped, and looked at each other and just had to turn around! When Greg and I returned, we played cards with Christy while Mel lounged on the beach with her new French friend. Christy, Greg and I went to dinner at Selina's (Greg played taxi cab with the scooter). Christy and Greg had the lobster which they swore was the best they'd ever had EVER. I had the pepper steak which was yummy and spicy.  edited to add that Stephane and Mel got married in 2003 and are now (2004) living in Paris and expecting their first child!!!

After a several beers, Christy and I got down on the floor and played with Selina's kids, Jaden and Zoe. We sang songs for them (Bumblebee and Found a Peanut) and played the "Say Say My Playmate" clapping song with them. Selina and Big Roy's kids are ADORABLE! We ended up staying for 4 and a half hours and we all had a blast! Greg took Christy back to Idle Awhile and made the trip back for me. We had the pleasure of meeting Carol Ann as we were leaving. We're all looking forward to Mayfield Falls tomorrow. Big Roy described it to us and it sounds like we definitely made the right choice (for us) (over YS Falls). He also suggested that we ride the scooters out on the west end past the lighthouse some afternoon.

February 4th - Went to Selina's for breakfast. Greg went to the cambio and then we all got ready for our trip to Mayfield Falls. Clayton from Idle Awhile picked us up and we headed over to get Becky and Jeff from Negril Cabins. On the way we stopped for yummy vegetarian patties in Sav. Clayton let us all taste his coconut milk that he bought from a Rasta at a roadside stand in the mountains. We arrived at Mayfield and met Bones, our guide. We found our later that he is 60 years old, walks 4 miles to work each day and has been doing this off and on since 1967. He was AWESOME. He gave us a fresh banana and told us about banana trees, coffee plants, etc. Becky and Christy both needed shoes so Bones got some for them and we all put our cameras in a cooler that he carried and we left everything else in a hut. When we got to the water, he told us how to walk and how to tell where to step.  edited to add that you should watch how much you drink on the way out to Mayfield Falls. It sucks hiking down a zillion stairs when you're ready to wet your pants.
 

Then he guided us up the falls, stopping for pictures along the way. After the crashing falls that you could squeeze behind and hang out (takes some guts), we got out of the water and headed back to the beginning and took some more pictures. He showed us more plants like "Shy Girl" (Mimosa) and "Flare in the Forest" (African Violet). He showed us the plant that curry is made from and picked some natural soap plant that lathered when we washed our hands with it. We stopped at the craft shack on the way and and looked while it rained. Christy bought a necklace, bracelet and anklet. edited to add that Mayfield is a bit of a challenge. The water was brisk when we were there and if you are the type of person who bangs themselves up (who me?) just walking around day to day, you'll have to concentrate on where you place your feet. I'd do it again though.

Bones hiked back up the stairs with us (hard work!) showing us more plants along the way and answering all our questions. He showed us a plant that  you lay on  your skin and slap the plant and it tattoos your skin white. Afterwards, Clayton drove us back to Idle Awhile. He picked up another passenger and dropped Becky and Jeff off at Negril Cabins. We found out later that Jeff left his wallet in the bus, and Clayton was nice enough to make a special trip back out to Negril Cabins and return it to him. Greg and I got chicken from Best in the West (across the street) while Christy hit the hammock and Mel hit the beach with Stephane. The chicken from Best in the West was awesome with lots of yummy bread to soak up the sauce.

February 5th - We all went to the Boat Bar for breakfast and then lounged on the beach until 2. We took Christy to get a scooter. She did all the paperwork, paid, put on her helmet, climbed on the scooter and said, "So how does it work?" The attendant sighed in disbelief and showed her the gas and the brakes. Christy tried it out and took off straight for the fence. Two attendants were running behind her trying to catch the scooter. "Try to ride it around in a circle", they said, so Christy started off around the front yard. Through all this, Greg and I are sitting on our scooter frozen with amazement. Christy heads around the circle, and then drives straight into the huge bamboo tree in the middle of the yard. The scooter tipped over on it's side, the front wheel was up the tree and Christy was just laying there flooring the gas. "Stop, Stop!!!", the attendants were calling. So they get the bike back up, do a quick inspection of the tree, and one of the guys climbed onto the back of her scooter and put his arms around hers to help her steer. They take off for a ride around the back of the property. After about a minute, the bike came back around and Christy was hanging her head dejectedly with her arms at her sides. I've never seen a Jamaican so eager to give someone back their money. Greg and I are just kicking ourselves for not taking pictures of all of this, but we were in shock. So we put Christy in a taxi and met her at the Hi-Lo and shopped in all the stores and the craft market. Christy took a taxi to Rockhouse and we met her there for a late lunch before scooter pooling to Rick's to meet Mel and watch the cliff divers (and tree divers).  We all made our way to 3 Dives next. There was a webcast going on and we got to meet Rob and Joe Negril, as well as several other boardies. After sunset, we ate dinner.

Some musicians showed up and sang for tips. They LOVED Christy. She is SO not into music. After they'd played Redemption Song and I Shot the Sheriff, Christy said to them, "Hey, could you play some reggae??" Ha, we were ROLLING! So the guy starts strumming a Beatles song on his guitar and Christy was like "Yeah!!! I know that one!". She was such a hoot. Every time she'd walk away for awhile, the singers would say, "Where's the happy girl??" Christy and I asked them to come back the following night for our reception and play for awhile for a hundred bucks. They seemed tickled.

Christy decided she was hungry AGAIN and ordered the lobster special for all of us to share. Christy was facinated watching Mel eat the brains (I was grossed out). Greg and I stopped at Selina's on the way home for a cup of coffee and talked to Mary and Selina's mom. We all fed Oreo, their kitty in a cast who had just come home from the vet that evening.
 

February 6th - Mel slept in. The rest of us went to Selina's for breakfast. Greg and I went to the bank so I could get money to pay the musicians. We passed Becky and Jeff on the way home. They had rented a scooter! I laid out until it was time for Christy and I to go to Swept Away to get my hair done. Greg took Becky and Jeff shopping and then laid out for an hour before showering and getting ready for the wedding.

The wedding was awesome. The whole thing was really relaxed and simple.  We sat on the patio with everyone until the minister showed up. He took some information from us and then we went down to the beach for the ceremony (after Christy did emergency surgery removing the white curly ribbons from the bouquet).

The wedding started about 5:00 pm. Greg and I were so concerned about getting all the tips straight that we forgot the rings!! Mel had to race to the room (about 50 yards) and get the rings out of the safe. Meanwhile, the minister forged on with the ceremony. As Mel came running back with the rings, Christy did this loud stage whisper, "Mel, act like you're running!", because she wanted an exaggerated picture of Mel running with the rings. So there were parts of the ceremony where Greg and I were in tears (saying our vows) and other parts where we were trying so hard not to laugh.

And oh my god the cameras! Greg's brother in-law was shooting video (hey, I didn't give permission for that!), Mel, Christy, Becky and the photographer were all taking pictures. It was a bit intimidating but I survived. Now I know what it feels like to be famous. After the pictures, we all sat down for cake. The rum cake was awesome and the icing was light and not overly sweet. We had Isabelle cut extra pieces of the cake for the staff. We found out later that our musician friends had stopped soon after this and missed us but had some cake.

After changing clothes, we all went to 3 Dives for the "reception".  We ordered food and the musicians showed up and we all had a great time. Greg, Mel and Jeff smoked Cuban cigars in the corner. I passed the musicians hat around the crowd trying to get additional tips for them. When they weren't singing, they sat with us and talked. Loydie came over to wish us well. When we finally paid the tab, it only came to 4100J (plus a good tip)! Greg and I stopped at Selina's on the way home, but she had already gone to bed. edited to add that I may have been a tad pushy with the hat because I was a bit buzzed. There was this one guy sitting at a table with friends who said he didn't have any money to contribute because he was broke. I reached over and picked up his beer and moved it to the other side of the table and said, 'NOW you're broke'. Oops. He wasn't amused. And then to make matters worse, several beers later I asked him AGAIN. *curtseys*

 

I woke up and hit the beach. Christy and Mel left before Greg got back. I hung out on the porch resting and reading because I had a full on cold now. Greg and I had lunch at Selina's and then Greg went to the cambio and Times Square while I napped. Greg bought a nice cuban cigar from Cigar World and came back and smoked it while reading before taking a short nap. Afterwards, I wanted to go to Times Square so we went and looked around. We decided to go to Negril Cabins to see what Becky and Jeff were up to on their last night. We all went and had dinner at Selina's.

February 10th - We went to the Boat Bar for breakfast. We made a list of things to get done on our last full day and arranged our ride back to MoBay. We stopped by and got our 11 pounds of coffee from Selina, jerk sauce from 3 Dives and to the Hi-Lo for some guava jelly for Granny. We stopped by Selina's for awhile and chatted with Dustin and Wendy from Canada. I threw back several beers. Later, we took a picture with Juicy and then walked up the beach before sunset and jumped on the trampolines at Margaritaville. That was a lot of fun. I never did make it across the bridge between the two tramps, but I blame it on the beer.

After our sunset swim, we decided to have our last dinner at Selina's. Greg worked on the trip report a bit. Selina had us proofread her new menu and made one of her new appetizers for us. Queso Asado - "Cheese on Fire". It was AWESOME. Very spicy, with lots of peppers. YUM.