I've returned home, to February cold and snow, from a bit over three weeks in wonderful Jamaica. This may be the most restorative vacation I've ever had. I was a bit frazzled in packing; so much so that I didn't pack paper, extra pens, camera battery or charger, or even the camera cord to download pictures. Many of the things I'd normally do on vacation just didn't happen, so I decided not to worry about that and really focus on relax...which I did, with a vengeance. Tonight, after writing my words, I'm wrestling with photobucket.com, which seems to not want to let me edit/shrink photos to a seeable size. You may have to just imagine the beauty of Negril as you look at a small part of a too-large photo!
Arriving in Negril on Feb 3, I got the larger of the two rooms this trip in 'our' suite....a very pleasant room indeed. Of course, I immediately took up the twin bed next to the double to make space for stretching and moving, and got very comfortable in my room. 
Jennifer showed me a painting she'd bought from a local artist, Ras Husmo, and I was delighted, as she'd had him paint a nice piece on the wall up the stairs, and a great sunset piece in the kitchen. Happy stuff, all!
My deck is a great place; shared with two rooms, four chairs and a small table. I enjoyed many mornings having coffee and morning pages, watching the sun rise. By 9 the deck was hot and sunny and it was time to get on with the day. In the afternoons, I could move my chair to the far end, sit facing sunset and decide whether to go out on the beach, or just enjoy that view from the chair. 
In the daytime, if I faced west, I got to look at laundry in our yard, which I also found soothing....
The sunsets! Gorgeous, whether I made it to the beach or not, and all different, and even different from moment to moment.....
My day's routine didn't vary a great deal; I came to be quiet, be with myself, explore my own bodymindcore and try to stretch more layers of holding patterns loose. I think I succeeded. So, mornings, up for coffee and rum cream, morning pages, and checking in by internet. Then a bit of prep, a four mile hike up the beach to my spot, and sit in the shade for hours on end....with occasional forays into the sunshine or the water; always with stretch, movement, and breath. Exactly what I needed. Pictured is my 'spot'. I was amazed how many people kept walking, with purpose, seeming to look for their spot and never finding it. In three weeks I may have missed three or four days of walking up to my spot...my little home. Not crowded at all, and beautiful.
The walk up the beach and back had quite a bit of hotel traffic, restaurants, shops, etc. I preferred the deserted sections....I've always loved this little section, and was pleased to see this bird enjoying the section too!
On Sundays, I'd head south and leave the northern beaches to the families who finally got a day off. After beaching, I'd head on into town for the flea market, then the grocery store, and finally a cab home. I bought this wonderful painting by a Haitian artist, from my new friend Patrick, in the flea market. He had a talent for picking wonderful artists to represent.
Cooking! Lord, I ate well! I love having a kitchen on vacation; chicken thighs in curried coconut milk and rice. Blue Mountain coffee. Fresh coconuts, cracked open by me, with the milk saved in a glass, frozen, and used later as a wonderful treat. Jerk seasoning on veg or meats. Meals from the restaurant out front, occasionally, that were delivered to my kitchen! And best of all, my kalaloo. One day I stopped by my favorite fruit stand and asked my lady if she had kalaloo...a wonderful green that's a bit like spinach and a bit like very thin stalks of broccoli with quite a few leaves. My lady's daughter gave me the recipe to cook kalaloo, which I followed religiously, and I was thrilled with the results....seven times!
So basically, this trip was dedicated to a simple life, almost monastic, where I walked, meditated, stretched, thought, and definitely enjoyed my time. Closing with another marvelous sunset from Negril. Home on Feb 26; a vacation to remember, as these pictures show.
