Nearly halfway through my time away! Winter is sure better in Negril, than, say, Missouri! Weather has been hot and sunny for the past several days, I actually took a day off from beach on Sunday and sat on the deck reading all day long. Great time!
It occurs to me that I wish more of my friends and family would take advantage of this lovely place. Friends Dan and Diane arrive tomorrow afternoon, their first trip here, so I hope they enjoy. Then sisters return on next Saturday, so soon I'll have lots of company....including friend/student Marnie from Oklahoma, bringing a retinue of her friends. Those of us who have discovered Negril, love it. Read on....
Up most mornings about 6 or 6:30; roosters calling usually wakes me, even though it's still dark. I stumble into the kitchen and put on coffee right away; then spend an hour or so on internet in the morning. Some days, I set up an office in the kitchen and work several hours; book four is beginning to tell me what it wants to say. I'll usually stay over coffee until about 8:30; then exercises, at which point, I walk about 3 miles up the beach, to the uninhabited portion of beach. A taxi could be had; I come for the walking! I stay around a beach area that's primitive; has restroom facilities, but no food or drink. Works for me! I take along a bottle of water with a bit of cranberry concentrate in it, and that's my day's refreshment. I find a shade tree and stay under it most of the time, with forays into the sun and the water.
Most days I return home about 3 pm, shower, and begin cooking. I'm often a one-pot cook: the rice, peas, chicken, curry, and veg all have to get along in the same pot. And good! Last night three chicken thighs, already skinned and boned, along with veg. Great supper! Then maybe a bit of sunset, etiher before or after supper. I walk about a quarter mile to White Sands; they have a second story deck on their bar which makes it nice for viewing of sunset.
Evenings: both of our rooms have TV's with DVD and CD player, so usually I put on music and listen to tunes in the evening....news can be had, but why bother? Mostly, I sit and watch the light change over the deck and the few trees....this photo shows the progress of a new palm frond. 
By the time I leave it will be a large part of the tree....always fun to watch such events, moving slowly.
I'm hoping more of my friends and family will decide to come share the space. While I've got it booked off for three weeks in February for self and family, the two rooms together can be had by my friends for $60 per night if they commit to both rooms for a week; $10 per room off per night from her regular $70. So two couples could have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, shared deck and shared kitchen/dining, a nice walk to the beach and a tiny walk to restaurant, for $120 per night for the whole space. Shuttle from Montego Bay is about $160 round trip, for one person or four. Pictured is the room with double and single bed. Warning: the beds aren't luxury! If you sleep poorly, you'll need some sort of aids. For me they're great as I'm stretching and moving nearly all the time when I'm here.
Jennifer built this space two years ago, and each time I come, I contribute a bit more to the decoration and the upgrading of the space. Now, if you need fancy, this isn't your place! But if you want a calm spot to live, shower, sleep, this may be your spot. 
It's been mine for about twelve years now. I continue to invest in art, furniture bits, etc to make us all comfortable. And to me, it's quite comfortable!
A word of warning, however; you really will be happier if you figure out how to take both rooms. I've shared with some strange strangers over the years. If you all know each other and get along, it will be fine to share a deck and kitchen. With strangers, it can be less fun....plus, you'll pay more for only one room ($75 I think). When you share space with friends, it's paradise; strangers can be, and have been, hell.
My maid, Jackie, is a fountain of information; which spices to use, which peppers will be hot, how to open a coconut properly and how to save the coconut water in the freezer for treats, on and on. It's fun to get to know others who have different skills, and she's helpful in terms of my Jamaican cookery. Though this recipe came from the lady who sold me the callaloo....
I have a friend Patrick who runs a booth/gallery at one of the main flea markets; in the past, have found a wonderful Haitian piece that now lives in Springfield....this trip, I think I'm purchasing a dyptich of workers in a cane field, with their cabin and more cane in the other panel. Restful, and reminds me of the Jamaica I love, so soon, it will live in my bedroom. When they arrive, will post a photo of the new decorations.
Part of what I love about Jamaica is getting to know the people, who generally are pretty neat folks. Carl, my new massage therapist contact/coordinator of classes, is an example; his daughter Carlinia and wife Carlene had dinner with me, and we had a great night. The therapists were so eager, so grateful! The lady on the beach who sells me vegetable said, "I wondered when you'd be back; been looking for you!" It's fun to see familiar faces, both among tourists and natives. It's a spot of home away from home; restful and simple....come try it! Soon!
I'm remembering sometimes photobucket only lets the left half of photos appear on my screen; if that's the case for you, I apologize. I guess you'll have to get here yourself to see the full picture!
