Negril- Ocho Rios- St Ann, Eco Spring 2009

[ECO]

Dates: April 15th- April 23, 2009

Location(s): Ocho Rios, Negril, St Ann and Priory

I'll start working on my trip report over the next few days........I tried to work on some of my photos on the plane ride back but other passengers kept asking me questions about them. Overall I had a great trip, aside from having a cold the entire time Once I found out the benefits of over proof rum I was able to keep my fever under control and only had to deal with a nasty cough.

A couple of things before I forget:

The money exchange at the airport was offering an exchange at 7-8% less than the other money exchange places. By shopping around I ended up with an extra $7300 in my pocket!

Custard Apples are my new favorite fruit-- try one!

Mango & carrot juice= my new drink..........a few splashes of overproof and you can walk on water.

It was a real pleasure meeting people from the forum sad in a way that I was unable to spend more time with some people but our paths will cross again at some point. JamaicaMiss & Wahoo are two good examples, both are lively and funny people but I was only able to spend a couple hours with them.

[ECO]

A few pictures:

funky bird.jpg

negril sunset.jpg

flower cluster image.jpg

[Jelakins]

Welcome back hun!

Looking forward to your report!

In the mean time.... can I use that Cluster Flower as my desk top? its awesome!!!!!!!!

[Lillywight]

Good to see you, Eco! Hope you had an awesome trip!!!!

[ECO]

Welcome back hun!

Looking forward to your report!

In the mean time.... can I use that Cluster Flower as my desk top? its awesome!!!!!!!!

Feel free to use it, if you want me to e-mail you a high res version of it let me know.

[ECO]

Ok, I arrived in Jamaica on Wednesday the 15th and stayed in Priory until Monday the 20th. Good luck finding Priory on a map, it's next to St Ann's Bay (a little west of Ochi). We rented a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom cottage on the beach for $50 a night although we could of stayed next door for $35 a night--- the great view was worth the extra money in my opinion. The cottage had a big living room with two couches, a dining area and a full kitchen. While it was not 5 star cottage, everything worked and the place was very clean-- no complaints at all!

This was my first time in Jamaica with HOT running water & proper water pressure-- I showered 3 or more times a day just because I could, it was great! The toilets also flushed every time on the first flush......I love these simple joys! The bedrooms were large, maybe 15x15 or so and they both had king size beds.

Since we had the kitchen we would make a daily shopping run to the super market in Salem (over by Hedo) for food, beer and munchies. While out and about we would generally get a meal at one of Matt's roadside places. I can't think of a bad meal at any of the places that Matt or his brother Mike took me to, they were all very cheap and the food quality was great! One of my favorites was the Irish Moss in Salem, the make their own fresh fruit juices and always have something great on the stove. I'll post some pictures of the place later, be sure to stop in if you are traveling in the area.

cottage 1.jpg

cottage 2.jpg

[Tequila and Lime]

Nice, Eco.........keep it coming.

[Lillywight]

Nice cottage! Looks neat and clean and very liveable.

[ECO]

This place right down the street only charges $17 a night http://www.cheap-hostels-in.com/seascap ... priory.htm

The prices down there are really great once you get away from the tourist areas. I can deal with 5 minutes to St Ann's Bay, 10 minutes to Salem and 15 minutes to Ochi.

[damswell]

did you eat at the restaurant across from the super market in Priory, its almost in the middle between the beach and the stop light on the opposite side of the beach? If that makes sense, has tables inside just a little place?
Hope you sampled the conch soup from the rass near the stop light as well!!!

[ECO]

Damswell, we sort of stayed out of town other than going to watch a football/soccer game on the beach. Just west of town past the infirmary is the road that we stayed on and we ate at the little shack at the end of it.

roadside food 1.jpg

roadside food 2.jpg

roadside food 3.jpg

[Wahoo]

$50 a night? I've had "dates" that charged more than that...per hour! Hell, Eco, if I'd known you were staying in such great place, I'd have been tempted to check out of my hotel in Negril & invite myself to freeload with you! That wicker couch out back would be adequate for my needs. Loving your trip report and pics. Looking forward to the next installment.

[ECO]

I took quick naps on that wicker couch but the two full sized couches inside provide more comfort.

[damswell]

Damswell, we sort of stayed out of town other than going to watch a football/soccer game on the beach. Just west of town past the infirmary is the road that we stayed on and we ate at the little shack at the end of it.

roadside food 1.jpg

roadside food 2.jpg

roadside food 3.jpg

i know exactly where your talking about. That place has great roast yam as well

[ECO]

Yes it does! That place is why we never felt the need to find another place for food........great food and only a couple hundred yard walk from where we were staying.

[ECO]

On Saturday Morning I was picked up by Kristi & Ashley for a trip to Lucea and then to Negril for the forum party. Our driver was practicing for the NASCAR tryouts the whole trip......it was a very quick ride shy of getting pulled over once.

Lucea was a fun town to spend an hour walking around, since it's not a tourist type of town everybody goes about their business and nobody tried to sell us anything. In a way it reminds me of St Ann's Bay, a very busy town with all of the charm that Jamaica offers.

Pictures of Lucea:

lucea 1.jpg

lucea 2.jpg

lucea 3.jpg

lucea 4.jpg

[ECO]

Pictures of Negril (volume one)

negril 1.jpg

negril sunset.jpg

group picture.jpg

kristi sunset.jpg

[ECO]

Lol, every picture I have of him he has that ear to ear grin on his face. I can see how the women chase him down to beg him for the honor of giving him a lap dance.

[Lillywight]

OMG! You'll look so damned cute in those t-shirts.

P.S. I hate that I wasn't there with you! UGH.

[Wahoo]

Luv the tee shirt pics! Except mine makes me look fat...