Happily the best weather day yet, today! Which made our afternoon adventure all the more enjoyable.
But that’s getting ahead – our morning was a now familiar routine of getting up and out of our room, down to the buffet breakfast, and then finding a nice spot next to the beach to stretch out with magazines and books. Today we opted for one of the swinging couches near the piano bar for our ocean view and were content to “hang out” here for most of the morning. (Here’s a Google photosphere – can you find Sharon?).
After reviewing the check-out procedure with the front office, we spent the balance of the morning in the main pool and swim-up bar with #BobMarley and a #JamaicanSunset. While here we happened to run into Tara and Joe, with whom we’d had dinner at Kimono’s a couple of nights ago. We chatted with them for awhile as we paddled about and enjoyed the sunshine.
Next, lunch – back to the never-ending buffet! When we’d finished here it was early afternoon so we strolled back to our room, changed and got ready for our afternoon adventure. Towels: check; sunscreen: check; hats and sunglasses: check; tickets: check.
Sandals resorts are somehow affiliated with the Island Routes Caribbean Adventures company which offers dozens of day trip adventures across the island. From Negril, many of them involve a drive of up to several hours, but for today we elected to try the 3 hour catamaran cruise along coast (yes, a “three hour tour” 🙂 ). We found our boat moored close to the main resort and enjoyed the mid 30ºC sunshine while our paperwork was collected and the resort “paparazzi” took photos. Then we waded out to the boat ladder, climbed aboard and received refreshments while we waited for the 50-60 or so other guests to do the same.
The trip south along the coast was very pleasant – the crew used the main sail for the trip and the waters were calm and there was very little sea motion. We had a good view of the coastline, which became sheer rock faces after getting beyond the Seven Mile Beach, and the buildings were an odd mix of villas and other resorts, and even a small castle! We passed another cat along the way and even had a dolphin accompany us for part of the trip, literally surfacing several times beneath and alongside our vessel as we travelled!
After a little over an hour we arrived off the coast by Rick’s Café – a well-known club in the area with a reputation for cliff jumping into the ocean. A few of the tourists got in line to give it a try but the truly impressive jumps were made by the locals who ascended to a platform above the cliff face to make their jumps.
To get to Rick’s you actually have to swim from the boat to the shore where the cliff face has been modified to allow an easy climb up to the club. The bar itself is quite large with a restaurant level above the main watering hole, a large outdoor stage for live events, and a great view of the Caribbean. With only half an hour to spend, there was only time to grab a beer, take a quick run through the gift shop, and then watch a few jumps before heading back to the boat.
Pro tip: bring a small waterproof bag with you if you’d like to take one of these trips. You’ll feel better about your camera (whatever it’s waterproof rating) and your cash – no credit cards at Rick’s and other places, tho they will accept “wet money” and will make jokes about laundering.
With the engines online and the music quite (appropriately) loud, we made our way back up the coast and stopped at Negril’s Margaritaville franchise. Thought this isn’t Buffet’s original, you could believe it was, being totally set up on the beach with a kind of “faux dive” feel and dark spaces where the restaurant was covered. We weren’t long here either, but Sharon did get the mandatory “Who’s to blame” frozen margarita and we sipped while standing on the shoreline.
About then we also experienced one of the most amazing sunsets we’d every seen.
From here it was a quick hop back to our resort, and the DJ cranked the music very loud and pumped the tourists into a bit of a dance frenzy while the bartender poured shots (sometime forgoing the glasses altogether) and generally doing their best to create an impromptu frat party. Flashbacks to university not withstanding, we did get a nice view of the shoreline at night time, and with the temperature warm and the people (very) friendly – it was a memorable experience.
Although it was dark when we got back, it was still only about 6:30pm which meant the dinner service was now in full swing. We showered off the salt water and changed in our rooms and then decided to try the Barefoot by the Sea restaurant for a seafood dinner.
We had a short wait for a table, and then were seated outdoors in a covered area at a table – almost like a picnic table – on the sand. We then had full restaurant service for a three course meal – appies (breaded shrimp, salad), mains (“Surf and surf” kebab of seafoods; marlin steak); and desserts (apple tart, Kahlua coco cream cake), served with wine. All were very nicely prepared and delicious. Between courses we reflected on our day and texted with the kids, who were happy to report that the kitchen tap is now fixed 🙂
After dinner we wandered back through the resort and stopped in briefly by the main stage where the evening’s entertainment was underway – a burlesque show! – but though the performers were clearly professional and having a good time, the novelty quickly wore off and we headed back to our room.
Tired but happy we watched another from the film noir collection: Double Indemnity – a classic femme fatale pic which was very nicely shot but now seems a little bit silly especially in some of it more melodramatic scenes. Still a fun way to finish a really fun day.
