Hail to the Hive!

While we were recently in Negrils West End area I realised there was a necessity for using cash, as not everywhere is card friendly, and it's not always cost effective to use cards either. So as it was Wednesday, what better way of getting some cash than a walk into Negril to get some $$$$$$.

It was certainly a lovely day for it but having lived over here for many years before, I was aware I would no doubt get just a teeny bit ( maybe a lot) of hassle as sadly as an obvious tourist you do attract a bit of it. But I'm not easily phased and I was buggered if I was getting fleeced for a taxi fare whenit was only an hour round trip walk in glorious sunshine.

So off I went!

Leaving the lovely confines of the Xtabi Resort I turned tight and did my utmost to not get ran over by any cars blatantly ignoring the speed limit on the narrow coast road.

As I mentioned it was only about an hour walk, roundtrip, just over 5km in total. Easy...

There wasn't a great deal of people about. Most of the tourists seem a little hesitant to go walking because they are led to believe you will be robbed almost the instant you leave the resort. This is not the case. Just be friendly, don't flash valuables and don't be an idiot.

I was occasionally approached but politely turned down offers of ganja, fish, viagra and the offer of expensive taxi rides into town. All to be accepted and easily fended off with a smile and informing that everything downstairs works just fine thanks. Everything is ire mon!

A lot of the sea front properties were for sale I noticed which is a shame. So much untapped potential here for tourism, and I mean grass roots tourism, not the all inclusive sanitised bullshit that has ruined things on islands like this.

SO many cool looking empty properties, almost like a ghost tourist town along this stretch. A shame really.

More offers of fish from the boat guys here, plus a few other things.

And more interesting looking buildings I woud love to own on the seafront.

Now I know that just down this long empty stretch it's only a couple of corners before I reach my goal.

At this point my mind started wandering back to when I first came to Jamaica way back in 2002 and how little has changed in all that time. @millycf1976 and I have been amazed by the lack of change and spoke of it often since arriving back here last month. The island and businesses very much seem the same as 20 years ago. Laddies hair and mobile phones seem to be the only really noticeable and obvious change.

I have to say making a Back to the Future style movie here wouldn't work as getting in the Delorean in 2022 and hearing Bob Marley in the background and then getting out in 2002 hearing the same tune and seeing the buildings were all the same you would tell Doc his flux capacitor is clearly not working.

But still as I passed the buildings playing loud familiar reggae tunes I thought back to my early days here teaching scuba, meeting my wife and all the adventures I got into here and smiled to myself ( possibly looking like a crazy person as I did so).

I was in and out the ATM like a flash ( I didn't hang around to take photos and wanted to be gone quickly as I ain't daft) and before long I found myself back at Xtabi.

As I settled in the weather began to turn (good timing) and I'd worked up a little thirst wandering 5.3km in 35 degrees so as the gentle breeze rolled in carrying a few rain clouds with it I quenched my thirst with a well earned Red Stripe and paid with my Jamaican dollars in cash fresh from the ATM.

How's that for a Wednesday Walk slice of fried Jamaican Gold!