Thanks Christie....Rockhouse is nice....but a pain to get to the beach everyday as we are total beach bums on vacation. Negril beach is tops in the Caribbean when you consider the local color, culture, food, swimming and the pure length of it. We absolutely love to get horizontal with a cold Red Stripe and take in the sounds, smells and sunshine. I'll post a complete trip report when we return on Thanksgiving Day. The airlines messed with our flight schedules, so we had to shave a day off our trip and return a day early. We overnight in Atlanta and fly to Seattle early on Thanksgiving Day. We originally were flying Continental the whole way, but with the schedule change, Continental put us on Delta for the return....First Class, baby! We get into Seattle just in time for Thanksgiving dinner at my in-laws and kickoff for the Dallas/Denver game!

Brett,
That sounds great!Sorry that you will be traveling on Thanksgiving day..but I'm sure that you don't mind being that you will have just come back from Jamaica. I just know that the Cowboys will win! I want anyone to go to the superbowl except the Patriots..only because they have been there so many times..it's time for someone new to win.

Take care
Christie

BTW...I enjoyed watching the Panthers beat the Patriots while we were in St John at The Quiet Mon.It was really fun..most everyone at The Quiet Mon was pulling for the Panthers!

Humor is a wonderful thing but I was sooooooo confused by your first sentence since I know you to be a long time poster here, well longer than me anyway

BTW we visited Negril in May )IA) and were 'invited' to visit Hedonism with a couple we met there. We graciously rejected their offer but they had a wonderful time by all accounts. Each to their own

Hi alya!,
I think that CaribbeanSoul started this thread with humor in mind.

Christie

Hi alya: Christie is on the mark. In 1987, I went to Negril with my parents. I was a sophomore in college. We stayed for two weeks in a villa that is now part of a larger hotel. My father's college roommate was a Chinese-Jamaican and they became pretty good friends. My father spent a holiday with him and his family somewhere in the hills over Kingston. I forget his name, but he ended up back in Jamaica and is a very successful architect for a firm on the island. In fact, his firm designed, both, Swept Away and Idle Awhile. Well anyway....when I was there in 1987, he picked us up from our villa in his old Rolls Royce and took us to Hedonism for a night of food, drink and dancing. I believe it was a little bit tamer back then....but after 10 Tanqueray and tonics, taking 3rd place in the reggae dance contest (with his much younger girlfriend from London, with whom I fell dearly in love with!), hamburgers at midnight and naked volleyball visible from the underground discoteque (portholes in above the bar, no less)....I can honestly say I had a great time! I remember it like it was yesterday 18 years later. However, I believe the place has turned into more of a "swingers" type of a place. I am sure many people like Hedo for what it is and what it can be (use your imagination), but not our style. I thought I'd share that Hedo experience with ya'all!

Christie

Sorry if I didn't make it too clear that I know this post was a funny - that's why I said that humour is a wonderful thing - I also know he gives good advice for Jamaica.

It took me 2 readings of his post (before i read the follow-ups)and I was still confused - he was claiming to be a first time poster and I know that wasn't true, then again I also wasn't suprised by caribedon's advice - It was rather obvious that he fell for the 'first time poster' gag.

CarribeanSoul have a wonderful time, you are a good recommendation for Jamaica.

Do I remember rightly that you have a little boy and he's been to Jamaica before? So many people are discouraged from Jamaica (even if they don't have children) But hey, that just leaves more space for the rest of us!

Yes...I have a little boy....and his first trip to Negril was in 2004 when he was 7 months old. We brought a beach tent with us and he spent most of the afternoons under an almond tree on the beach. We are traveling without him, this time, however. My wife and I both work full time and the time alone will be most medicinal for various reasons. We cannot wait to bring him back, however....an absolute PERFECT place to bring small children. Beautiful swimming...shallow beach...no surf...wonderful locals!

YOU'RE GOING TO MISS HIM

I know I shouldn't be gloating it's rather 'Elementary' but hey you started it Our eldest is 23 tommorow (damn it's late, it's today) and our youngest is 16 - Boy, oh Boy were we glad when we could leave them with family or at home and enjoy ourselves occasionally

You are at the beginning of this and I want to prepare you for the empty space in your day - WHATEVER! you do, DO NOT!!!! feel guilty, it's good for you, your wife and actually it's good for your son - you'll miss him more than he'll miss you.

Red Stripe, Jamaican patties and Jerk chicken. Any room in your suitcase???

Thanks, Alya. I am truly blessed with an amazing little boy. This weekend it has just been him and I as his mother (my wife) is in Ohio on a girl's weekend. Fatherhood came late in my life (36 when he was born), but it is a quite a trip! I hope to show him the places my father (i.e., Negril) exposed me to. Life is so short....and so precious.

CaribbeanSoul Amen to that.
Enjoy.

Brett,
Alya has giving some great advice.She is right..you will miss your son more than he will miss you so just relax and have a well deserved vacation.

You are very fortunate (as we are)to have someone to watch your little boy while you and your wife take a vacation..it's good for you,your wife and your son..to get a break from time to time.It will make you love him even more!So get vertical and have a Red Stripe for me.
Christie

Oops..I meant horizontal.(guess I need another cup of coffee)

Get horizontal, Christie???!!!!
CSoul: Areas to avoid: the beach, while nude.
Areas to cover up: your behind, while on said beach. Itchy particles of sand, noseeum bites on your butt.

CaliNurse: That is pretty funny! Don't worry....these buns will stay properly clothed. I do remember on that trip in 1987, which I had mentioned earlier in this thread, that my mother had a problem keeping her top on, much to my embarrassment. I finally told her that I am going for a walk....and when I return, her swimsuit top better be back on! Pretty funny...but I was only 20.

CSoul--Do you mean your mother deliberately took her top off , i.e. a "problem keeping her top on" because she was flashin' the cute men-- or literally, like the tie came undone? Yeah, it's really fun when you're an older Mom to shock easily embarrassed kids--especially those protective, loving boys.
How long is your trip? My son and his wife left their 3 young kids (with me) for 9 or 10 days last Dec and went to CR. It was too long for them--they mssed those kids so much, as in "wish they were here to share this" and too long for the litllest one (he was 4). But earlier this year they took off agaoin on their own, only 4 days in Maui--too brief, but it was easier on them all . They thought sometime between 5 and 7 days would be perfect. You'll have to get back to us on how it worked out for you three.

CaribeDon, I've just started checking this board again after an absence ( have been on LA, Europe, and US but now have trip to St J planned for July 2006) I your advice and enthusiasm. Thank you!!

Hi Calinurse,
I meant horizontal as in being "beach bums&quot CaribbeanSoul likes to be this on vacation..nothing wrong with it as I'm sure that alot of us live hectic lives.Have a wonderful trip to St John! I miss it already..and it's only been a little over a month since I was there.

Take care,
Christie

Christie,
Beachbums or BeachBUMS? Either way, thanks for explaining before my naughty mind worked overtime. See why I wrote that about CSoul's Mom and her bathing suit top?
Yes, counting the months 'til St John (counting individual days makes it seem TOO far!).

Calinurse,
No problem