02-06-2015, 07:19 PM
Westenders, interesting points made. I can only speak for myself - having been traveling to Negril since 1983 and for the past 11 years "living" there for 2-3 months at a time in a residential neighborhood deep west.
I am keenly aware of the changes Negril has gone through since the highway from MoBay was finished and West End Road was paved. Its why I'm so glad I agreed to sublet my friend's house in the yard where I now stay 11 years ago. Things in that neck of the woods still pretty much carries a vibe like Negril in the "old" days". I still carry myself as I always did in regards to meeting and greeting neighbors and people on the street but I no longer will walk alone at night in my neck of the woods (no street lights, too dark, too much potential trouble) so like I said - I have those fond memories from a time when Negril was spectacular for me in every way and I have adapted to current times as I've needed to. An old AA saying - look back - but don't stare.
Yes! LTU, Catcha, Seastar, AhBees, 3 Dives, Canoe, MiYard, Corner Bar, Xtabi and Rockhouse are beloved by tourists. I adore hanging out at Canoe with my "bad girls"...MiYard was a fairly regular stop for us back in the day - after a show on the beach or a late night party - I never got there before 1:00am and the place used to rock. I love the eggs benedict and conch burgers at Xtabi...and Ivans is my favorite restaurant in Negril. LTU is my neighborhood "hang" so I'm partial to it. LTU, MiYard and Corner Bar are also beloved and frequented by locals so I enjoy hanging out at those places to enjoy the mix of local and tourist and spending the night talking to everyone!
"The smaller joints"...Sir D's - lol. I used to stop there to take photos when it was not even open, all boarded up. My Scottish friends had a great Thai Restaurant there for a year. Its one of the sweetest views on the West End. Years ago I used to eat at Chicken Lavish, when I stayed further down on the cliffs. I've been going to PeeWees since my first trip in '83 - saw Tyrone Taylor perform there back then. Up until recently my stays would extend into February specifically for the best party on the planet there - PeeWee's birthday party. I'm good friends with the family as well (they are my neighbors) so when we can we stop in. No Limit - my fave place to watch football - US or Canadian. I've been eating at Sips and Bites for a good 20 or so years starting when they were in a tiny place with two tables...and I still enjoy eating there, its one of my fave out to dinner spots. I've been going to Jus Natural also for 20 years - when the sisters took over the previous business (when it was called "Miss Kitty's") - so nice they are only a five minute walk away from my yard now - I make sure to have breakfast there as often as I can when I'm in town.
These "smaller joints" are all frequented by tourists A LOT - Jus Natural was wicked busy each time I ate there this winter. So these places, while not Rockhouse or Catcha have as much appeal to tourists while retaining their local neighborhood vibe (and Jus Natural and Sips and Bites authentic Jamaican food to boot!)
Again - when I stayed down by M&L (aka "Lances") I shopped there. Now that I'm further south Wise Choice is our store of choice. I'll still hit up M&L for refrigerated eggs (done for tourists, btw) and they carry Clamato so the Canadian tourists flock there by the bus load.
I don't know about tourists not spending West End way. I saw lots of tourist activity around Christmas and New Years on the West End and again right before we left the last couple of weeks of January. I also saw lots of folks walking West End Road - more than I've seen in a few years. I think people were scared off with talk of robberies and even more so cars speeding down a narrow road with no sidewalks. Me, during the day, I walk as much as I can (i.e., to Wise Choice to pick up a few items).
The "drunk bus" (as we call it) - I never want to be anywhere when that thing arrives - funny thing though - my last visit to Canoe before I left the island, I was enjoying my second Caesar and great conversation with my bestie and Patty when all of a sudden it pulled up. It was after sunset so there must have been a request - so all these drunks pour out of the thing and into the bar - Patty jumped up to help behind the bar, my bestie and I made a beeline to the deck. While I might not enjoy being there when "they" are there it has been a great thing for the West End, especially those "smaller joints" like No Limit and Sir D's, places tourists who stay in AIs or on the beach may never see otherwise.
"Or maybe the sky is falling posse on these boards are scaring people." Winner, winner chicken dinner - EXACTLY
I am keenly aware of the changes Negril has gone through since the highway from MoBay was finished and West End Road was paved. Its why I'm so glad I agreed to sublet my friend's house in the yard where I now stay 11 years ago. Things in that neck of the woods still pretty much carries a vibe like Negril in the "old" days". I still carry myself as I always did in regards to meeting and greeting neighbors and people on the street but I no longer will walk alone at night in my neck of the woods (no street lights, too dark, too much potential trouble) so like I said - I have those fond memories from a time when Negril was spectacular for me in every way and I have adapted to current times as I've needed to. An old AA saying - look back - but don't stare.
Yes! LTU, Catcha, Seastar, AhBees, 3 Dives, Canoe, MiYard, Corner Bar, Xtabi and Rockhouse are beloved by tourists. I adore hanging out at Canoe with my "bad girls"...MiYard was a fairly regular stop for us back in the day - after a show on the beach or a late night party - I never got there before 1:00am and the place used to rock. I love the eggs benedict and conch burgers at Xtabi...and Ivans is my favorite restaurant in Negril. LTU is my neighborhood "hang" so I'm partial to it. LTU, MiYard and Corner Bar are also beloved and frequented by locals so I enjoy hanging out at those places to enjoy the mix of local and tourist and spending the night talking to everyone!
"The smaller joints"...Sir D's - lol. I used to stop there to take photos when it was not even open, all boarded up. My Scottish friends had a great Thai Restaurant there for a year. Its one of the sweetest views on the West End. Years ago I used to eat at Chicken Lavish, when I stayed further down on the cliffs. I've been going to PeeWees since my first trip in '83 - saw Tyrone Taylor perform there back then. Up until recently my stays would extend into February specifically for the best party on the planet there - PeeWee's birthday party. I'm good friends with the family as well (they are my neighbors) so when we can we stop in. No Limit - my fave place to watch football - US or Canadian. I've been eating at Sips and Bites for a good 20 or so years starting when they were in a tiny place with two tables...and I still enjoy eating there, its one of my fave out to dinner spots. I've been going to Jus Natural also for 20 years - when the sisters took over the previous business (when it was called "Miss Kitty's") - so nice they are only a five minute walk away from my yard now - I make sure to have breakfast there as often as I can when I'm in town.
These "smaller joints" are all frequented by tourists A LOT - Jus Natural was wicked busy each time I ate there this winter. So these places, while not Rockhouse or Catcha have as much appeal to tourists while retaining their local neighborhood vibe (and Jus Natural and Sips and Bites authentic Jamaican food to boot!)
Again - when I stayed down by M&L (aka "Lances") I shopped there. Now that I'm further south Wise Choice is our store of choice. I'll still hit up M&L for refrigerated eggs (done for tourists, btw) and they carry Clamato so the Canadian tourists flock there by the bus load.
I don't know about tourists not spending West End way. I saw lots of tourist activity around Christmas and New Years on the West End and again right before we left the last couple of weeks of January. I also saw lots of folks walking West End Road - more than I've seen in a few years. I think people were scared off with talk of robberies and even more so cars speeding down a narrow road with no sidewalks. Me, during the day, I walk as much as I can (i.e., to Wise Choice to pick up a few items).
The "drunk bus" (as we call it) - I never want to be anywhere when that thing arrives - funny thing though - my last visit to Canoe before I left the island, I was enjoying my second Caesar and great conversation with my bestie and Patty when all of a sudden it pulled up. It was after sunset so there must have been a request - so all these drunks pour out of the thing and into the bar - Patty jumped up to help behind the bar, my bestie and I made a beeline to the deck. While I might not enjoy being there when "they" are there it has been a great thing for the West End, especially those "smaller joints" like No Limit and Sir D's, places tourists who stay in AIs or on the beach may never see otherwise.
"Or maybe the sky is falling posse on these boards are scaring people." Winner, winner chicken dinner - EXACTLY
"Once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right..."
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