Wednesday January 25th
Winifred Beach, Jamaica Palace and Rum Bar Fueds
Winifred Beach is the best beach I have ever been to in Jamaica. Lots of shade, lots of sun, clear water, and nice people. Dave drove us and his friend Bernie tagged along. We parked at the top of the hill and walked a steep shortcut down to the beach. We found a nice spot in the shade, in front of a little shop, right on the beach. The man running the shop was nice. He loaned us his pump so we could inflate our sillly rafts quicker. While at the beach we ran into our hosts. They let me know that the manager from Goldeneye had called them back and Matt and I were all set to visit Thursday at 10 am. Yahoo!!!
Our hosts from Search Me Heart also told us a great place to get lobster lunch on the beach. They were going to order their lunches so we asked them if they would order ours too. They said it was no problem and it'd be ready about 1pm. In the mean time, Kris and I floated around, Matt cleaned out his carved calabash, Louie (who can't swim) even got in the water. *watch out for urchins at Winifred. There were many in the dark grassy areas.* Dave was sick with something flu-like and slept. We chatted with some vendors and looked at thier goods. No one was pushy and all of the prices were VERY fair. No one seemed overpriced. If I had a price in my head, what I was willing to pay for something, that was the first price they listed. Only 1 time I bartered was because I only had $500j left and the man wanted $700. He agreed to sell the red seed/bead necklace for what I had left.
We had the order placed for our lunch but we weren't sure how much it was going to cost so we went up and asked the cook, better find out before we have to wash dishes! $1500 per person. It was a bit on the higher priced side of what we were used to but it was good. I figured that after lunch, I'd have $1000 left to buy souveniers. This sounds silly but I was really excited to buy trinkets and jewlery. In our 8 trips to Jamaica I never bought much, unless it was food stuff (spices, soups, ketchup) to bring home. Anyways, when a vendor approached I'd tell them "after lunch I will come find you and look". There was no hassle at all.
It was now 1 pm and we walked over to the lunch place. The cook brought out 4 servings. 8 lobsters and 4 plates of food. One problem...there were 6 of us, including Dave and Bernie. Matt walked up to the kitchen and asked the cook if we could have 2 extra plates so we could share. Matt was told "No. If you want to share divide it on your own plates". Matt was taken back a bit...who the heck is against sharing food? Apparently this guy was. Matt came back to the table and kinda said "eff it" gave Dave one our lunches. Kris and Louie gave one of their lunches to Bernie and us couples shared a lunch. It was still plenty of food even with sharing. It kinda pissed us off because when we spend $70usd for lunch, I think we should be able to share it if we so wish. I mean, we'd been sharing meals all week with everyone. We're not going to eat in front of the people who brought us here. Note: This wasn't a fancy restaurant or anything, this was lunch on the beach...were we in the wrong? I don't know...
After lunch I made sure to find the vendors I had talked to earlier. I bought the red seed/bead necklace and a Jamaica color braided-like bracelet. Kris bought her items from the vendors I didn't purchase anything from. I think we bought from 5 vendors total. We bought a few beers and single Craven A's while at the beach, going to a different shop each time.
We got back to Drapers around 3pm. We stopped at the house, dropped off our things, changed and headed down the road. We had to meet up with Sidney at Jamaica Palace at 4pm.
Jamaica Palace was about a 20 minute walk west of Drapers. Dave and Bernie walked with us, past the troll, grrrr. He left us alone but stared us down the entire time. We got to the gate of Jamaica Palace and the gatekeeper called Sidney to come meet us. This place was breathtaking. Magnificent. HUGE. One big art gallery. I could have spent days wandering around looking at the details. Sadly, the place was empty. We only saw 1 other couple the entire tour. I asked Sidney if we were allowed to be here, he said he had cleared it with his boss and it was ok. He said hopefully we would come back someday or post pictures on the internet for our friends to see. Walking around it was as if we had this entire place to ourselves. Jamaica Palace has 80 rooms, only 10 rooms were booked. The place had had it's hayday and while it was still beautiful, it's just older. It needs some TLC but WE were impressed. Not ONE room is decorated the same. Sidney told us that everything in the rooms from the curtains to the upholstry are all made in house on the grounds for each room so it all matches.
The pool at Jamaica Palace is shaped like Jamaica. The birds around the property match the area they are in. There is even a talking parrot. I would love to stay at this resort. Some might say it needs updated but I found it charming and eccentric. A bit on the odd side. A mix between classic style old Hollywood and Alice in Wonderland...but not in the creepy way. On the walk home we stopped at the gates of the man who owns Jamaica Palace. There was an old horse stable that was crumbling in the jungle and what I think was a private chapel at the end of the lane. Very intersting history...if anyone knows the stories of Trident and Jamaica Palace, please share.
Back at Drapers, we stop in at the bar across the street from our house. Dave refused to go in. We asked him what was wrong and he said that he and Mitzie had gotten into an argument about him taking us to the other bar which meant we weren't at her place as much. After that, we made it a point to stop in more often even if it was for a juice, a pop or to tell her our adventures of the day. She said she enjoyed our company. We liked hanging out there too. She had a tv and we watched music videos a lot. Oooh. Almost forgot to mention...Kris and I both noticed that the women in Drapers were SUPER friendly! Saying hello to us, sometimes before we did. Usually when we walk in somewhere, we always got the 'up and down look' but here the girls were awesome. Really friendly. They'd chat us up, we'd talk about music, movies, girl stuff. There were a few girls who hung out with Mitzie at her shop so it was fun.
It kinda made Dave upset that we were choosing to stay at Mitzie's instead of going to the bars he wanted us to go to but we liked it there, it felt like the safest bar, and it was right across from the house...not down the road by the troll. Mitzie had controll of her bar and kicked people out if they 'begged us' too many smokes or drinks. A few were ok, we didn't mind but she didn't let anyone take advantage of us. Dave said we'd still have to make an appearance at the other bar to keep that bartender happy, even if it was just for a drink. Kris and Louie would go on Thursday. More on that later...
We went to Pakka's for dinner. Curried chicken back, rice and peas, veggies and callalloo. Dave was upset with us at ordering this. He wanted to go to Woody's: the burger joint, not eat "poor people food" as he called it. That really got under my skin. He made that comment in front of other people eating and not complaining about the food, just happy to have something in their belly. I thought it was really rude. We asked him if he wanted some and he said no. He didn't eat that night as far as I know. He wanted a hamburger and was pouting like a child because we didn't go to the burger place. IMO, he could have gone to Woody's, we had given him some money for taking us around earlier in the day. I don't know why he was acting like this. I enjoyed the chicken back meal. I never thought chicken back would be good but it had a lot of flavor from the marrow and enough meat. Total for 6 of us was $1700. The General and the mentally handicapped man ate with us, their cost was added into ours. Not a problem. Oh...and we tipped the chef a "Q" of rum and a craven. He was happy. We were happy.
PICTURE TIME!!!
Winifred Beach
Matt cleaning out the calabash gourd
Matt and I
Kris AND Louie in the sea
Murals on the bathroom walls
Oh and a note about the bathrooms at Winifred. There is a charge of 50j to use them. Louie had to go and he said it was disgusting. We're not picky people, we'll poop in public (that reference is for you Sophie), poop in the woods, whatever but Louie said this place was gross. There was poop all over. Poop in places that made him scratch his head, wondering how in the world?...so if you think you might have to go, go before or hold it.
Beach Dog
Lizard on tree at Winifred beach
Our lunch at Winifred that Matt and I shared.
Jamaica Palace
School bus on the way to Jamaica palace
Private Vila at Jamaica Palace
Lobby at Jamaica Palace
Rooms at the Palace. Notice how everything matches.
Breakfast dining room
Views from the Palace. Ahhhmazing!
Dinner at Pakka's