Walliebloggin': No pressure / Where’s the sun?

Our view by day.

Days 2 through 5 on the Negril, Jamaican coast!

While checking in last night, our check in guy, Oliver, asked us if we’d be interested in a no pressure 90 minute sales presentation on the resort properties that included the Royalton, our resort for the week. If so, we would get 4 nights at one of their properties and a voucher towards some of the activities on the grounds. We took the bait and decided we’d get it over with our first full morning. We met Oliver in the main lobby and he directed us to the sales office area, where we met Kineal. Kineal, a nice young man, took us on our 90 minute tour of mostly pictures where we could go and things that would be of benefit to us, should we “join the club.”

After beginning with breakfast and a relatively sort sales pitch on the many benefits, Kineal took us on a walkthrough of a three-bedroom unit that overlooked the water, with a full kitchen, pool table, and depending on the level we would buy in at…our own butler. We then strolled back to the sales office, imagining our new life of luxury, only to be introduced to Gregory, the next in line to convince us we could not live without this opportunity. On a legal pad, he drew a diagram of numbers and symbols from memory in strategic places that showed percentages saved, dollar amounts, and interest notations. All of which were meant to get us to leap into his lap and thank him for choosing us to become a part of the sales numbers of the day. Evidently and to no one’s surprise, Gregory didn’t take no for an answer. He and Kineal graciously gave us time to discuss it privately, in a room full of similar groups, huddling up to make a 15-year commitment.

As it became clear to Gregory that we were ready to get our “door prizes” and walk, we were introduced to the next level of pressure by meeting an Australian, who we will call George, because I never caught his name. George smiled a little more than Gregory. Actually quite a bit more. He got more personal, shared stories of his own travels, his mom, and again gave us more private time to talk amongst ourselves.

We finally got him to accept our position, I thought, and as we got up to begin our walk of shame passed all the other couples in their decision process, George asked in almost a full pout, “Tell me what it will take…” He quoted the “end of the month” bull and“his numbers” drivel andhis boss was now looking on (a man with no facial muscles capable of producing a smile). We left, assuming he was going to be flogged in a back room, Kineal would not smile at us as easily, and we haven’t seen Oliver since (well, maybe once).

Our 90-minute presentation turned into approximately 3 hours. We missed the only sunshine of the day and as the rain set in, we lounged around under cover the rest of the day. The beach will have to wait.

Since then, the sun has made a daily appearance, but then so has the rain, with pop-up thunderstorms in the afternoons. We have managed to eat at almost all of the 12 eating establishments, visited most of the bars, including the ones poolside, and trespassed onto a clothing optional beach, which we were ultimately escorted off of. Oops!

By the time we leave Jamaica, we will have managed to only get off the property twice for excursions. Once was to Rick’s Café and once with a trip to a local market with a woman and her daughter we met at dinner. She is from here, but lives in Miami now.

Our excursion, via catamaran, took us to a reef to snorkel and then to Rick’s Café where cliff divers entertain inebriated tourists and where everyone can try their skills at jumping off a lower level perch. Let that process for a minute… A DJ keeps the crowd jazzed and the Red Stripe (local beer) dancers keep the crowd entertained with head bobbing reggae.

We left the beach at our resort at 2:00 and were shuttled to the anchored cat, by a glass bottom boat (of which the glass was covered). We boarded with about 30 strangers, but soon became close and I mean close because it started sprinkling and we all huddled under the small covered area in front of the captain’s chair. We were introduced to our escorts; two “life guards,” two girls in charge of entertainment, two bartenders, and a DJ (of course), while we motored to the reef. Our shuttle boat also shadowed us, I am assuming for emergency purposes. As we rounded the corner of our cove and passed the clothing optional beach, we got our snorkeling “talk,” followed by the announcement that those that did not get in the water could get a jump-start on the alcohol that was about to flow freely.

We anchored, were issued our snorkeling stuff then stepped down a ladder and got into the water. After getting our bearings, we snorkeled our way towards a group already bobbing up and down about 75 yards away. At first the bottom was covered with sea grass and not much to color or life, but soon we came across some coral covered rock and fish of all shapes, sizes, and colors. That lead to more coral, more fish, and soon we were mesmerized by the show being played out anywhere from 5 to 15 feet below us. On Drew’s way back, he came across a HUGE old anchor, and others reported an old canon. We were told that a pirate ship had sunk in the area back in the day.

Drying off in the rain after snorkeling the reef.

Reef greeters.

Drew feeling the Jamaican vibe.

I could feel the rain picking up on my back as we neared the boat. With our time in the water done, we climbed back aboard only to find out that the weather was worsening and “in our best interests,” the captain (or someone) said we were going to be let off at a nearby beach to be shuttled to Rick’s Café by bus. That nearby beach happened to be a Jimmy Buffet “Margaritaville” bar in Negril. We all disembarked, along with all the alcohol and we crowded into a bus that was slightly too small for the number we had, but no problem mon!

Short stop at Margaritaville!

Traded our catamaran for a bus. A small bus at that!

Not long after packing in the bus, we unpacked ourselves from our bus and walked into the perfect outdoor venue for tourists to drink, eat, buy souvenirs, and dive! This world famous bar is perched on a rocky cliff with a small cove, where the water is deep enough to accept divers from 70 feet up. After walking in and getting a feel for what Rick’s was all about, Beth and Drew headed right to the diving platform…35 feet above the water! People were lined up to take their shot at a low, medium and high platform to jump from. Both of their attempts were successful, but some side effects included bruising and soreness in places you’d rather not have bruising and soreness! But “when in Rome”… DIVE! The music was thumpin’ and the people watching was just as intriguing, but we had a schedule to stick to.

Onlookers at Rick's Cafe, watching the tourist divers below.

Besides diving, there is the bar side of the cliff. A stage, souvenir shop, and
restaurant.

They gotta post it! Doesn't mean they gotta enforce it!

Drew as he begins his descent. This is not a reenactment.

Beth, about to receive a bruising! She did come up
smiling and happy before the adrenaline wore off!

Celebrating successful Jamaican dives!

Once again on the bus, we headed back to the resort. I cannot describe how Jamaican’s drive. The roads are narrow, they drive on the left hand side of the road, and whether you are driving a motorcycle or a bus…anything goes! The only thing they have going for them is that everyone is in the same boat; they all drive the same…it seems. Drivers honk as they go around sharp corners (if they are safety conscience), they pass where even I wouldn’t attempt it, and speed is a relative state of mind and engine capability. We experienced all that on the way back to the resort. Unfortunately we came across an accident that had just happened. The two cars did not resemble cars anymore and one man was stuck in his. The one redeeming quality of the drivers in Jamaica is there is no shortage of willingness to help. In this case, there were many people that had pulled over to see if they could lend a hand in this situation, including our excursion leaders. We also had a few nurses on board that offered their help. Shortly after we pulled over, an ambulance did arrive and we resumed our trip to the resort. Due to the weather and the accident, our excursion gave us more than we bargained for.

We’ve met some very nice people. Couples getting married, families “on holiday,” and some like us…celebrating a milestone of some sort. So with the time we have left, it’s time to get out of the room and enjoy.