What does it look like over there?

Part One - The Golden Years

I have observed a lot of interest of late in the "Old Days" in Negril and other places around the world, especially from those who were not around and do not understand what the world was like then.  From Haight Ashbury to old Puerta Vallarta to Key West to Negril, it was truly a different world. I have received a few requests to Show and Tell what I know so here goes. Since a picture is worth a thousand words I 'll give you a peek into a world Gone with the Wind (sniff, sniff . . .) The collection will continue to grow and for newer era pictures please check Wanderers and additional photo pages.

Bloody Bay.  Depending on who you ask, named for the whales that were once slaughtered here, or the last battle and capture by the British of Calico Jack and his fierce cohorts Anne Bonney and Bloody Mary Read. Either way, a place with a dramatic and violent history. Prior to the late 80's, Bloody Bay was an undeveloped slice of Paradise.  At the time I took this photo a day at Bloody Bay was the most blissfully peaceful way to spend your time anywhere.  What you see here has been replaced with an all-inclusive resort hotel. Okay...yes, twenty years ago people walked its length buck naked.  Happy?

Looking South toward Hedo

Looking North away from Negril

This was a typical crowd for Bloody Bay

Faces of the Past  -  Negril's Hippie History

Bongo Ray Shop 85 Old Negril Craft Market Yes, folks, that is indeed the notorious white toyota, slayer of innocent youth on the Wild West End.

Bongo's son Rennie on left now a man                 Pela, Kojak, Bongo and his son Rennie

the boy's tee shirt says "Shut TMI Forever"     That's Three Mile Island.     Anyone remember    the first End of the World, long before Y2k?

Once upon a time there was beach called Negril . . .

It was full of trees, sand, hammocks, dominoes, backgammon, red stripe, guys on acoustical guitars, ladies with entire coolers on their heads selling banana bread and fresh squeezed orange juice, and young girls who would braid your head up if you were crazy enough to do such a thing. . .

thank God for progress . . . right?!?

wide open spaces . . . room to make the big mistakes

E. C. - Errol

the view from the old Treehouse balcony, before Negril discovered Ready Mix Ltd., the concrete strip miners southwest of Kingston.

Can you believe this was downtown Negril? Last time I was there, there were a couple of trees left. I am just kidding, of course.  Negril is still beautiful.  You old timers know that many things there are much improved but there's always trade-offs in this life.

a craft market vendor at work . . .  and at play

the price of solitude - the old wood ladder on the Lynch cliffs, leading to the family swimming hole. well worth it, unless you get trapped in this cave by a clan of jellyfish for three hours . . . a story on that one in Life Dunga Yard, page two.

one draw at Seagrape

Laura and Pela . . . hold tight

raise your hand if you remember Jahnal

Although Negril has changed so very much, in comparison to Key West, or Bangkok, we've got it made.  It is still one of the most beautiful places on Earth and has some of the greatest people on the planet, you just have to look a little harder than before to find them.  My advice is to trod off the beaten path to places not often mentioned on the Net, if you want a taste of genuine Jamaican roots. When the hustlers begin to annoy you, try to imagine what it would be like to live on $40 a week, and then go buy something (but not cola of course).  On additional photo pages you'll find more recent pictures of Jamaica and you will find a lot of great shots on this web's Wanderers page as well.

Here's my story, photo, or comments

On to the second page of photos