Negril in a Coconut Shell

From a little cottage in Negril,
I wrote these lines to you.
From a little cottage in Negril,
I realized I love you still.

Its an amazing thing this time around to have a site that is actually popular enough to have a song and music video written about it. The song by Duane Stephenson, really does a wonderful job catching the essence of Negril...

To everyone in Jamaica, Negril is often referred to as the "Capital of Casual." The vibes of this city are much more mellow than what you find on the rest of the island, which is saying a lot since Jamaica as a whole is laid back.... The crime rate is significantly lower here and the people just seem to have a better outlook on life. Being surrounded by positive people is a true blessing everyday :-)

From the minute I step outside of my hillside Jamaican yard house, I am surrounded by the soothing aromas of jerk seasoning, cooking food, fruit, the sea, and ganja. They mix together and form the smell that encompasses the town. From what I have read Negril proper is only home to about 5000-6000 Jamaicans. Although, it does feel like it is a little bigger than that; I think mainly do to the number of Jamaicans who come to work here and the number of tourists who are in the area too.

Negril itself is divided into 3 distinct parts:

Beach End:
The first part is known as the beach end. This is home to the famous 7 mile white sand beach. It truly is an amazing site and dream to walk down. The sea on this end is perhaps some of the calmest ocean waters I have ever seen. It is a beautiful turquoise blue color and crystal clear. The beach road is lined of either side with hotels and restaurants. They start off with the smaller ones, that give Negril its "Capital of Casual" feel and eventually segway into the large resorts. The resorts are far enough away though that most people don't notice it.

West End / Cliff Side:
The second part is known as the west-end or cliff side. This part is known for its distinct sea-side cliffs, as apparent from the name of it. The cliff side is a little less touristy, but not too much. There if cliff diving and snorking into the deep blue waters that surround it. This is available at a good portion of the bars and hotels. I have tried the cliff diving and it is pretty spectacular!! :-) This side of the Negril is also home to the world famous Rick's Cafe (although I have yet to go there haha). Can be a little tough on a Peace Corps budget to live like a tourist. I am personally a fan of all the small local bars that run along the cliff side too.

The Hills:
Finally the third part (the part I live in!) is known as he hills! This part is built in the hills that are located behind the main drags of Negril. This is where the majority of the Jamaicans who reside in Negril, have their homes. It has a distinctly more Jamaican feel to it. Characterized by its lush green hills and beautiful little communities built into the hill side. Its such a peaceful place (with the exception of the 24/7 reggae music! amazing though haha).

So all three of these parts of Negril meet in the central round-about (pictured above) and form what is known internationally as the "Capital of Casual"

Random Act of Kindness: Cooked dinner twice for my land-lord Romaine. He actually liked my American cooking! I was pretty proud needless to say haha...