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| Negril |
| Excerpted
from the book, Jamaica,
by Don Philpott |
Negril
is the main resort area on the island's west
coast, and extends from the nineteenth-century
Negril Lighthouse in the parish of Westmoreland
in the south, to Bloody Bay in Hanover Parish
in the north.
Bloody Bay gets its name because
it is used to be a whaling station and whales
would be hauled on to the beach to be cut
up for their blubber. The Negril Bay waters
are shallow and protected by the offshore
reef. The coastline takes ago was used by
pirates to bring their captured treasure ashore.
Negril is very popular and has grown rapidly
in recent years. Most of this stems from the
early 1960s when new roads and drainage canals
were built, and it was then 'discovered' by
the hippies who set up a colony. Their easy-going
attitude remains today throughout the town
that stretched for miles along the bay. Resort
development is supposed to be carefully controlled,
and no building by law is allowed to be taller
than the tallest palm. Apart from the beautiful
beaches, the waters offer world-class diving
and a wealth of water sports.
The tourist office, is in the Adrija Plaza
De Negril, with the post office, police station
and Negril Yacht Club further along West End
Road, and the two-floor crafts market almost
office on Lighthouse Road, where there is
Island clothing, woodcarvings and local crafts.
It opens early and closes late!
The Anancy Family
Fun and Nature
Park on bustling Norman Manley
Boulevard, has an 18-hole miniature golf course,
go kart rides, mini-train, fishing pond, nature
trail and three small museums.
Because of the rapid resort development, you
are likely to be hustled in Negril. Ignore
the hustlers and enjoy the town. Its location
on the west coast of the Island, means there
are fabulous sunsets. The town boasts many
fine resorts but you should try and check
out the foyer of the Grand Lido with its marble
reception area, waterfalls and Tiffany glass
chandeliers. The hotel also boasts the 147ft
(45m) motor yacht Zein, which was the wedding
gift from Aristotle Onassis to Prince Rainier
of Monaco and Grace Kelly and used for their
honeymoon. It is now used for sunset cruises.
Opposite the Grand Lido is Hedonism II, another
Superclubs Resort where the bars and discos
stay open to dawn.
Booby Cay,
the island at the northern end of the beach,
was used during the filming of Walt Disney's
film 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea',
and for some scenes from the James Bond film
'Thunderball'. Negril
Lighthouse, at the southern end
of the bay, is the tallest structure in Negril
at 100ft (30m) above sea level. It can be
visited daily between 9am and 4 pm. There
are good views here of the West
End Cliffs where cliff diving and
sunset watching are popular pastimes.
Much of the area inland is a huge marsh with
mangroves and a wealth of water birds. There
are also cruises (957-4323) to Negril's Reef
with visits to nearby coral islands, such
as Booby Cay. Another lmini-trip is to visit
Whitehall Great
House, ten minutes away, on a former
300 acre (129-hectare) pimento plantation.
The great house was built by slaves at the
end of the seventeenth century, but was damaged
by fire in 1985 and has not been repaired.
The estate is noted for a giant cottonwood
tree reputed to be 900 years old and is the
resting place of Robert Parkinson, who discovered
the disease named after him. It is open daily.
To most people this stretch of coastline is
what the Caribbean is all about and what the
perfect tropical beach should look like. Coral
reefs off shore provide safe swimming
in the clear, warm waters, the golden sand
beaches are fringed with gently swaying palms
that provide shade, and there are street stalls
and beach bars providing Jamaican fast food,
snacks and drinks. |
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