Other Stuff Post #1: The Blue Hole Mineral Spring

Most visitors to Negril have heard of jumping into the sea from the cliffs at Rick's Cafe, but are surprised to hear about jumping into a hole in the ground… nowhere near the sea…without being pushed (Crazy, right?). Absolutely! It's crazy fun! I am speaking of the Blue Hole Mineral Spring located about 20-30 minutes outside of Negril. It is very easily accessible and we can arrange transportation for you with one of our trusted drivers. (FYI-- there are several mineral springs/rivers in the area, and actually another named the Blue Hole located at Roaring River. I will write another post about that one later.) This place has something for everyone. For the more adventurous (anyone, anyone… am I the only one raising my hand?), you can take the plunge into the attractions' namesake- a  20 foot drop into 20 feet of crystal clear, mineral spring water. BTW, you will have to look out for other jumpers falling from the sky as you make your way to the side of the pool or the ladder. Yes, I said ladder, for it is a hole you jumped into and now you must get yourself out. For the more laid back (cough, cough "fraidycats"), there is a lovely pool filled with the same mineral water from the spring. There you can get all of the benefits of the spring without doing any of the work. (Really, what are you on, a vacation?) There is also a bar that serves food, a DJ, a volleyball net and a brand new hotel. I haven't stayed overnight, so I cannot speak to the hotel. There is a fee ($10 US) to jump into the hole for as many times as you can manage. There are also "professional" divers there who do all kinds of crazy stunts for your adoration and tips. So when you're in Negril and you have time to kill and want to see something off the beaten path, consider The Blue Hole Mineral Spring. You'll have a blast!

Well I'm here... now what?

So you've come to Negril. WELCOME! People come for all sorts of reasons. Recommendations from friends or co-workers, Groupon or Living Social deals, or like me, as refugees from a storm (literal or otherwise). Like the tourism advertisement for Jamaica says, "Once you go, you know."

Once you've seen that the beaches really do live up to the hype and you've overloaded on the awesomeness of riding our jet skis (Insert shameless plug here--well, not so shameless, I am providing valuable info after all. Yeah, let's go with that.) you may be wondering, what else is there to do? Glad that you asked. To answer that question, I'm going to do a series of posts on other activities in the surrounding area. I'll even let you know which ones I have done personally. I'll title the series "Other Stuff," mostly because that's what it is. Stay tuned!

Here's a random pic just because I think blog posts need pics. Look carefully and notice that the sign IS the store, well the side of it anyway. You can just make out the steering wheel of the cart at the top (right) and the wheel at the bottom. I love these things! These carts are very popular in Jamaica (their version of a food truck) and like food trucks, usually have some of THE BEST food. I eat from them regularly. Don't be afraid to try one when you come, unless of course, you get sick. If that happens, I never told you to do it. Just sayin'.

Perfect Endings

"When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator."

Mahatma Gandhi

Well, not that it matters, but I couldn't agree more MG! Here in Negril, Jamaica we have sunsets to rival those anywhere in the world. Being located on the western end of the island affords us unobstructed views of the sun slipping down into the sea... a show that even the most unaffected among us has to take pause and pay homage to more times than not. Think about it...a beautiful sunset is the perfect ending to any day, good or bad. It is a reminder of the constant nature of the universe and that for every end there is a beginning. I consider myself abundantly blessed to be able to share these moments with loved ones and our guests. And if you've never witnessed such a phenomenon, while floating out at sea on a jet ski or a boat with the engine turned off and nothing but the sound of the waves lapping against the hull, then you should definitely add it to your bucket list. 

Here are a few of my favorites.