Captain Caleb

Negril sunset

My friend Jen is spending the week with us in Negril. Jen and I work together in Halifax, so it has been great to have someone here to talk about my project and bring new perspectives to the coastal environment here in Negril. 

Caleb has been eagerly awaiting our long list of new visitors and has adopted the role of tour guide. He was really excited to show Jen all around our apartment and introduce her to friends on the beach. He was most excited to show her  the  guest bathroom which we had decorated with shells. Cale kept saying "When Jen sees this she is going to say "Whaaaat??? Who did this! And I'll say it was me - Caleb!" 

Bathroom decor

Some highlights of our week with Jen:

 - glass bottom boat tour up the Negril River through Jamaica's second largest freshwater wetland, known as the Great Morass. We were surrounded by mangroves, giant ferns and egrets flying overhead. Cale loves boat rides, especially with Captain Raymond, one of Cale's absolute favourite people we've met so far.

Captain Raymond and Captain Caleb

You are never too young to drive in Jamaica!

- Dining out: eating dinner of steamed fish and rice while watching the sunset at the '24 hour cafe' (and no, it is not open 24 hours!).

- Snorkelling: Caleb's daily swims have paid off - he now is not only swimming - he is actually snorkelling! Mask on, snorkel in mouth, deep breaths, eyes open! He only keeps his head submerged for 5-10 seconds, but it is still pretty amazing and almost unbearably cute. 

- Jamaican cook off: We invited our friend Octavius, who sells carvings on the beach, and his two kids to our place for dinner. Octavius taught us how to cook a traditional Jamaican meal - snapper with rice and peas (red beans). One of my favorite quotes of the evening was when we asked how long we needed to cook the beans for and his response was - "Jamaicans don't have time. We just cook them until they are done." Makes sense somehow.

Snapper with tomato, onion, garlic and thyme

Dinner time on the patio!

I'm also extremely happy that Alan and I are half way through our time apart. 8 weeks gone, 8 weeks to go. He is now on his tour of Saskatchewan and British Columbia with the David Myles Trio. He'll be flying straight here when the shows are done and I can hardly wait.