Cayman
Hey y’all, what’s going on? In case you were fooled by my little contest, let me remind you, I was most definitely ghost posting last week. I was far, far away from my computer. I turned off my phone on our flight out of town and didn’t turn it back on until we got back stateside.
Oh, and did I mention, we spent the week in GRAND CAYMAN?
Ummm, yeah.
Overall? Our vacation was AMAZING. I mean look at this photo!
Did I fail to mention that photo was taken about 10 steps from our condo? It was just amazing. Turns out, our condo is owned by Paul Overstreet. How do I know? We met him. He was staying in our complex in another unit. Some of you country music fans might recognize him. He was nice enough, though, as my friend pointed out, his attitude towards the two of us changed when he learned we were on the island with our husbands. Ahem.
The rest of the week was full of some loves and hates. I mean, let me preface this by telling you that the week was just outstanding. So, my hates? Well, they were minor. But, I’ll let you be the judge.
Sunday
Loved our day spent on the beach.
Hated spending $60 on a lunch of a salad, sandwich and two drinks between Sweets and me.
Loved going to dinner at Calypso Grill for some amazingly fresh seafood right on the water.
Hated that it cost us $60 in cab fares to go the 8-mile round trip.
Monday
Loved another day on the beach.
Hated that it had to end in order to rent a car and go to the grocery store.
Loved a night of foolproof margaritas (our own recipe that looked something like this).
Hated that it might have stunted our ability to finish a puzzle.
Tuesday
Loved another day relaxing in the sun.
Hated that it was because of a canceled submarine trip due to high waves, which rendered boarding the submarine impossible.
Loved dinner at Brasserie, a hidden gem to most tourists as it’s tucked in a business district.
Hated that the lovely necklace Christyn made me is all wonky in this photo.
Wednesday
Loved taking a tour of the Mastic Trail.
Hated that we followed it up with a visit to Rum Point, which was a little too busy and a little too cheesy for our taste.
Loved that Rum Point gave a great photo op.
Hated nothing about that photo – it’s priceless.
Loved we spent that evening drinking more fool proof margaritas on the beach.
Hated that it made the room spin that night.
Loved that it produced two of my favorite photos from the trip.
Hated that it’s going to be difficult to put those photos in the same frame.
Thursday
Loved that we spent yet another day relaxing by the beach.
Hated our catamaran trip was canceled due to high winds.
Loved that the canceled trip gave us an opportunity to go snorkeling around our condo.
Hated that the face mask didn’t fit perfectly, so I bailed after swimming with the cool fishies for a couple hours.
Loved that I was a smart girl who used 70 spf on my face and 50 spf on the rest of my body.
Hated that I fell asleep in the sun, resulting in an icky burn.
Loved that Sweets and I decided to splurge on dinner at Eric Ripert’s Blue. Ohmyfuckinggod was that dinner good.
Hated not one thing about that meal – it was heavenly (and believe me when I say it better well have been a meal from the gods based on how much we spent!).
Friday
Loved relaxing in the morning while the boys went snorkeling.
Hated that we had to organize to leave the beach after lunch.
Loved that we were able to organize another boating trip.
Hated that it wasn’t a catamaran.
Loved swimming with, holding, feeding and even kissing stingrays. Truly remarkable!
Hated that booze cruise boats showed up blaring Miley Cyrus, playing frisbee in the water, drinking and generally disrupting nature.
Loved snorkeling with tons more fishies than the day before.
Hated that our friend decided to throw some squid into the water right next to me, leading to a feeding frenzy right in front of my face.
Loved that we were able to spend a week in Grand Cayman.
Hated that it ended with a 4:30 am wake-up call and three flights in order to get home.
*****
I know I’ve only skimmed the surface of this trip. I missed telling you about the adult twins who we saw wearing the same outfit … twice. I didn’t talk much about our neighbors and how brilliantly the four of us got along. I purposely skipped talking about how we grilled burgers and sausages on two different nights just to save a little money.
There are too many details that will be left unsaid for our own long-lasting memories. Man, it was good to be away. And I can pretty much guarantee that today will be a tough day returning to work. Forgive me if I’m a little quiet in the blogosphere.
In the meantime, you should definitely head over to Marie’s blog, because she’s helping to organize a day all about women, our rights and how they may be at risk. And, as promised, I will be announcing the contest winners at some point this week.
April 5th, 2010 at 6:41 am
Looks beautiful! And you got so many great pictures! (That’s the hard thing about going just the two of you, like John and I did- all the pictures end up with that weird outstretched arm self-portrait look.)
April 5th, 2010 at 7:03 am
It looks like you had an amazing time! Oh my goodness, I need some time in the sun these days- I will definitely live vicariously through you…. though maybe not through your sunburn =)
April 5th, 2010 at 7:43 am
I LOVE that you had such a great time. It looks so relaxing and I am so happy you had so much fun!
April 5th, 2010 at 7:51 am
I am so glad that you had such a great trip! I missed you last week but love that you turned off your phone and just throughly enjoyed the trip. Nothing beats being in the moment like that.
April 5th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Amazing photos. All vacations have a love/hate relationship. But the worst part is coming home.
April 5th, 2010 at 8:21 am
Your trip looks soooooo amazing!!!! Such beautiful pictures!
April 5th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Looks amazing.
April 5th, 2010 at 9:29 am
Welcome back!
I would NOT have wanted to come back to the states after a trip like that, no way, no how.
We certainly missed you but I could imagine that you’ll need a few days of detoxing from the vacation :)
April 5th, 2010 at 9:30 am
it sounds perfect, nilsa! so happy that you got this relaxing time away. the pictures are great! can’t wait to hear more!
April 5th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Oh! It sounds and looks so lovely! And I am so bitter and jealous.
April 5th, 2010 at 9:59 am
love love love the caymans! it was the first place i ever went snorkling -- and were you at stingray city? that was such an amazing experience for me!
we stayed at an all inclusive because we’d been warned about the insane prices of everything down there. from your photos, though, it looks like it was WELL worth the cab rides and expensive salads. i’m even jealous of your sunburn, and that’s not something you’ll often hear me say! :-)
April 5th, 2010 at 10:17 am
So basically you hated everything that you’re too old to actually fool yourself into liking anymore (overspending, overdrinking, booze cruise.) =)
April 5th, 2010 at 10:25 am
OMG -- that is exactly the kind of vacation that I need! Looks like you had a great time!
April 5th, 2010 at 11:11 am
I’m still waiting for you to send me the sun, sand, water and clear skies. ;)
Fabulous pictures! Thanks for mentioning what we’re up to regarding women’s rights and issues!
By the way, do these places just love to charge ridiculous amounts of money for food and drink OR WHAT?! I mean COME ON.
April 5th, 2010 at 11:45 am
What wonderful photos! Ah well, what would a vacation be if you weren’t fleeced by expensive tourist-trap pricing? It’s all part of the package. I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed your trip.
April 5th, 2010 at 11:53 am
Mmmm beach! I love it so. Sounds like you had a wonderful time. I’d love to turn off my phone and unplug for an entire week.
April 5th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
LOVE these. It looks so gorgeous there. I’m glad y’all had a good time!
April 5th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
What a wonderful time, wonderful photos, and WONDERFUL to have you back!!
April 5th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Welcome back! I’m glad you had a great time. Those photos are great, and the ones of each of you looking at each other are so sweet. You guys look so happy and content. :)
April 5th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Your photos are so great! Love the ones of you guys on the beach. Yay vacations! I totally want to go snorkel in that perfect looking water now.
April 5th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Sounds like a killer trip. I love the photos. I also love that you chose to break down the trip into loves and hates. That is exactly what traveling is like.
April 5th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Wow. Color me jealous. Looks like you and Sweets had a great time.
Your automated blog posts worked great. Can’t wait to hear who won.
April 5th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
I’m over here closing my eyes, pretending to smell rum and coconut, thanks to you! It looks like an amazing vacation!
April 5th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Looks like you had a great time! I love seeing all of the pics!
April 5th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Sounds like an amazing trip! (minus the sunburn of course). I’m officially jealous :-)
April 5th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Loved: that you got a picture of the necklace -- even if you insist that it’s “wonky.”
Hated: that you may have the Monday blues as a result. I guess it’s par for the course.
Looks like you all had a great time :) So glad to hear it!!
April 5th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
I’m so glad that you had an excellent holiday. The water! So blue! I am a little envious of your sunburn -- I am still pasty winter white :)
April 5th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Can I just tell you that I’m living vicariously through your post right now?
April 5th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Sounds like a great trip! Great photos, too!
And I, too, hate all the unnecessary money spent on trips. $60 cab fare? Ridic.
April 5th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Welcome back!! I am so glad that the meal at Eric Ripert’s recipes was heavenly! Was wondering if you were going to go there or not -- so glad you did! I have such a crush on Eric Ripert. :)
Sounds like an amazing trip. You & Sweets are such a dang cute couple!!
April 5th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Weren’t the stingrays just insane? Yeah, Cayman is a bit pricey too. Glad you had a great time, but glad you are back!
April 5th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Welcome back! :) That sounds like a great time, despite the hates.
April 5th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Your trip sounds INCREDIBLE! I need to talk to you about where you booked it through because I definitely want to go next year!
April 5th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
Welcome back! So glad you had a good time! I have a very similar Rum Point barrel picture. LOL!
By the way, I saw some frames that might work in JC Penney last week (in the photo studio and on sale!)
April 5th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Looks like you guys had a fantastic vacation! Maybe you will have to make the “get out of the cold Chicago winter” trip an annual thing! :-)
April 5th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Glad it was a good trip…those pics make me JEALOUS! You look gorgeous, Nilsa. xo
April 5th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
What an amazing trip! Glad to have you back!
April 6th, 2010 at 8:13 am
Well! Since I’m so horribly behind on my blog reading, I didn’t even see the ‘ghost’ posts :) I’m glad you had a great time on your trip, I am officially jealous! Looks gorgeous!!!
April 6th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Um sunshine? Hate nothing!
April 6th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Sooo jealous. Can’t wait to hear the stories in person. And I LOVE that green dress you’re wearing up there. I might want to know where you bought it. Hope you’re acclimating to real life ok. :)
April 6th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
What a great vacation and the photos are terrific! :)
April 6th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
You are just so dang cute! And super sexy in all your adorable dresses. Love the tan lines, too :-) Sounds like an absolutely delightful trip!
April 7th, 2010 at 9:10 am
I’m so glad you guys had a chance to get away. It looks like you had great weather and a great time!! For the two pictures of you guys…you could either crop them to make them the same size picture…or you could take them to someplace like Michael’s and have them mat them to a standard size like 11x14…or buy a multiple opening frame and include other pictures.
April 9th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
It looks like you had an amazing trip! Awesome! :)
And Eric Ripert’s Blue?!? I’m so jealous!