Observations
I now realize that my post yesterday included mostly photos of Sweets and me (how selfish) and very little of the surrounding Grand Cayman. I also realize that most of us love vacation recaps for the photos (and likely skim the words).
So, today, I will share with you a few more observations from our trip. And I will sprinkle a few more photos in for fun (though they might not be related to the anecdotes themselves).
We started off our vacation with a minor trip. Our friends were on different flights than us and one of their bags didn’t make it. Let me rephrase. Her bag, they brought on the plane, so all her clothes arrived intact. His bag, they checked, as it also had all their toiletries. That bag wound up in Chattanooga (they must have mistaken his flip flops for cowboy boots).
For whatever reason, it was a challenge to get that bag out of Tennessee and to Miami where it could finally make its way to Grand Cayman. As a result? Our approx. 5’8 friend borrowed a pair of 6’3 Sweets’ swim trunks, bought a shirt, bought flip flops and proceeded to wear just that for the next 3 days. Thankfully, our condo had a washing machine. And thankfully, we let them borrow our soap. =)
Renting the Jeep was probably the most important change in plans we had all week. Instead of calculating how much money we’d be spending on cabs and weighing whether we’d want to do something based on how much money we’d be shelling our for transportation, we could instead just jump in the Jeep and go. As a result, it was easy to get to the Mastic Trail (on the other side of the island; photoed above) and it was encouraged to go exploring (as noted by the photo below; there is a town called Hell with all kinds of kitschy trinkets to bring home).
However, the drawback to driving your own vehicle in a country where they drive on the left is you might have to yell, “SWEETS, YOU’RE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD!!!” as you see a truck barreling towards you in your lane. Ahem.
On one of those exploring expeditions, Sweets and I attempted to buy fresh fish direct from a fisherman coming to shore for the day (Frommer’s recommended it). The only problem was we went at the wrong time of day. As a result, we only saw one fisherman. And he only had one 40-pound yellow tail tuna. A bit much for our needs.
Though we were disappointed we weren’t able to take the catamaran trip to see the stingrays and go snorkeling, there were a few upsides to our newly minted plans. Let’s overlook that the boat we took was about 800 years old and it felt like we were going 25 on a highway. Besides that minor detail, we were the only customers on the boat, so Sweets, our friends and I had the captain and his sidekick to ourselves. Besides having plenty of room to spread out on the boat, when we arrived at the snorkeling site and there were no other boats there, it was only the 4 of us snorkeling in the water. Had we taken the catamaran, we would’ve been shacked up with 25 of our closest friends in and out of the water.
When Sweets and I went to Blue, the waiter really summed up our eating experiences at all the restaurants we tried. As he was highlighting some of the entrees on the menu, he gave specifics about the top four (all fish dishes) and followed that up with, “and down here you have dishes for people who eat meat.” Point being? You don’t go to Iowa for fresh seafood and you don’t go to Grand Cayman for fantastic beef. We had our fill of really fantastic fish, including trying conch (a local specialty) a number of different ways.
Just because we’re adults and trying to behave ourselves on a proper vacation with friends doesn’t mean I didn’t get frisky with the camera. Or the person behind the camera. heheheh. Good thing is I have photographic proof our friends are just as goofy (though I’ll spare them public humiliation).
On a final note, understanding why Grand Cayman is so expensive requires some simple math. First, there lies the fact it is an island and has to import virtually everything. For that, you pay up to 25% more than you would in the States. And secondly, the conversion is $1 Caymanian is $1.25 US.
The bad news? Things there wind up being 25-50% more expensive than they are here. The good news? Tourism (along with banking) is their top industry. So, those top-dollar prices are putting food on the dinner tables of many.
*********************
Without further ado, let me announce the winners of my contest.
Kid: kapgar with “GWAARRRRRRR!!!!”
Lucy: A Super Girl with “Put your clothes on Fred! What would Ethel say?!”
Couple: Hillary with “By the time Tiger’s 23rd mistress was announced, the average American had finally stopped caring.”
Lab: Banal Leakage with “What have you done with SoMi?”
Betty: Banal Leakage with “I guess that last stunt on Golden Girls went too far.”
Congrats! Please email me and tell me which of the three you’d choose: Music, Drink or Random Surprise and I’ll be sure to get you your prize!
April 6th, 2010 at 7:50 am
Sadly I have a friend who would go to Grand Cayman and would order beef. This is also why I dont vacation with her. I’m glad that your changes in plans, like renting the Jeep, worked out in the long run.
April 6th, 2010 at 8:06 am
those are gorgeous pictures! i loooove the water. and the ones of you and sweets being silly- those are the best.
April 6th, 2010 at 8:11 am
I would be the one ordering beef since I don’t eat fish. Yep, I am one of those people. But the photos look so beautiful, the water looks amazing!
April 6th, 2010 at 8:20 am
Woo hoo! Yay me.
I think my captions work less when split up like that. They were written to work in a pair and a triplet. Oh well. At least Gwar did something. ;-)
And, seriously, how dare you be selfish by posting pictures of yourselves on your vacation!! ;-)
April 6th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Ah, so glad you had such a lovely time… the photos look amazing!
Congrats to all the winners. My captions weren’t that funny after all… ;)
April 6th, 2010 at 9:33 am
next time you go to Grand Cayman I’m coming with you. I promise I won’t even bug you & Sweets, I just want to be in those crystal clear waters and on a boat. So, so jealous.
April 6th, 2010 at 9:58 am
We went to Hell, too. I sent postcards, they took a long time to get here.
We were only there for a day, so we never ate except for coconut rum cake, which I kindof LOVED.
What did you think of all the chickens?
April 6th, 2010 at 10:00 am
NEED. CARIBBEAN. NOOOOWWWWWW.
April 6th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Man, a vacation sounds awesome. So glad you guys had fun.
Also, I never would have guessed the height difference between you and Sweets. I LOVE IT. So adorable!
April 6th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Great photos! It looks so beautiful there.
Things are SO MUCH more expensive in Europe. It’s KILLING Me while planning this trip! Haha
April 6th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Still bitter and jealous over the trip. Even though it sounds pricey. So fun!
April 6th, 2010 at 11:34 am
What exactly does conch taste like, anyway?
April 6th, 2010 at 11:39 am
I’m a winner?! Thanks, lady! I choose Music :)
Your photo of the boats in the amazing turquoise water makes me ache for sunshine.
April 6th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
I loved reading all about your vacation! So glad you had a great time, even when plans went askew. I hope it was worth the extra pennies.
And I want to know what conch tastes like too. :)
April 6th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Sunburn!!
April 6th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
I am so paranoid about losing my luggage (and because I was a business traveler for so long) that I am a hardcore devotee to carrying on. However, since we flew with the cat to California I had to check luggage…and it was kind liberating! I loved having so little to deal with on the plane. Even if the main thing was a 6 pound meowing ball of fur.
April 6th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
Lost luggage sucks. When I went to NYC last year, my luggage ended up in Mexico. I didn’t get it back until I returned home from the trip. Totally sucked!
Those pictures are all gorgeous! Makes me really, really, really want to go on vacation! The water looks gorgeous!!
April 6th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Wow I had no idea Grand Cayman was so expensive! I guess that makes sense though. And I WONDER why banking is so popular? :) wink wink ;)
April 7th, 2010 at 8:33 am
Beautiful pictures!!! I especially like the ones of you two acting silly. I always think those are the best. :)
And congrats to the winners!
April 7th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
I didn’t know that the prices were so much more- but importing definitely kills the ability to be price competitive. Sometimes just being there and supporting what industry a place does have (all while having some fun!) is the best thing to do.
April 12th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Wow. I won twice. Thank you to the voters.
And thanks, Nilsa, for reminding me of this via email… :-)
And those pics of the boat in the water are awesome. Crystal clear water looks so inviting.