Last Day on Grand Cayman

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Our week on Grand Cayman Island couldn’t have been better! In addition to the typical beach activities of relaxing by the pool and walking along the beach, we attempted Stand Up Paddle boarding, went sailing on a catamaran to Stingray City (definitely a highlight), visited the lush Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, listened to live music at Camana Bay, dined out at numerous restaurants including Sunshine Grill, Da Fish Shack, Agave Grill, attended a wild game themed dinner with our friends at their friends’ house, and had a tour of the island by our friends! For our last day on Grand Cayman, our friends took us to The National Gallery of Grand Cayman to see the outdoor sculptures and back to Camana Bay to the observation deck (which was closed on our previous visit).

This gazing ball at The National Gallery of Grand Cayman reflects the beautiful sky and me…

We also took a swim at the pool and I ran for my camera when this bright green Iguana made an appearance!

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Learning Stand Up Paddle board

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Learning to Stand Up Paddle Board can be challenging, especially if you’re using an inflatable board and you’re in the ocean with rocking waves! Our friend Deanna is an avid Stand Up Paddle Boarder and gave us a few pointers before we hopped on. Her boyfriend Wayne (also our friend/like family) took photos and movies of our session and I couldn’t help but post the funniest one of my husband about ready to fall forward…

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Because he’s taller (6’4″) and heavier than I am, he had more difficulty standing up.

We were a bit worried about falling onto the sharp coral in shallow areas. Here’s hubby falling…

My feet are in position as far apart as possible as instructed by Deanna…

For my first attempt, I was very pleased to have gotten up a few times and paddled!

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Staying young is an attitude! Keep trying new things and life is always an adventure! I read something recently that resonated, “To have joy in your life, view everything as if it’s the first time you’re seeing it or the last time”.

Camana Bay on Grand Cayman

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Camana Bay on Grand Cayman offers shopping, dining, and lively entertainment. My friend who lives on the island had plans to attend a film premiere which was part of the Poinciana Festival, so we took the opportunity to wander around the area. I was pleasantly surprised to see this cute palm tree filled mini island.

Colorful smooth discs situated in front of the cinema are fun for children to climb on. We noticed masses of long curly dreadlocks of green hanging from a tree.

Our friends remarked how uncrowded the area was, probably due to the overcast skies and earlier storm.

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Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park at Grand Cayman

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park in Grand Cayman is a photographer’s paradise! Strolling along its meandering paths you’ll discover beautiful Cayman Blue-throated Anoles…

a tranquil pond filled with flowering water lilies…

a baby blue wooden bridge…

brightly colored potted flowers beneath vibrant wooden trellises…

Winding paths bordered with exotic plants…

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Stingray City!

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Travel Spirit

The best time to visit Stingray City at Grand Cayman Island is in the early morning, before the cruise ship crowds arrive and before the Stingrays have been hand fed from everyone later in the day! We chose Red Sail Sports to boat out to the area that’s called Stingray City. Although the catamaran could hold 70, there were only 12 people on board so we were free to spread out and relax. Leaving at 7:30am, the sun was low in the sky…

Upon arrival at 8:30am, my husband and I were the first off the boat. There were only two other small boats there before us. We were instructed to get low in the water and reach our arms out wide to embrace these amazing sea creatures…

I was so excited to have this experience and enjoyed feeling their smooth undersides. The underlying sense of danger made me feel alive!

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Escaping the Cold at Grand Cayman

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Grand Cayman Island is a warm and lovely place to escape the cold! My husband and I have friends that live there (“friends in all the right places”) and are visiting them for the week. They took us for a tour of the island on Monday. Although it’s quite small, 20 miles long x 4 miles wide, it takes a while to travel from spot to spot. My husband was a bit unnerved with driving on the “wrong” side of the road. Our friends both work, so we’ve spent time at the dazzling blue beach in front of their condo and the sparkling clear pool during their absence.

We took a six-mile hike along seven mile beach and saw a variety of birds…

The resident rooster at their condo…

The beach seems to stretch forever…

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Solo Cruise with Carnival

Posted on May 21, 2010 by Travel Spirit

In 2007, when I still had brown hair, I went on my 3rd cruise, but my first solo cruise for a week and visited Belize, Roatan Island, Honduras, Grand Cayman Island and Cozumel, Mexico. I booked it last minute (about two weeks in advance), so instead of paying double…it only cost a third more for the single supplement. I met a group of guys/girls from New Mexico, a lady from somewhere…can’t remember where now…and a college student and her parents. I ended up hanging with the college student a lot of the time.

This is a photo of them…

I’ve always fit in with younger people…they have lots of energy like me. It was fun fixing her up with guys…there was a cute Brazilian guy that I introduced her to. I was married at the time, so only “looking” allowed for me. One night after a few drinks I got the idea for us to push each other on a luggage rack through the hallways at 2am…followed by turning the signs around on people’s doors…if they had it positioned to say, “Do Not Disturb”, we switched it to “Please Clean My Room” and vice versa…I know…pretty immature…but it was fun! Continue reading →