Flying out of Grand Cayman

We got up early, finished packing and headed to the airport.  Front desk at hotel said to get to the airport 3 hours early due to one line for security, etc.  Well, we got there about 2 1/4 hours early and got thru everything in about 15 minutes.  Hmmm.   So we sat in the airport and it did get pretty full and crazy by the time our flight left at 11:45 am.  Landed at Dulles at around 3:45 and did not get out of the airport until almost 6pm.  2 hours to clear immigration, get our one checked bag and clear customs and then take a bus out to our car and get out of the parking lot.  Of course, then we hit DC traffic, stopped for dinner, and finally got back to our house at 9:30pm.

We were home.

Another classic Keller adventure complete.

This was a really good one!!!

April10 - Last sunset in Grand Cayman.

We all went to eat at Coconut Joe's across the street from our hotel and then went back to the beach for one last sunset.  They say there are no bad sunsets on Grand Cayman.  We never saw a bad one.

April 10 - Denise and Kate shopping and playing at the beach

While Don and the boys were out scuba diving, Denise and Kate spent the afternoon walking the beach and doing a little shopping and getting lunch at Camana Bay.

Kate was very proud of her sand castle and her new friend, Starshine the Turtle.

Scuba day!!

Don got up at 7am and returned our wonderful vehicle to the rental place across the street.  Last full day of trip and saved the best for last for the boys.  The dive shop at the hotel has a Discover Scuba package of 2 hours of pool and tabletop instruction in the morning and then two scuba dives on reefs in the afternoon.  In the morning, the instructor went over critical skills and use of all the scuba gear and then went thru all the skills needed for dives up to 40' in depth.  Don and boys got in the hotel pool with full scuba gear and practiced all the skills like clearing a mask, becoming neutrally buoyant, and how to share air if a buddy runs out.  Also got to swim around at bottom of pool.  Wrapped that up and then had two hour break before taking a 10 minute bus ride to beach where they got onto the dive boat for a short ride to the first dive, named Glenn Miller.  

Once at the site, we all got on our gear and got a quick briefing on the dive and a reminder of basic skills. We then stepped (jumped several feet) off the front of the boat into the water. Pretty cool.  Dive instructor then led us down 30' - 40' where she led us all up and down and around the reef.  Saw lots of cool fish, spotted eagle ray, lion fish, conch, and even sea turtles.  The boys did great.  We got back on the boat, got our gear back in the racks and took another short ride to our next dive spot called Spanish Anchor due to a large anchor there from a few hundred tears ago. Geared up and jumped back in for another 30+ minute dive and had another great dive.  Back on the boat, picked up at the beach, and back to the hotel by around 4:15p.  Great way to end the teip for the boys.  Now they all want to get certified and go on a long dive trip to Grand Cayman.  Maybe this was not such a good idea.  No photos from underwater but some from pool and on dive boat.  

On the dive boat

Up next:  Denise and Kate's day and our final sunset. 

George Town shops and sunset at the beach

We drove down to George Town to check out a few shops since the cruise ship hordes were likely all back on the ships by then.  Jack found a cool fishing shirt but that was about it and we headed back to the hotel for some hotel room made tacos for dinner and then down to the beach for sunset and some pool time.

Big cruise ships in port

Shops

Sunset

April 9 - Turtle Farm

We arrived at the famous Grand Cayman turtle farm at around noon just as the herds of cruise ship passengers in their tour buses were beginning to leave.  We ate lunch in our tin capsule on wheels in the parking lot and then went inside.   For about $40 each one gets to swim with large sea turtles and fish in a rather intricate pond with islands and deep pools.  Everyone had a good time with that and the boys even grabbed a turtle or two and got pulled thru the water.  Against the rules but boys will be boys.  Kate had one come up for air an inch from her face.  After that we saw where the turtles were raised and we were able to pick up and hold the smaller ones and feed the larger adults.  Some educational exhibits as well and even a big waterslide for Kate to go down.  Eventually the sun and heat wore us down so we got some ice cream and headed for a few shops in George Town.  That is the next blog entry.

April 9, Thursday - OK, this vacation is starting to wear me out

Day 5 on Grand Cayman and we again loaded up our death trap on wheels and headed for Cemetery Beach/Reef, just a couple of miles north of our hotel.  It gets its name from the large cemetery that overlooks the beach.  A little strange parking along the road right up against the gravesites. Turned out to be a great beach with big old pine trees for shade and very clear and calm waters. It was a pretty long swim out to the reef but lots of cool and big fish to be seen.  We brought bread and bagels with us out to the reef and soon we were hand feeding a lot of very friendly fish.  We all got bit a few times but it was great. Finally swam back to shore and packed up for the big adventure of the day.

Next up:  Swimming with big turtles. 

Smith Cove snorkeling and cliff jumping

On our way back from East end of GC we stopped at Smith Cove, a pretty well known and recommended spot for snorkeling and jumping off small rock outcroppings just off the shore.  The place turned out to be as advertised and we spent an hour or so snorkeling and jumping off the rather sharp volcanic rock.  Not exactly cliff diving but fun jumping in and some good fish to see, even an octopus.  After that, we headed back to the hotel and had Papa John pizza for dinner.  I then spent two hours looking for my phone while everyone played at the beach and pool. Found the phone!!!  Also walked to Marriott next door where rooms, similar to ours, overlooking the beach go for about $700-$1000 per night.  We have free internet and breakfast for $250 per night.  That hotel charges extra for both.  Nicer lobby I have to admit and they are about 20 yards closer to the beach.  Wow.

Some photos from Smith Cove.  

More snorkeling and The Turtle Farm planned for Thursday.  Don't change that blog!!!

Rum point and the promised stupid Disney cruise passengers

Still April 8.   We finally arrived at Rum Point area.  We had heard great things so perhaps we missed some secret awesome location.  We stopped at an OK public beach area and had lunch and then went over to Rum Point.  Here is a photo where we had lunch.

We parked along the road at Rum Point and found it to be essentially only for Disney Cruise guests (at least that day) but we went to the small beach anyway since ALL beaches are public on GC. There was a long dock and a group of buildings serving food, etc for cruise guests and a cove/reef for swimming.  I can only guess what these people paid for the priviledge of being brought here to eat and swim in a place that was so not even close to a good place to swim and snorkel on GC.  Even the view was marginal and the water not all that clear.  Sam remarked "if i came to GC and this is all I saw, I would be pissed and think GC sucked".  Well said.  We swam for about 15 minutes and got out of there.  One other snorkel site nearby known for starfish was too rough due to NE winds so we headed back to South end of George Town to a classic spot on GC.   Rum point was so forgettable that we forgot to take any photos.  Sorry.   Up next - Smith Cove 

Brief note on currency and prices on Grand Cayman

GC has its own currency called the Cayman Island dollar.  No big surprise. Also, every place takes US dollars.  The surprise is all prices are shown in "dollars".  1 CID is worth 1.25 US dollars so one gets a bit of a surprise when something shown as $10 is actually $12.50 US.  Prices are higher here but actually not too bad.  Change is always given in CID's.  I always wonder how much i am losing in the CID to USD to CID transaction.  I basically hand over US dollars and hope for the best.   Like I said, more expensive than in the US but not even close to the 2x to 3x multiple in Bermuda.  

April 8 - blow hole and Rum point

After getting lost a few times, driving on the wrong side of road once or twice, Sam and Denise managed to figure out directions while I drove and dodged a chicken or two (never mind) and we made it out to the coastal road that runs around the eastern part of the island.  Speed limits were posted but no one drives at speeds anywhere close to these.   They are posted in km/hr but one is closer to the traffic flow if one assumes they are in mph.  Actually, add about 5-10 km/h to that.  If the posted limit was 30 km/hr, figure on going 60 km/hr and so forth.  Also, rental cars have white plates and residents have orange plates.  Residents give tourists a lot of room and right of way as a matter of self preservation. That said, every resident we have met has been very nice and helpful.  Our first stop was a "famous" blowhole on the SE side of the island.  We had no idea if we passed it until we came to a hand painted sign welcoming us to the blowholes. We stopped, no one else was there, and were met by a 60+ year old native of sorts who was colorful and very nice and actually pretty well informed.  He welcomed us and took us on a tour of the fossils there (all located in about a 10' circle) and then took our picture at the blowhole.  No charge. He was actually a very nice guy and looked like Obama when he had his hat off.  Seriously, he really did.  He pretended to be Obama for fun.  Boys were not sure how to take all this but Denise and I thought it was great.  We gave him a few dollars and were on our way.

Up next, Rum point and stupid cruise guests.