Cayman Islands, March 2013
Twenty years a go, we visited the Cayman Islands as a newly married couple to check out a brand new resort. It was our first experience of ‘timeshare’ and it made total sense at that time to secure a lifelong vacation. But that is a different conversation. We therefore visit the island every four or five years to enjoy our studio at the Morritt’s Tortuga Resort.
Located between Cuba and Jamaica, this friendly, English-speaking island is a dependent territory of the United Kingdom and one of the world’s great financial centers. The island has an air of prosperity with about 60,000 inhabitants working mostly in the financial and tourism industries. The Cayman Islands are one of the world’s most popular dive destinations. Indeed, it’s the diving, the snorkeling and the crystal clear Caribbean waters that attracted us in the first place.
On the last trip, we flew out of Miami and stayed at an airport hotel for a convenient shuttle and boarding experience. This time, Brittany Dean joined us – one of Kyla’s school friends. We arrived a day early and enjoyed the Marriott on Seven-mile Beach – recently rated as the best beach in the Caribbean. Situated on the western end of the island, the beach form a long crest of coral sand. Great restaurants and bars can be found all along but it gets real busy. So it was with anticipation to get the rental car and head east.
Past Bodden Town with pirate caves, 10 Sails where 10 tall ships sank and Breakers where the reef comes really close to land, heralds the Queen Elizabeth Highway. We made a stop at the famous blowholes (now only one after the hurricanes) to be entertained by Barrack, doppelganger for the US President. Then off to East End where the resort is situated.
Our favorite spot on the whole island is Rum Point – named for barrels or rum that washed up on shore from a shipwreck. Hammocks, good food and Red Stripe beer pretty much capture a day at Rum Point. It is also the departure point for the ferry to George Town (capital) and to Stingray City – a sandbar in the middle of nowhere that attracts large stingrays due to fish cleaning by fishing boats. So ‘tame’ now, it will come up to you for a quick snack!
Over the years we have found ‘hole-in-the wall’ restaurants and ‘fish camps’ – where the food marvels any on the popular tourist routes. In fact, charter a fishing trip with Captain Herman for half a day and your catch is cooked by him in your condominium!
We were shocked at the amount of debris from cruise ships, storms and general pollution that washed up on the pristine beaches we love. It certainly has an impact on the ecology as was witnessed by dead coral and ‘trash trees’. That said, it remains a pleasure to go back. A last hurrah always includes a visit to the famous Tortuga Rum Cake for some snacks and libations back home. A visit to the Turtle Rescue Farm is also a must see. As it goes for Caribbean islands, the Cayman Islands come recommended.
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