Trip Report | July 1-8, 2006: akatora's East End Adventures - With PHOTOS

Greetings!

Well we got back home about two hours ago after a wonderful week on the East End. I haven't even unpacked yet! I wanted to at least get this thing started for y'all. You'll have to bear with me as I tend to suffer from blabbermouth disorder...

Day 1

Saturday July 1, 2006

Scott's son drove us to Newark for our 9:45AM NONSTOP clapping

flight to Grand Cayman. Continental Airlines, in their infinite wisdom, decided to upgrade us to First Class for the trip down Smile

It was Scott's and Michele's first taste of first class and...waddya know...they like it! Very Happy

Special check-in line...special security line...got to board first...priority baggage handling...clean bathroom onboard...hot towels...cream of asparagus soup, chicken caesar and wine for lunch wine

...and nice wide seats for our big butts. Rolling Over Laughing

It was really nice. The flight attendant did drop my glass of wine...the glass broke and got my tootsies wet but no harm. It was obvious that the flight attendant was not used to flying to GC because she kept referring to it on the PA system as "The Grand Caymans" and then she actually asked Scott what the native language was - she wanted to know if she needed to additionally speak Spanish! Confused

He told her last time he checked Cayman was still a British Colony... Rolling Eyes

We landed on time and the steel band playing made us smile as we walked from the plane to the terminal. We noticed three other planes on the ground and when we got to immigration....the room was totally packed. Sad

Then some official Cayman dude pointed at me like I was doing something wrong and motioned me over to him...he was opening a new line and picked me! Wow it was like I had won the lottery or something! We got through immigration in like two minutes Very Happy

. Then on to baggage claim...not so lucky. We waited an HOUR for our bags :| Our plane was the last to unload and instead of unloading First Class bags first like they're supposed to, they unloaded them LAST. Four plane loads of people and we were dead last through customs. And the terminal was HOT Crying or Very sad

Well we are on Cayman time now so we didn't let it bother us. Picked up our Activity Guide!

On to Andy's for our white Sebring Convertible and our 20% CAG discount! Driving to the East End we stopped at Hurley's for some food and Blackbeard's next door for some pineapple rum and rum cakes rolllaugh

We arrived at the Reef at about 3PM and our first floor 2BR condo was ready for us. I won't go into detail on the resort in this thread but rather want to concentrate on what we did. We had a blast. There are no pictures on day one but PLENTY of pictures to come, I promise!

While Scott and Michele walked around I unpacked. Then for some strange reason there there was a power outage for a few hours. Took the opportunity to take a stroll on the beach and stopped at the beach bar for a Cayman Sunset rolllaugh

At the time I didn't realize John (jskasick) was there too!

When the power came back on I broiled some Angus sirloin, boiled some new potatoes and steamed broccoli for dinner. It was yummy. Chocolate rum cake for dessert!

We went to bed early - we were kinda pooped. And happy!

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:06 pm Post subject:

Welcome home akatora - Thank you for what I am sure will be one of the best trip reports ever. I can't wait to read the rest and see the pictures. Very Happy

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:12 pm Post subject:

Welcome home, Akatora!

I can't wait to hear the rest!!!

I hate to say it, but watch out for that PCIVD...it's a doozy.

Jen

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:25 pm Post subject:

jlwest73 wrote:

I hate to say it, but watch out for that PCIVD...it's a doozy. Jen

Post Cayman Islands Vacation Disorder. Right. We're still on a high, telling our adventures to my stepson.

Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 12:08 am Post subject:

Day 2

Sunday July 2, 2006

I'm a light sleeper - I woke up at 5:30AM to a weird scratching sound at the patio door of our bedroom. I got up to investigate and found a HUGE crab trying to claw his way into the condo! Shock

The thing had to be 18 inches in diameter! I yelped at Scott to go dig out the camera but by time he rolled out of bed, shook the cobwebs out of his head, put on some shorts, found the camera, put the battery in, put the memory chip in, turned it on and got to the patio.....it was gone crying

Then I realized I was awake for sunrise! I took a few pics:

Then I hung out on a beach chair for an hour in my jammies. The resort has a free 9:30AM Sunday get-to-know-you breakfast buffet but we were hungry at 7:30AM being awoken by the crab and all. Plus we had decided (okay I had decided) that Sunday was going to be our day to trek over to West Bay as there would be no cruise ships to get in our way (thanks to CAG for the cruise ship itinerary link). So we donned our turtle shirts, skipped the free food and got an early start and made our way to Coconut Joe's. Scott had the CAG coupon breakfast special, Michele had the banana pancakes (she has proclaimed them the BEST breakfast ever), and I had that Egg BLT bagel contraption that Cindylou mentioned awhile back. Boy that was great but way too much food for this Jenny Craig girl Mr. Green

Michele

Michele and Scott

CJ free range chicken begging for toast crumbs

Scott and I were last on GC in 1994 and we had stayed at what is now the Marriott. I believe back then it was a Radisson. We couldn't help noticing how SMB has changed in the past 12 years - so much more built up. I remember eating breakfast in the exact same spot 12 years ago but it was a mom and pop operation that also rented out quaint little bungalows. I guess the word is out about GC Laughing

After breakfast we went to Hell Evil

Since it was Sunday, holiest of days (and a holiday weekend) the Devil was afraid to come out to greet us crying

It's too bad because one of Scott's students claims to be the Devil's cousin! (Scott is an electrician and shop teacher in a vocational high school.) But that's okay.... We took pics.

Michele

Michele and me. Okay the cat is out of the bag...My old avatar is from my honeymoon 14 years ago. Same person inside, just different outside. I don't know why but whenever I pose for pictures these days I look like I'm in pain and the camera adds 10 lbs. Make that 50 lbs. Wink

Apparently Hell has roosters and flowers too Very Happy

I thought this rooster was particularly colorful. He had a whole chicken harem following him around.

Last look at Hell

Well it's 1AM and I gotta go to bed. Day2 to be continued....

Ant

Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 7:27 am Post subject:

Welcome back, akatora, and thank you SO much for taking the time to start your trip report........what a great report it is, too! I can tell it's just going to get better and better with each installment. Can't believe the crab trying to get in the condo!! Laughing

I can tell that you're still on Cayman time.......the laundry and the unpacking....that can wait!

Char

Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:06 am Post subject:

It sounds like you had a wonderful time! We got a kick out of the crab story. We had one at our place 6 weeks ago, but it was only about 4-5 inches across. Your's sounded like a beast of a thing. We had been suffering through our PCIVD and it was starting to subside a little, but your report has brought it back with a vengence. Thanks a lot!!! rolllaugh

Can't wait for the rest.

Kevin and Julie

Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:16 am Post subject:

LOVING it so far Akatora!.....and we ALL, well, except for SHELLYNYNJ Wink

look different than we did on our honeymoon!

Really enjoyed reading about the crab....they are so much fun to watch, but realy wouldn't want to share condo with one!

Almost the same exact thing happened to us a couple years back at the airport.......if you get in to the line that's the farthest to the right....right next to the line for the natives arriving home....when the Natives line empties, they take people from the line next to it............that was us....it was hot...got to luggage.....luggage had first class tags on them......luggage was dead LAST as were we getting out the door! Laughing

Oh well, as you say...Cayman time and you're THERE!

Can't wait to see and hear the rest!

Welcome home! Celine palm

Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:06 am Post subject:

Welcome back! what a great report! Everyone says that the steels drummers are always playing when they get off the plane. I ahve never seen them! I wonder if it is because we always land late in the evening. Anyway, I am loving the report. Keep it coming, and glad to have you back!

Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:34 am Post subject:

Very nice report Antoinette,

Great pictures as well, sounds like you had a great time!!

.... and Celine, I am still the same strapping young lad I was on my honeymoon!!! Wink

(what year was that again?)

Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 11:31 am Post subject:

Thanks, Ant. I'm really enjoying your report and pictures. Don't take too long a break, I'm beginning to show signs of withdrawal.

Alan

Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 4:00 pm Post subject:

Day 2...continued

Sunday July 2, 2006

Okay, where was I? Oh yeah, I was in Hell Laughing

We continued on to the turtle farm, excuse me "Boatswain's Beach". Except we kinda got a little lost along the way. Driving on the left didn't help either.

"SCOTT...Please keep left!!"

"I AM keepng left!"

"NO YOU'RE NOT! I'm facing oncoming traffic!"

"CLOSE YOUR *&^&%$ EYES AND LET ME DRIVE"

I think we found the 60-feet-above-sea-level-high-point of the island because we passed a beacon while lost in West Bay and Scott mentioned that it was probably the official high point, although from what I hear the garbage dump will be the highest point before long Wink

We got back on track and arrived at the turtle farm where we were NOT happy about the admission price. My calculations according to prices in the CAG should have been $19CI for the three of us, but the total came to about $38CI which was DOUBLE. When I asked about it we were told that the prices doubled as of the day before. Sad

Something to do with extra imposed taxes and the fact that there was supposed to be a nice restaurant and a lagoon where you can snorkle with the turtles...except they were way behind with construction (Cayman time). You would think they would wait on opening the new attractions before the prices were doubled. Anyway I wanted you to know the prices mentioned in CAG need updating. That said, we had a great time there and I know the admission goes to a good cause. Michele had a wonderful time and the guide was very informative. While at the gift shop I picked up the Suzy Soto Cayman cookbook. The people at the turtle farm were very interested in our shirts. In fact people all over the island were interested in our shirts, wanting to know where we got them. I was happy to tell them all about this website. Anyway, here are eleven pics from our adventure there. Believe me it was hard to narrow it down to eleven!

got turtles?

Take a good look at my watch. You will understand later...

My favorite turle pic

Syncronized swimmers...

This guy was looking for turtle eggs (for lunch). He didn't find any.

Turtle soup...the round chunks are Purina Turtle Chow

Afterwards we headed back to SMB. We were planning on stopping at Cemetery Beach or maybe the Butterfly Farm but the sun did a number on Scott (Mister I-don't-care-if-I-burn-I'm-not-wearing-sunscreen) lala

and he needed shade. Plus he pulled a muscle in his calf a few days before and that was bothering him too. So we just decided to forego those stops.

We did stop at the Marriott and had a few frosties at the pool bar there. We put our feet in the water so we could say we went into SMB water Rolling Eyes

We then tested out our macro lens and took a couple flower pics in the garden where the turtles are (I figured I'll spare you more turtle pics)

I then stopped at the concierge to inquire about the Friday night dinner show. I had emailed them to reserve a table a few days prior but had not gotten a response so I figured I'd stop in and inquire personally. Good thing I did... The show for Friday was cancelled due to a previous engagement that had been scheduled a year in advance. I wish they would have at least responded to the email, oh well.. :|

We then headed back to our condo on the East End. Scott collapsed in the condo (sunburn) flame

and Michele and I went into the pool where she made a friend Cool

. That breakfast at CJ's and the fru-fru drinks we had at the Marriott were enough to hold us until dinner. We wound up eating at the beach bar later. I couldn't help wondering if John (jskasick) from the forum was there but was too shy to ask "HEY ANYBODY NAMED JOHN HERE?" Found out later that I think he was sitting about 5 feet away from me Smile

The sun tired us out so we turned in early. I got online and read in another thread that John had been looking for me at the breakfast buffet...oh well. Also that Lisa and Mike (tokebr) were there somewhere as well. I made a mental note to look for them the following day. Just before bedtime we had some more chocolate rum cake and a glass of milk. Michele was excited to have made a friend (from Texas) and looked forward to spending time with her all week.

Antoinette

Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 4:17 pm Post subject:

GREAT photos of the dear turtles Antoinette!!!!!!see......THAT is why I REFUSE to let my hubby or ANYONE we're with, eat turtle steak, turtle soup, turtle anything!!!!!! I KNOW it probably helps the economy there....but I just cant ALLOW it! What's next....cat chowder....dog deli??? It all gives me shivers. those pictures really captured how DEAR they are....and I love them!

Also.........whatttaya mean you got to that beach bar and couldn't announce "where is John" or something.............everyone there is on vacation and having a good time and you should've asked girlfriend!!!!!! I just know I'm going to hear about your gettogether later, so you're forgiven, but we all have meet.........we're family Exclamation

Captain Jack........because I love you dear........I'm going to let that comment pass! BouncingLaugh

Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 4:25 pm Post subject:

Celine wrote:

Also.........whatttaya mean you got to that beach bar and couldn't announce "where is John" or something palm

I know I know - I didn't want people to think I was a loudmouth....trust me all that changed later in the week.

I know what you mean about the turtles. I've collected turtle souveniers for quite awhile now. Maybe I'll take some pics of them and show them here. But not now...I've got 6 more days of report to do Wink

I think I'll unpack now. It's only been 23 hours since we landed.

Ant

Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 4:31 pm Post subject:

can't WAIT...........just wish I could've MET you!!!!!! Mad

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