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Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 14
Location: Michigan
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 Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:00 pm Post subject: SunandFun Trip Report LONG AND LOTS OF PICTURES |
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One thing you need to know, right away, is that I LOVE photos! I think that is why I gravitated to this site...I loved everyone's photo's! So, now it's my turn to share. Come back later if you don't have time. It is kind of long.
First, a couple of things you need to know...It was our maiden voyage to Grand Cayman - never been there before. We only knew how great the snorkeling and diving were, therefore we wanted to go. We have 2 boys, 10 and 17 that LOVE the water. What better entertainment for them (and us)? It was a much needed vacation for all of us.
So here goes:
Our flight from crispy 32 degree Chicago took off on time. Our flight out of Atlanta was delayed, but only by an hour, so not too bad. We arrived to 79 degree weather baby!!!! YAHOOO!!! We are really on vacation now!!!  After all the customs, suitcases and whatnot, we get on our Tropicana Bus and head for Sunset House...
Now, I must break here and explain. When I booked our trip, I did now know about this site  I was unaware of all the other options out there. As I mentioned...it's our maiden voyage. Anyway, I was a little nervous when I started reading postings on this forum, but I am happy to report...it wasn't all bad. Was it just a "hotel" room with four walls and two beds? yes. Was it comfortable? VERY. The people working there AND the people visiting there were also VERY friendly. Could we have found a nicer place to stay...sure, but we made the best of what we had. We were in paradise...who cares! Here are a few pics from Sunset House.
Sea pool at Sunset House. GREAT place to acclimate yourself to sea water and to make sure snorkel gear, etc. works properly. 
Mermaid statue outside the pool at Sunset House. (If you dive, there is a HUGE mermaid out in the ocean off the Sunset House shore).
Not as bad as the reputation they have...no, they are not a fancy resort, but they served a purpose.
Ok, I will try to speed it up a little here.
I had made reservations for Sotos for our Stingray city tour on the recommendations of everyone here...thanks for the tip...I loved them! So, Sunday, with no cruise ships in port, we visited Sotos and Stingray city. What a blast! The kids kinda chickened out, but my husband and I truly enjoyed the experience.
Here's my hubby with one of the rays.
It might look like I am running from them, but really, I am playing with them. What a blast! 
Oh yea, Soto's took us to Coral Gardens too. This would be where my hubby and the boys saw "Frisbee", the stingray without a tail, and a starfish!!! I want to know where I was?!?!?!
Ok, so what is next???
Monday, the family wanted to shop, so we shopped in the morning, then off for new adventures in the afternoon. We found the wreck of the Gamma. What a shame...NO ONE ELSE was on the beach! And I mean that for real, "what a shame". It was such a cool site and fun to explore but no one was there. This site was great for BOYS (and me too)!
Great fishies here too. (sorry, not too many exact fish names from me - love to see them and swim with them, just don't know their names) 
See...I'm telling you...it was a great place to snorkel! Must be a very well kept secret.
Monday we also went to Cemetery Beach. What a beautiful place! I don't think I have ever been to a more peaceful place.
My youngest heading down the path to Cemetery Beach.
Notice the hole in the clouds??? No, I did not photoshop that in there...too funny!
I would have to say one of our favorite days was when we took our Andy's rental car (which was again suggested by this forum and turned out great!) and took off driving East. We just drove until we felt like pulling over. We packed a lunch, packed up the trunk, and took off. Our favorite place? Don't know where exactly we were, but it was East of Sunset House, and past the Lighthouse Restaurant. It had a wooden gazebo building and a large gravel parking lot type area (although we had no company...again). We loved this place! We had to swim kind of far to get past the kelp and some porcupine looking things, but once we reached the clear blue water, we found all kinds of "treasures"  . My hubby found about eight sand dollars, we saw a HUGE lobster, another stingray, a huge black angel fish, and my oldest son found what the dive guys called an "inflated sea biscuit" that had died (nothing living in it any more - the ONLY reason he got to pick it up and bring it home). Here are a few pics from that spot...our favorite spot!
Cody and his "inflated sea biscuit". The guys from the dive shop kept saying "nice find", "nice find". You can't see the detail too good in this photo, but it has a star shape on the top of it somewhat like a sand dollar, but when it sits on a table, it's about four inches thick (all hollow inside). Any info from others would be appreciated.
What a beautiful site!
It's amazing what you can do with a tripod and a timer on your camera! Family...meet CAG....CAG, meet my family! 
The following day we were off to Eden Rock in the morning, then to the West end of the island (I think that's what it would be...near the Turtle Farm and Cracked Conch Restaurant)? Here are a couple of pictures from that day:
This was at Eden Rock when we realized that it had started raining while we were snorkeling...oops...oh well...back to snorkeling...
Ok, most of the fish did not make me nervous, except these exceptionally large tarpon!!! We were getting our gear on at Eden Rock, then all of a sudden I see these rather large shadows in the water....hmmmmm....so I say, "hunny why don't you go in and test the waters for me"....and I'm actually thinking "FISH BAIT"  A local man heard us and was chuckling. He informed me what the fish was, and just how harmless they are. Sure enough, soon as they knew we did not have any food, they "buggered off" (that's what the local guy had told us).
This spot was near the Turtle Farm, behind the Cracked Conch Restaurant and bar. We liked it, but it got deep fast out there. We did see a cow fish here, that was kinda cool.
Some of my underwater pictures seemed to turn out ok.
Smile for the camera, fishy!
Ok, I am nearing the end...I promise! The rest is just my favorite pics that don't really need deep explanations. Besides, it's 10pm and I started this darn thing about 7pm. Before I go...
We usually only ate our dinners out since eating with a family of four (including two grown boys) got to be rather expensive. We ate at the usual spots: Senor Frogs, Hard Rock, Cimboco's, Coconut Joes, and of course our hotel, Sunset House Restaurant. We even had pizza one night that was delicious. Oh yea, we tried conch fritters too - even the boys, who swore they wouldn't try them, did! And we all enjoyed them.
Thanks to everyone who takes care of this site. It is an awesome place to drawn so much information from. Keep up the GREAT work!
I will leave you with some of my favorites:
Here is a little visitor that was feasting on the bush outside our room.
Remember the pictures above of the sea pool outside Sunset House? This is what it looked like the last day we were there. The dive shop guys were calling it "a storm".  Doesn't look like any storm I ever saw. (aaaahhh, temps are 80's not 20's...it's sunny...not snowing...who's definition of a storm are we using? Come visit Michigan in January...I'll show you a storm!!!hehehehe)
 
This is what happens when you swim and snorkel as much as we did every day.
I know how all of you love the sunset pictures, so I have a couple for you. My favorites.
Now this is a priceless Cayman sunset....
Wreck of the Ten Sails.
One more sunset for us junkies.
My oldest hiding in the palm. Too cute!
Ok, I'm done...can you believe it??? Final word? TRIP OF A LIFETIME!!! |
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May your life be filled with relaxing sunsets, cool drinks, and sand between your toes!
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FAQ
Thank you.... thank you......thank you..... 
) Diana 
We will be watching for your report when you get back too. So don't forget about us.