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Location: Land of 10,000 Lakes...would settle for an ocean instead
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 Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:36 pm Post subject: Caymantwins & CaymanGuy's 2008 Trip Report - LONG with Pic's |
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Our 2008 trip to Cayman was a very memorable one and was definitely NOT long enough!
Day 1 ? We arrived on Wednesday, March 12th and the weather was beautiful. We made it through immigration quickly as we ?stayed to the right? and went through the residents line. Our luggage was already in and waiting for us to go through customs. On our way to the condo at Tamarind Bay, our home for the week and actually the last 10 years while in Cayman!!
While unloading the taxi at the condo we saw an old friend of ours, Tony, who had just arrived the day before with his wife, Honey. Their kids and grandkids would be arriving the next day so there would be LOTS of kids this year. Tony, Honey and a few others were on the beach when CaymanGuy (CG) and I renewed our vows in 2001 on the beach. We?ve known them for years and it is always wonderful to see them.
Once we were able to locate the swimsuits in the luggage it was off to the pool! We enjoyed swimming for awhile and walked down the beach to visit a few friends, Colleen & Sue. We chatted with them for awhile and then stopped at the Royal Palms, since we were so close. We headed back to the condo and finished unpacking in time to enjoy sunset.
It was a busy day of traveling, so we ordered Coconut Joe?s for dinner and were all in bed by 9:00.
Day 2 ? Started the day at 6:30 with the official ?CaymanTwins? waking us both up with big smiles and lots of energy. It was off to the beach to find shells & coral to bring home to friends. The beach was a bit rough after a storm has moved through a few days before. We heard it was a pretty big storm and the waves were up to the seawall. Lots of sea fans and seaweed were in little piles ready to be cleaned up. The girls enjoyed drawing in the sand and we stopped at the Marriott to see the turtle?s swimming around in the courtyard pond ? the girls loved it!
Art project
Trying to hide?I found you!
Resting
Once back at the condo we had some breakfast and then headed to the pool for some swimming. CG picked up our car at Andy?s and we went to Foster?s to get some groceries and stopped at Big Daddy?s for some beer and rum ? priorities! With a full fridge and beverage?s on hand we went back out to the beach and before we knew it sunset was approaching?along with our friends Captain Jack and Mrs. CJ! Lo and behold they came walking down the pathway for a quick hug and then into the ocean for some snorkeling before sunset.
Sailboat
Cloud Reflections
Sailing sunset
M&M Sunset Sailboat
We headed to the Lone Star for dinner.
Painted wall at LS
M?s went to bed with Grandma reading and so CG and I went out to the beach to wait for Jack and the Mrs. We enjoyed catching up and sharing a few cocktails before turning in for the night. A big day was on tap for Friday!
Day 3 ? The ?dive crew? (CG, Captain, Gratefuldiver ?GD?, Divesergeant ?DS? and Mrs. DS) headed out at 8:30 a.m. for a two-tank dive with Casey & Keith of Neptune?s. CG was looking very forward to diving with Neptune?s again after his fantastic dive last year and knew he would have a blast with the ?dive crew?.
CG working on dive report?will insert here when done.
While the ?dive crew? was 100'+ under, Mrs. Jack, Mrs. GD, GD girl, GD boy and the M?s all headed out to keep the kids entertained at a butterfly experience. It was hot, but the kids learned a lot and had fun. Mrs. Captain had fun capturing lots of photos!
Once the ?dive crew? returned it was time to jump in the pool and relax for the afternoon.
We started building a sand castle, but got thirsty so we walked down to the Marriott to visit our next door neighbor from home and her husband. They were celebrating their anniversary and had been at Morritt?s on East End for two weeks and decided to spend one night on SMB before returning home. Retriever and Mr. R were lounging on the beach enjoying the beach cocktail service. The M?s played in the sand and buried our feet for fun. We enjoyed a few mudslides and the girls had a smoothie before going to paint a kids project at the Marriott.
Photo taken by Retriever
They had small ceramic figurines that kids (and adults) could paint. The girls each painted an Ariel mermaid and it is awesome having some ?artwork? they did from Cayman as a souvenir.
We enjoyed another sunset on the beach with Captain & Mrs. Then it was off for a spaghetti dinner in the condo with the best Cuban bread ? I love the stuff since we don?t have it in MN. Something about the flavor of it!
M?s
Two Mod?s
M's and their best friend...Jack! (They think he is hysterical and miss him)
During dinner the M?s decided they were tired and actually asked to go to bed?a first for them in 6 ? years! So, it was off to bed by 7:30 and CG and I headed to the Royal Palms for a few cocktails and some people watching. Berkley, our friend at the Palms for years was working and a trip wouldn?t be the same without chatting with him. After a few rounds of cocktails we walked back down the beach under the stars! We were in bed by about 11 ? don?t know how we used to stay until close!
Day 4 ? Saturday was a lazy day. We strolled the beach with the M?s still in their pj?s?it is vacation afterall. Plus, I was able to almost recapture the photo of them walking hand in hand from their 1st trip 3 years ago. It was the photo that was on the cover of the CAG the summer of 2004.
Had a quick lunch in the condo and drove into George Town for some light shopping and the annual pose at the Blue Iguana.
We enjoyed sunset with the girls and minus the tanker right in the way of the sun, enjoyed a very beautiful and colorful sunset.
I cooked dinner in the condo again. The girls were almost asleep and then one of them said, ?Let?s going dancing at the Royal Palms?. We looked at each other and said, why not. So, they put on their favorite dress and off we went to the Palms. We were walking in and all of a sudden a couple walked by in the parking lot and said, ?Hi CaymanTwins?. It took a moment, but I stopped a realized it was a member of the board, dketchum and her husband. We chatted for a few minutes and it was wonderful to meet another member while on the island. Off to dance?the girls took turns dancing with me and CG.
Dancing with Dad
They lasted about an hour and then were ready for bed. We stopped into the Reef Grill to say ?good night? to Berkley and then went back for some sweet dreams! He gave the girls each a kiss on the head and they thought that was so special!
Day 5 ? An early swim and then off to a photo session on the beach by a friend of mine on the island, Fevi. We met her at Governor?s Beach and found a spot where there weren?t a lot of people around. We had an absolute blast with Fevi and the girls lasted for about an hour ? which was awesome for a photo shoot with kids. They had a lot of fun and the results were amazing! I am so happy that we had our photos taken on SMB ? I will cherish them FOREVER!!! (Sorry in advance for the overload of photos?I couldn?t pick just one!)
All beach portrait photos by Fevi Yu.
Love!
Jumping for joy!
Our family tree
Totempole
Gettin? wet
Wet M&M?s
Our last shot
We then went back to the condo to relax until the CAG crew would arrive at 3:30ish for a casual get together. It was great to finally meet DS and Mrs. DS after knowing them online for two years. We had meet GD, Mrs. GD, Captain and Mrs. Captain 2 years ago on our trip. Casey from Neptune?s even came to join in the fun! We enjoyed lots of stories and cocktails until after sunset. What a wonderful group of friends and we shared lots of laughs and jokes!
Talkin??lots and lots of talkin?
CAG kids
The gang & Casey from Neptune?s
Disclaimer from DS?s trip report?mudslides ?may? result in twins, but it isn?t a proven theory since it only occurred once to my knowledge.  Guess you had to be there!
Day 6 ? RUM POINT! After saying bye to Captain and Mrs., we packed up and headed to Rum Point for the day. We stopped along the way at Pure Art of course! After completing our shopping at Pure Art we drove along South Sound and cut through up to Rum Point. The island is really looking much better since Ivan in 2004. Every year is better. There are still scars along the way, but the people have put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into putting things back together and I applaud their hard work and dedication! It looks great!!! All of the new roundabouts and new roads were a touch confusing, since we are used to the ?one? road days of Cayman in the early 90?s.
We enjoyed lunch and swimming at Rum Point, but were ready to head back to the condo to swim in the pool after taking in a little salt water.
We enjoyed sunset at its best tonight with the sun disappearing into the ocean with a clear horizon. It was breathtaking!
Then it was off for a birthday dinner for CG and ran into yet another CAG member, tiki and her family. They are such a beautiful family and I really enjoyed meeting her and her family.
Day 7 ? HAPPY BIRTHDAY CG!!! This morning we awoke to sing happy birthday to CG. The four of us headed out to look for shells and run down the beach. We headed to Caf? Del Sol for some breakfast and to pick up a few slices of cake to celebrate. After breakfast we went out for a swim and Mrs. GD and GD kids walked up the beach and hung out with us at the pool for a while. It was fun for the kids to play together again and I enjoyed chatting with Mrs. GD again. We decided to head up to the Royal Palms for lunch on our last full day. I had the Mahi-Mahi sandwich again?my absolute favorite and CG decided to have it too. It is by far our favorite meal in Cayman now. We knew it was time to go when they delivered 7 more cases of Corona?could have broken the bank with that one. We still had some back at the condo that we needed to finish before leaving the next day.
After relaxing and laying low all day we went out to watch our final sunset. It was beautiful as always!
We enjoyed a casual dinner in the condo and then once the M?s were in bed we went down to GD?s condo and sat with GD and Mrs. GD for a few drinks and conversation. It was nice to sit around without kids running around and talk. It was a good birthday for CG.
Day 8 ? Time to pack up for home. It was bittersweet packing everything back up and we looked at each other and said, ?where did the week go??!? We had so much planned and didn?t have time to finish it all. I had meant to meet up with Joe & Peggy, but time got away. I did manage to run into Peggy at work and it made my week! She is a wonderful friend and it was so great to give her a huge hug after not seeing her last year. Next time we will meet up for sure!
After one final swim, we packed up and headed to the airport. The flight home was over booked and CG contemplated staying an extra day, but decided we were already packed up and had home on our mind. We arrived in MN just after 11 p.m. knowing that a snow storm would be arriving in 24 hours! EEKS! 10 inches of snow welcomed us back to reality?but our brains were?and still are?on vacation! 
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Last edited by Caymantwins on Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:48 am; edited 1 time in total
Edited By : Caymantwins Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:48:20 -0400
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