A big congratulations Todd! And that is so awesome that you could wear sandals to get married in! Dinner sounds interesting, not sure how well i'd do with turtle but good for you to truly make the experience unique and extra special!
Today we did some more site seeing. It is 85F with high humidity (it rained last night). We hit Georgetown which is the busiest part of the Caymans. It was extra busy as a couple of cruise ships off loaded their "over fed, newly wed or nearly dead". We did some shopping and had lunch at a Caribbean style chicken restaurant. It was quite good.
In this shot you'll see the smaller ship that take the passengers from the cruise liners to shore
After lunch Ross took us to an area hit hard by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. These photos are of a high priced condo complex that a friend of his lived in. Apparently this was quite the place to live in prior to the hurricane. His friend barely escaped with his life and suffered a broken collar bone. The area is currently for sale but there have been no buyers:
A fancy chandelier used to hang from this chain
The remains of a kidney shaped swimming pool:
There was a 20 foot storm surge. The waves were 8-10 feet ABOVE the surge. Water entered the second floor of this complex. In this photo you'll see new condo's a little ways down from our location. New building code now requires a "sacrificial 1st floor" be built to allow water and storm surge to (mostly) flow under the building, minimizing damage:
There is a small hamlet in Caymans called Hell. Almost there:
The reason for the name is both the fact that there is a large outcropping of volcanic rock in this area and due to the fact the area is isolated from ocean breezes, it is also the hottest spot on the island:
A little redemption can't hurt either!
We finished the afternoon by snorkeling at 7 mile beach. My first ever attempt! It was fantastic! We saw lots of interesting fish. Sorry, no photos of me in my goofy mask and fins! The ocean liners were heading out by now:
7 mile beach is actually only 5.5 miles...
Did I already say I don't want to go home? Only 3 more days!
Once again Todd love the pics . I have never wanted to go any where but you sure are giving me a different out look on the whole thing. We were supposed to be going south on new years eve with our friends but the wife started a new job so we pulled out and I was quite happy with that. Now I am really wishing we would of went.
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1957 Pathfinder deluxe 4 door wagon 1961 Pontiac Parisienne bubble top Traded for a Harley sorry guys.
I wasn't a big traveller either. The Virgo in my always does the big "What if this goes wrong or that goes wrong" Being here I feel like a dolt not doing this sooner. We have a huge advantage knowing someone who lives here. We saved a pile of money by staying with friends plus the fact we are with someone who knows where to eat, the best beaches etc sure helps. You can't experience what we did on a cruise or an all inclusive. Still, we are sure going to try to do something, even if it is an all inclusive somewhere in the future. It's good for the soul! Connie and I had a TON of stress lately and it was affecting both of us. I think I've lost 15lbs in the last few months (my shorts were way too big for me!). It's nice to regroup my thoughts and recharge my batteries. Anyhoo, back to the photos. I missed posting yesterday. I did post a few Christmas shots in the other thread "Its looking alot like Christmas"
Today we got our official marriage certificate from the Cayman Gov't. After that the girls did some shopping so Ross and I stopped by the local Toyota dealer. I met the owner, a friendly fellow who showed me some of the models not sold here. There were a couple of med duty trucks on the lot that were only $19000 Cayman Dollars (about 28k CDN). I thought perhaps they were Toyotas and I said "Man, those trucks are cheap!" He said "Don't remind me about those trucks! They are from China and the quality is terrible! I'll never buy any more to sell!". They also sell Ford at this dealer and I got to tour the service department. They have 18 techs. All Toyota's sold are Japanese spec. U.S spec models are different and they do run into problems with folks who bring in Toyotas imported from the States as they don't have a "Techstream" scan tool. A couple of photos:
A Jag for Christmas!
Toyota Service. 18 techs, 2 advisors. No such thing as getting parts overnight- it's usually 2 weeks!
Most of the techs are from other countries. IM2NR are you listening? They are getting Techstream in 2011 and a tech will versed in it would be an asset. Tax free money Mon!
After that we met up with the girls and took a submarine tour of the coral reef. The sub dives to 100 feet. It was fantastic. We saw Manta Rays as well as a number of different species of fish.
Taking the boat trip to the sub:
What to do in case of trouble- oxygen mask instructions
A million dollar view from off shore (well likely several million dollars!)
Here are the fuel storage tanks for the island. Electricity is generated by huge diesel turbines. Electricity and gas isn't cheap here! Large tankers dock offshore and the oil gets pumped to the tanks:
Finally, the sub!
Climb aboard!
Our Captain:
Some underwater shots. They don't do justice to how incredible it was!
At 100ft you lose most colour underwater:
A boat sunk for the divers:
A mermaid! She's 9 foot tall, solid bronze and 600 lbs! She was created by a Canadian Artist:
Heading back to shore. I had my new CP shirt on!
We worked up quite an appetite and had lunch at a restaurant called "Breezes" located across the road from the ocean. Nice view:
The conch chowder was very good. Later we did some more souvenier shopping (I couldnt resist, I bought a Cayman Island license plate to hang in the garage) and had just enough time to do some snorkelling at Smiths Cove, a small quiet beach. I'm addicted to snorkeling now! Tomorrow we are going to an area to snorkel with the Stingrays. I'm really looking forward to it. Tonight we have the house to ourselves. Our hosts are at a Christmas party. We are cooking up fresh Red Snapper, shrimp and mashed Casava root. MMMM!
We had a great last day! We chartered a boat to North Sound near the coral reef. The scenery was breathtaking!
Approaching a large sandbar:
What's that on the sandbar? Stingrays! Tons of them!
We spent about 30 minutes swimming with the stingrays. We got some great professional photos that I'll post when I get home. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The 'rays feel like velvet.
Afterwards we went farther out to the coral gardens and did some snorkeling. The number of fish there was incredible. We were out for about 2 hours. If you ever make it down here this is a must do! Heading back we went though a canal with some fancy homes.
when we were downtown, I though it funny that most of the banks were Canadian - CIBC, BMO, RBC, Scotia.
Caymans are a major tax shelter for Canadian corporations and our banks are more that willing to co-operate helping shift that money around and keep it out of the CRA's hands.
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Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
Well, back to reality. We rolled in at about 11:15. At least I'm off Monday...
Welcome back. Great pics and I'm sure the memories will last you a life time. As you said, now that you have experienced going south during the winter season, it will be hard not to do again. I find just seeing everything so green and in bloom after everything has died and gone grey up here is the greatest tonic. We should have taken in the Turks and Caicos back in the 70's when they wanted to join us!
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Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
Welcom home MR & MRS St Claire congrats and thanks for all the pics you posted it was like we where all on holidays with you! LOL Now my ol lady has it in her maybe we should do that thanks alot Todd!
Believe me, I did the same thing! I picked up the local paper. There are a lot of jobs! I spoke at length to the service manager at the Toyota dealer. Heck, he's from South Africa. If you have a skill you'd have no problem getting work. You can only work there for 7 years. In some rare cases you can get your permit renewed. Ross, our host is at the end of his 7 year term. He suspects he'll get transfered to Miami but is still holding out that he will get his permit renewed.
Todd
67HEAVEN wrote:
69Laurentian wrote:
Well, back to reality. We rolled in at about 11:15. At least I'm off Monday...
Congratulations on the wedding and the trip, Todd.
I rarely go south anymore because I usually come back unhappy.
I spend the entire vacation plotting and scheming about how I could move there and set up a small business.
Then, the flight home slaps me back to reality. Exiting that plane is the cruelest moment.
If it weren't for my wife, I'd never go.
-- Edited by 69Laurentian on Monday 14th of December 2009 07:57:01 PM
THOSE PICTURES REMIND ME OF LIVING IN JAKARTA WHEN I WAS YOUNG.
