Hello to everyone.

Returned on May 28, from a week on Grand Cayman (GC), our first visit.

Sorry for the long report but it’s the way we write our notes one day at a time.


We stayed at the Turtle Nest Inn (TNI) (east end at Bodden Town).
It was an excellent property with a good location, very quite and peaceful. We had an ocean front room and balcony on the second floor, kitchen (stove, microwave, frig, etc.), dining room, living room and a separate bedroom. We had breakfast each morning at TNI with the exception of Sunday and Saturday (day we left). TNI has 8 apartments with different price ranges, the highest being an ocean front room. The owner/operators Marleine & Alain were very personable and friendly and would help you in any way they can.
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My wife on the beach, we stayed on the top floor room on the left with the three arches, oceanfront.

The snorkeling is good in this area, lots of rocks and coral, it is not good place for swimming due to all the rocks, however they do have a pool.

That’s me snorkeling on Sunday.
My wife used the pool, I did not, as I am not a pool person. The Cayman Gov blew a hole in the reef at Bodden about 50 yards from TNI, to permit local fishermen to get out into the deep water, at TNI they did note that we should avoid the channel when snorkeling.
We filled the gas tank twice as we drove all around the Island using both scenic routes and short cuts.

During our driving (North, South, East and West ends) it was easy to see how much damage Ivan did on GC, the Western end of the Island did not appear to suffer as much damage.

Saturday May 21.
Left Philly on Delta 6:40AM (had to get up at 3AM) changed at Atlanta and arrived in Grand Cayman at about Noon, we encountered no problems as we always use passports when we travel. Picked up our car, we were going to stop in at Fosters but it was very crowded, so we drove to Hurley’s for some breakfast food and snacks. As y’all informed me I did get used to driving on the other side quickly, just had to keep reminding myself to look right. It rained heavy for a while. Arrived at TNI, had to wait to check-in, so we walked along the beach once the rain stopped (they put the perishables in the frig for us).
By the time we checked in and unpacked, we were tired and wanted a close spot for dinner, the owners recommended Castaways (behind Hurley’s), we had dinner there, the food was good about $70. By the way, we did notice that a skateboard and wave park was built right behind Castaways, both of which are scheduled to open very shortly.
After dinner we went back to TNI and flaked out.

Sunday:
Awoke at 6AM, had a cup of tea, put on my reef shoes for a brisk walk North along the beach, after about two miles ran out of beach and climbed over some iron shore, not one of my better ideas. Sore feet after, did not bring my climbing boots. The walk covered about 4 miles r/t. I love to walk, do a brisk one ever day about 5 miles at home.
Arrived back at TNI wife was up having coffee, we decided to go out for breakfast. Found out the breakfast buffet did not start till 11AM, so we jumped in the jeep put the top down and went “that-a-way”. We had a map but I like driving by the seat of my pants. We headed toward Georgetown.

We ended up having breakfast at Coconut Joe’s food was good and reasonable priced about $40. On the way back we located Eden rock and a small parking lot near the ladder, stopped and walked around a mite. Since it was not beach entry (for my wife) we decided to find smith cove, located Pure Art on the way, we found the cove but there were a lot of people dressed up at the cove so we did not stop, it may have been a baptism, but I am not sure.

Started to rain again went back to TNI and waited out the rain. The wife used the pool and we talked with some other guest. I spent the rest of the day snorkeling at TNI and trying out my new wet suite, wife joined me later.
We saw lots of angel, parrot, red snapper; a wide selection of fish was all along the reef. As the water was calm in the afternoon, I went out through the channel and noticed how quickly the depth dropped off, saw some lobster and other different fish in the deeper water, about 60 feet. Coming back in was easy, I just let the waves bring me back into the lagoon, used an upright noodle for my flag.

Called Soto’s to confirm my tour Monday morning, good thing I did as they did not have enough people for the morning or afternoon tour, Kerry said they were getting ready to call me, so we switched to Tuesday morning, but if they did get more people for either the Monday morning or afternoon they would call me.

Had dinner at Portfinios food was very good and reasonably priced $90, we enjoyed sitting on the deck overlooking the water, used our CAG discounts. We talked with the Indian family (mentioned CAG and this forum) that owns the place they were very friendly and service was excellent. On the way back, (it was dark) we noticed a few large crabs crossing the road towards the lagoon.

Moon at TNI

Monday:
Up at 5:30AM, I am an early riser, had my tea, then walked down the east end of the beach, after about 2.5 miles ran into some small cliffs, decided not to make the same mistake as yesterday and turned back to TNI. Wife was up when I retuned, we had breakfast at TNI, snorkeled for a while, and then decided to take a drive and stop anywhere to snorkel.

Before leaving called Soto’s to ensure Tuesdays cruise before we left, again Kerry said she was getting ready to call me as they wanted us to join a Monday afternoon cruise, which we agreed to due as there were no cruise ships in port Monday. We had a lot of fun, first stop was the north sound for snorkeling in about 10 feet, and the two guides were a lot of fun. I think it was Billy who got a green moral eel to come out of his hiding spot.

it was about 6 feet long, saw quite a few different species of fish.

I went off by myself to snorkel, was not watching the boat and they started yelling for me to come back on board, as it was time to go to stingray city.

Went to stingray city next which everyone enjoyed, we held and feed the rays, one just lay right on my hands for a while. The wife really enjoyed this part, as did most of the others. We had 13 people on the boat, when we arrived there was one other boat that was tagging the rays, we were told.

This is my wife and I holding a ray.

Eileen and compainion.

Under water photo of a ray.

Afterwards stopped off for some eats, I did not write down the name of the place, as my wife says if you don’t write it down, it never happened. Per my wife we stopped at Pure Art (a costly mistake?), we talked with Debbie for a while used the CAG discount and mentioned this forum and how she was highly recommended, she seem interested in the forum. Then I went outside and talked to a couple of other husbands. Eventually went back in to sign travels checks, wife said to open my wallet and let the moths out, came back a couple hundred lighter, <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" /> but hell as long as the wife is happy .

Tuesday:
Early up, had tea, walked, breakfast, put the top down and drove to the West Bay area.
Stopped at Turtle Farm but it was very crowded, so we not go in, found Hell, wife took some pictures and mailed postcards home.
[img]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/mjpfef/Hell060.jpg[/img]
Wife wanted this photo of me.
Also purchased a couple more things for the grandkids. Went to Cracked Conch for an early lunch, it was not crowded. Best Conch Chowder I had on GC. Since I cannot get it at home, ordered it at every meal stop.
[img]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/mjpfef/CrackedConch064.jpg[/img]
Photo by the Cracked Conch
Drove down to Cemetery Beach parked behind a few other cars. Snorkeled a little with my wife then she just took the sun on the beach. I went out about 300 to 400 yards for the fish viewing.
[img]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/mjpfef/CemeteryBeach069.jpg[/img]
I think this is Cemetery Beach
Saw a good variety of fish and several turtles. Ran into another couple from TNI that were snorkeling. Drove back to TNI on South Sound Road (more scenic).

As we had a reservation at the Reef Resort to see the Barefoot Man, we headed over and walked out on the pier and saw some small tarpon. We went up to bar and found out the Barefoot Man hurt his foot and the show was cancelled, somehow or another we fell thru the crack and were not notified by Elaine Ramos. They gave us complementary cocktails as a way of apologizing; we decided to stay for dinner. The food was good and reasonably priced $80 with an excellent desert. We were offered reservations for Thursday but had already made other arrangements, so we missed the barefoot man.

Wednesday:
Early up, tea, walk, breakfast and off to the point.
We went to Rum Point for the day, took the long (scenic) route around to the point and came back the shortcut (Frank Sound Road). Rum Point is a great place just to relax, swim, read, or whatever you would like.
[img]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/mjpfef/RumPoint070.jpg[/img]
Plenty of lounge chairs some with a top on them. We had a large lunch at the point food was good and reasonably priced $50; I enjoyed the jerked pork (spicy). We did see a stingray among some other fish at the point but it’s not a place for the serious snorkeler. The trade winds started this evening; it felt good as we sat on our balcony.

Thursday:
Early up, tea, walk, then breakfast.
The wife and I spent the morning snorkeling in the lagoon; saw a large variety of different fish. Picked up couple of hamburgers from the mini-mart for lunch. After lunch my wife stayed by the pool as I snorkeled some more, had a hard time getting out of the lagoon through the channel, in the afternoon due to the waves coming in, caused by the wind I guess, the water was much rougher then on Wednesday. I did get out but I was quite tired, should have done that in the AM, saw lots of fish again

Went to the Warf for dinner, they sat us by the feeding station, (bad seat), Joe I forgot, you told me not to sit by the feeding station.
[img]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/mjpfef/TheWharf2.jpg[/img]
Eileen and I at the Wharf.
The food was excellent as was the dessert and drinks for the wife (chowder not as good as Cracked); price was about $140, which was reasonable.
[img]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/mjpfef/TheWharf4.jpg[/img]
We saw the huge tarpon in the water and watched the kids feed them at 9; there was a family of 35 with a few kids that fed the fish.

Friday:
Last full day, early up, tea, walk, breakfast, off to the cove.
Put the top down and drove to Smith Cove in the morning, good beach entry for a swim and snorkeling.
[img]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/mjpfef/SmithCove020.jpg[/img]
Smith Cove
Saw some interesting fish, wife relaxed on the beach while I continued snorkeling. Went under the bridge that was fun, saw a lot of sea urchins here.
[img]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/mjpfef/SmithCove024.jpg[/img]
Me snorkeling at the cove.
Went out a few hundred yards and noticed the water got very deep, when I went back in, one of the locals said where I was started the Cayman trench. In my opinion, of the stops we made this is the best off-beach entry point for snorkeling on the island. The bathrooms were locked but they had two Johnny on the spots. A cleaning crew was just finishing up when we arrived. After a few hours, we drove to Rum Point for lunch and spent the afternoon. For dinner we went to a strip mall and picked up some pizza.

Saturday:
Early up, tea, walk, breakfast at Castaways.
Relaxed at TNI then filled the Jeep with gas and off to the Airport, no problems on the flights home. Gas is expense on GC.

Things we planned on doing but not enough time.
Dinner at Grand Old House, Lobster Pot, Pappagallos, and the Lighthouse is still closed.
Snorkeling at Eden rock (while wife shopped) and other snorkeling spots, by The QE11 monument, Submarine tour, rent a jet ski.

We would have gone back later this year, but we have three weeks scheduled for the Egypt tour in September, so will have to go back next year. This will be the first time in the last thirteen years of traveling, we’ll return to a place.

MJ

And the <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/band.gif" alt="" /> played on