Stingray Sandbar and a Snorkel !

I'm a hero!!!!!  They all loved the snorkel/stingray trip !!!  Even if we had to meet the bus at 8:10 am in front of the condo.  Everyone was so glad they went!  And best yet, sufficient sunscreen so that no one got burned badly after out there for 3 hours.
We were most fortunate that we got out there when there were not any of the big boats carrying loads of cruising ship's folks.  Our boat was a catamaran... so it glided quite nicely without any roll.  But, really, there wasn't alot of roll in the water at all.  The morning had little breeze, calm seas and no clouds.  Perfect for our trip.
Took about 30 minutes to get to the area and there were only about 4 or 5 other boats... none of them huge.  And, as soon as we came up, there the rays were.  These guys are wild... BUT... they know this is a great food source, as we crazy people had food (fish) to feed them.  Getting off the boat was weird, cuz, you saw these guys near and at first, all I thought about was Steve Irvwin... The Crocodile Hunter and how he died,  Really no worry here, but it did pass through my brain... kept my mouth shut on that one...
Once in the water, you could stand easily and the fish would swim near... and then, even at times, rub against you with their soft underbelly.  Chip, our captain, showed us the barb, and it was really easy to see, that we were fine.  He did warn us, when we fed them, keep our thumbs within our fist and hold the fish up.  They don't have teeth, but they have a strong bony jaw they use to eat (grind) their food.  One time when I was feeding them, I kept my thumb hidden, but he grabbed the fish and my knuckle too... even broke a little tiny dot on my skin.... After the rays, we snorkeled... Katie and Halley passed...
Finished up and had a great meal at the Tiki Bar up from our place.  My drink... delish... everyone loved theirs too... the view, as usual... gorgeous.  Had a closer view of the Jet Pack ride... a couple people were trying it out... $250 Cayman dollars for 20 minutes... YIKES... not on our budget!  But, there must be a market for  some folks.... just not us.  Okay... I'm tired... Hope you all are having a great day... Stay warm!
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Our crew:  Chip, on the right, and his Dad, Buster...
 

 

 

 

Maryanne and Katie... first ones in from our group.... and the rays greeted them!
 

Halley was afraid... after some coaxing from Jerry and Jillian, and handholding, they got her to relax and over to the most shallow area... the deepest it was, where we were, was about 4 feet.
 

 

Ms Katie soaking up a few rays....
 

That would be Jean and Jillian swimming....The Snorkel area was a short distance from the sandbar... water, crystal clear!
 

After a hard morning in the ocean,having fun, no seasickness, had to have a drink... mine was the Orange Mambo... couldn't taste any liquor...dangerous... Maryanne and Jillian opted for MudSlides, Jerry for a MaiTai and Katie had a strawberry smoothie, while Halley opted for her Ice Tea, no lemon...
 

 

Sunday... Church, Lizards and Ocean Time!

Up by 9:30 and we headed off to a Church for a rousing and clapping celebration in song.  This church is a local church, no so much a tourist church.  We all enjoyed the music... very expressive.  Message was interesting... a bit long for Halley and Katie, so, we snuck out during the last half of the 45 minute message...
Outside, we meet a rooster that cracked the girls up... He crowed right next to them and scared them silly... as you can see by the giggles.  I walked across the breezeway and ran into three different Lizards... One was molting... One was bright green... all, not too sure if they liked me being around them.  About that time, the service ended and we were off for lunch. 
One our way, we drove by, what we called (and it really is it's name) a shoe tree.  Ton's of shoes are attached to the tree... Started in 2009, when a couple were cleaning up a little beach, right there, and saw all the garbage and shoes there.  No shoes had mates... everything was just throwaways!  The couple decided to attach them to the tree as a way of getting folks to be better and not just discard stuff, but to recycle stuff.  Was pretty fun to learn the back story!  The couple has since moved to Canada, but the tree goes on!
After our photo op, we headed for lunch... meals all are so good here!  I think cuz it is so relaxed, slow and outdoors.  Another successful meal with no lettuce on me... two days in a row now!
Got back home, and spent some time in the ocean... Katie managed to snap a pic...bobbing heads and Jillian throwing her arms up...
Also, the sunsets... always gorgeous!  One of God's masterpieces!
Jilli and I playing around at dinner... boy, it was good... Decker's!  Highly recommend!
 

 

 

 

 

The Shoe Tree!!!!!
 

 

Tranquil beach shot!
 

This is Lenny the Lizard... He hangs our on our deck...
 

 

 

The last of the crew arrive!

So, left home about noon to pick up Jillian and Maryanne... Dropped Halley and Katie at a small strip mall to do some, you guessed it, shopping!  At the airport, we found a cool spot on a balcony and could takes pics of the girls deplaning.... whoop whoop... I know, you're saying... WOW... how exciting... !  Hey, we're on Cayman time... we get excited at only the simple things!
After they checked in, we had a great meal at Coconut Joe's!  Good stuff.  Jillian, sitting across me, ordered a salad... we warned her what had happened the day before.  I can proudly say, my front received no attack from lettuce at this meal.  It was breezy, but, Jillian managed to keep things under control!
Came back... the Caribbean was calling... we took a nice long dip, then lounged around the pool.  We entertained folks on shore as some rogue waves kinda made a couple us do some fancy maneuvers.... My back was spared... thank heavens!
 

 

 

 

 

Sleeping in is so sweet!

Let’s see, rolled out of bed about 9:30…. That’s a luscious way to start a day.  Coffee, Biscotti… time for the bones to ‘uncreak’… Is there such a word???  That’s how Jerry and I started..(and I will not be talking about my back any longer... I'm adopting a positive attitude)… as for Halley and Katie… their breakfast was much heartier and shared in the enclosed patio while looking at the beach and pool… Not much quiet after they got going… lots of laughing and who knows what… Their bedroom has a TV, DVD, Cable… they’re happy campers!

Woke up to a bit of overcast… and stayed that way most of the day… you know, the kind of over cast you can get a burn in…There was also a nice breeze coming from the water so it made the temp feel way cooler …. Lathered up in the SPF and off we went to do some geocaching.  Again, saw a couple places we would have never seen… one being a darling store call “Pure  Art” which was off the main tourist track and was full of fun and not so crappy tourist things.  Think when J and M get here, we will take them there too.  Asked about a place for lunch… they directed us to the ‘Sunset House” on the beach.  OMG… good food and gorgeous view… with the breeze up, the waves were awesome!  Service was slow, but somehow, it seems just perfect when you’re on vacay….

Finished up our meal, and back to some more hunting for caches!  Found two more… neither were particularly easy… and the one on the rock wall, even harder.  I don’t usually post pics here of them, but made an exception… I figure most folks won’t be doing that here in the islands that I know!
    Now, the picture of the lettuce on the deck... that's from Jerry's salad... He was mixing the dressing into the salad, and a breeze came up... the salad went flying... onto my black shirt... quite cute, I must saw, lettuce, blue cheese dressing, onions... yup.. I was looking pretty yummy to eat! Alas, that was not the look I was going for... 

 

See that little thing hanging that looks like a pacman?  It's a coconut that held the geocache!
 

 

Jer and I shared a Frozen Mudslide...... BRAIN FREEZE!  Halley looks like she is in the glass!
 

 

Here's the infamous Salad Makings that landed on me!
 

 

Hidden in this crevice of the rock wall at a nice little park and beach! 

 

 

 

 

 

Evening brought a quick little squall through our part of the beach.  I was sitting on our patio... all comfy and warm and enjoying Mother Nature's show!
 

 

 

Grand Cayman's Holiday... No bad back is gonna keep me down!

Wow... we have arrived... Tired but happy to be here!  Jerry and Jean's day started yesterday, at about 10:30 am... flew to Minneapolis and hooked up with Halley and Katie. Spent the night (from 7:30pm till 3 am ... didn't really get much sleep) at an airport hotel only to wake up at  said 3am to get dressed again, get the shuttle and head back to the airport.  Very interesting... The airport only has only ONE security line open that early.  Yet, there were plenty of folks there.  A gentleman saw us with Halley using her walker so we got to get in a special line that sped us along.  Not many perks to being handicapped, but once in a while there are some benefits.
Left Minneapolis, where it was 9 degrees, went to Atlanta, where it was pouring rain (and we had the wet luggage to prove it) and warmish.  We then got to the Cayman's... 82 Degrees... felt good.  We could see a cloud bank hanging on down in the Georgetown Area, where the cruise ships drop anchor.  As long as the clouds stayed there, we were happy. They encroached on our area just for a tiny bit, but then went away. 
Arrived at the condo by 2:00pm... and it is beautiful!  First floor unit, you can walk right out your patio to the pool and then the beach and sea is right beyond that.  We all unpacked, Jerry caught up on some work stuff, the girls got their internet connections all going.. life is good when they have internet.  They can get to their Social Media Accounts and not pay roaming fees. Happy Campers!
Lounged at the pool, then hit the grocery store ($200 worth of snacks and breakfast meals).  Had an early dinner at Edorado's... a great Italian Place.  The girls did dessert takeout... I'm still stuffed, but their sweet treats sure looked yummy.... a decadent, rich chocolate cake... but, I can't eat anymore!
I'm barely holding my eyelids open.... With my pills for my back and the lack of sleep, I think I'm getting ready to zone out! 

To my Diva friends... recognize this tag????
   
Getting ready to leave Atlanta....

 

All unpacked... we're gonna veg out around the pool... there's those clouds I was talking about....
 

Katie posing in the pool!

Figures, when there's finally a picture of me, it's so far away you can't tell...
but then again, I'm not complaining... Oh wait, I am complaining... must be the drugs!
That is our unit right behind me: the screened in deck. To the left of that porch, is the open porch off our bedroom.  A bit of paradise easily describes this place!  

Halley...

 

So this guy in this Jet Pack went by as we were laying out there... Something to see... He could get up pretty high...

 

Weird Picture... At an interesting angle... The ship is actually miles away... just doesn't seem that way...
 

Ahhhhh, the life!