Living in a city is really fun, but getting away is even better. This past weekend due to knowing amazing people (Thanks so much N&B) and dating an equally amazing one, I took off for an extended weekend in the Cayman Islands (it was tough, let me just tell you). The weekend was amazing filled with sand, sea, snorkeling, cooking with local produce (we discovered roadside stands and all kinds of fun things (next post)), sunsets, and walks all while surrounded by scenery so breathtaking it seems fake.
Admittedly I don't know enough about the Cayman Islands to do any kind of breaking news type of reporting (except that at the end of the trip I bought 3.2 (the point two is important) gallons of gas for TWENTY-SEVEN CAYMAN DOLLARS (and the exchange rate is not good. Welcome to traveling outside of the US)!!!!! O to the M to the G. In any case all of the hitch hikers were immediately explained.) and furthermore I already knew that it was a beautiful paradise, so what follows (after this absurdly long undiagrammable sentence) are the new amazing things that we discovered.
If you are reading this: "GO THERE!!"
Stingray City is a place to put on your "To do" list no matter how long it is.
part from the obvious and parents-of-an-absurdly-inquisitive-child-tinged, "Because I told you so!" (And I don't make bold suggestions or demands in vacation destinations lightly.). Stingray City is where actual wild, some still with barbs, stingrays will hang out and love you (If your are thinking about the one that killed the Crocodile Hunter, correct). Apparently for many years this is the sandbar where ships cleaned their fish (because there were mosquitos on land (People after my own DEET-soaked heart) and thus the stingrays gathered and frolicked, loving the free and abundant food. And now the tourist head out to to feed, touch, and experience these beautiful animals.
Yes it is a MAJOR tourist destination, however who cares 1. You are in the Cayman Islands which means everything is awesome even obese tourist wearing Myrtle Beach shirts (when he took of his shirt a little girl around the age of 3 kept pointing to him and telling anyone who would listen: "Him NAKED!") 2. You get to hold, feed, and kiss a stingray (YESSSSSSS!!!!! and furthermore document all of this on film or megabytes pending your underwater cameras fanciness).
Of note: I have fed small stingrays at zoos and Sea World in the past and it turns out that again things in nature do not disappoint the bigger the stingray the more suction created. These ladies are large and are hungry without regard to personal space. When feeding them, it turns out you should listen to your guide and tuck in your thumb.
We went with
Captain Marvin (the first tour or something or another in relation to the stingrays). It was great. First stop was the stingrays, then two different coral reefs lots of beautiful fish and opportunities to feed them.
Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga
To sum it up: it's kind of mix between repeatedly jumping in the pool when you were young, getting pushed, and belly-flopping.
Why would anyone do such a thing?
You've met me right? or at least read one of the other non-recipe posts? Have you met my boyfriend? If you answer yes to any of those questions you have your answer. Because its fun ;). I love yoga. I love paddle boarding. I love swimming. Perfect. We did a variety of things including shoulder stand (him) and a headstand (me) in addition to sun salutations. Basically we just played in the Carribean Sea and probably terrorized a crab or 27 with repeated crashes into the upper stratosphere of their habitats. The best part about this is that we can take these classes more and more places: including on the Potomac. I am hoping when this happens, my practice in Cayman will decrease the amount of water that shoots up my nose.
 |
| It also really looks like this! (Rum Point) |
This place is MAGICAL!!!!
 |
| It really looks like this!! |
This is one of twelve discovered in the world so far. I love things that glow and sparkle and have never seen anything like it. I don't know what I expected but I definitely didn't dream of every time i put my paddle, foot, or hand in the water it looking like a glow stick. and then sparkling. It was surreal and fantastic. The tours only go at certain phases of the moon so you can actually see the fluorescence.
Our guide, Tom the owner of
Cayman Kayaks, was great and pointed out all kinds of fun things as well as really knowing the habitat. Hooray for disco shrimp!
Sadly the bay is in danger because of the removal of the mangroves for development (it apparently affects the Vitamin B levels in the water). Here is the link to save the bay
Click here!!
The night was absolutely spectacular; peaceful, beautiful, amazing nature, even better company, and a background of shooting stars.
 |
| Biking home from Rum Point |
This tour leaves out of Rum Point is absolutely worth the drive from 7 mile Beach if that is where you are staying.
In sum and amazing weekend with an equally amazing person! I can't wait for my next adventure.
 |
| Beautiful sunsets and peaceful beaches will never be wrong |
No comments:
Post a Comment