Ah, Grand Cayman, the largest of the Cayman Islands. This gorgeous British Territory is home to some of the most incredibly beautiful waters I've ever seen. Somewhere between the most gorgeous shade of aqua and stunning shade of turquoise imaginable.
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| The water was 82 degrees... |
When you hear "offshore account," think Grand Cayman. This place is full of banks and subsequently full of {diamond} shopping for the high rollers that come here to do business.
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| Fancy shopping |
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| Really fancy shopping |
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| Looks like I'll stick with my cocktail rings.. |
Did I mention this place is tax free? Hey, even the filthy rich love a good tax free purchase. As you stroll down the quaint streets of George Town, you may end up rubbing elbows with some of the worlds most rich and powerful people without even realizing it.
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| uh guys? where are you? |
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| Palm trees are vital to my quality of life. |
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| YAY! |
As if that isn't enough to get a bad Hollywood script started, just think of the islands' history: a refuge for those who fled the Spanish inquisition, slaves, shipwrecked sailors and even
pirates, like Richard Le Noir, aka.....
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| I don't recommend googling him. |
Beyond banking and diamond shopping, those travelers not on a budget can enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming with sting rays, and excursions to the town of Hell.
Because of shallow waters, there is a ferry that brings the masses from the cruise ship to the port and dumps said tourists in the heart of George Town.
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| View between the ferry & the Inspiration |
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| au revoir! |
The area is free of panhandlers and street vendors, which is certainly a pleasant greeting. We did a bit of browsing and I bought souvenirs for the nieces and nephew without having to convert a dime. The prices weren't as high as I expected.. in fact, the things I bought weren't cheap overpriced junk, they were reasonably priced and free of "made in China" stickers. Score! The music coming from some of the shops was a crazy mix of hip hop, reggae, and dance. I couldn't understand a single word, but I was dancing anyway (of course).
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| Very disappointed I missed this. |
We then took a taxi for a whopping $4 a piece to the famed 7 mile beach just in time to catch a Million Dollar Jet Ski Competition. Apparently there are professional jet skiers who tour the world's most beautiful destinations, play in the sun all day, and have a shot at winning a million bucks. There was a huge party happening at the Royal Palms Resort complete with a DJ, speed boats, and scantily clad girls bouncing in a jump castle. Still, this place was infinitely classier than most beach party destinations.
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| I'm pretty sure these are all over the Caribbean. |
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| Jet ski fans/ beach partiers |
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| I want to go back. |
The thing about taking a cruise is that the hours spent in port are but a precious few and before you know it, it's time to head back to the ship or risk watching it depart without you. Fortunately we made it in plenty of time and I managed to get a few shots of George Town from the ferry.
