No column this week. I'm on vacation.
We arrived earlier than Sarah, Nate, and Alex. They got stuck in Philadelphia after missing their connection. Snow in Portland, Maine delayed their departure. Roseann and I got there about midnight after a long drive following three flights. Woke up to a calm sea. This is our first view from the condo we rented. Nice. Cuba is just over the horizon to the north of Grand Cayman. Glad I don't see it.
It was a long day of traveling: about fourteen hours. Relaxing before going to mass and then picking up our companions.
It was a nice day and Roseann, now Grammy, did what she always did: collect shells and rocks. Our daughters call her Rocky.
She even collected them in the cemetery. They bury their dead next to the sea here on Grand Cayman.
I think that's kind of nice. Visiting departed loved ones next to the eternal sea. Next to the power of Nature's God. Wikipedia describes the population here - over 50,000 - as "overwhelmingly Christian" with lots of Catholics. At Sunday mass, the congregation was reverent and enthusiastic, a nice combination. "Celebrating" mass at St. Ignatius Church in Georgetown wasn't just an expression. It was one of my favorite masses ever. Then it was over to the airport to pick up the rest of the family.
Sarah relaxed after her long journey.
Nate helped Alex put on flippers so he could snorkel in the little lagoon. Starting off easy.
It's easier to walk backwards in these things, but Alex insisted on doing it his way. He made it.
Evening of the first day.
Next day came the trade winds out of the Northeast. No more calm seas on the north side where we were.
Who cared of there was a storm out there? Grammy was still going to be looking for cool rocks.
Some over here too.
Alex was taken back a bit by the power of the waves. Things had changed. Snorkeling would be difficult here.
The surf was roaring. Alex was taking it in.
What are we going to do now?
Head for the other side of the island, that's what.
I'm going to walk the way I want to. It works.
What do you know? Rocks and shells over this side too.
Later there were chairs to walk on while looking at the Caribbean Sea.
And there were coconuts to be found. Ripe ones. Alex wanted to drink some coconut milk.
A nice man opened it up for him and gave him a straw. He was in heaven.
Then he opened it up for Alex to eat some of the meat. Lots of cruise ship passengers showed up to watch.
Hooray! Alex loves everything about coconuts.
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The pier at Rum Point, Grand Cayman Island. We waited for a boat to Stingray City, which is out in North Bay where stingrays gather to be fed and petted, and for us to snorkel.
Looking to the left.
All of us on Captain Jimmy's boat.
Captain Jimmy.
Nate with stingray. Alex didn't want to go in the water at first, but we persuaded him.
When he went in he wouldn't let his legs down into the water. Fear took over again.
He was sorry he agreed and begged us to bring him back to the boat. Notice the legs still up in back.
Captain Jimmy soothed him a bit, but he was still dubious.
Closeup of stingray on Captain Jimmy. Notice its eyes.
Next day we walked to Starfish Point. Alex wanted to build a cabana on the beach with these.
Alex wasn't afraid of starfish.
We found two to check out. Then it was back to Old Man Bay where we're staying to relax by the pool until the last sunset. Flying back to Maine tomorrow after stops in Miami and Dulles. Long day, then back to winter. I see that it's in the forties and fifties for the week though. Not bad for mid-March.
