Grand Cayman: Mother Nature's Favorite Child

Grand Cayman has been blessed with the most appealing natural assets--breathtaking beaches, colorful coral gardens and fascinating fish. Who could ask for anything else, especially our friends Susan and Steve Talley who have a timeshare on this idyllic island?

Having visited the island in 2007, we decided to conduct a self-tour. Rich of Rich and Joan, who did such an incredible job of setting up a website with information on the majority of our ports, informed us that there was a beautiful public beach only a mile from the port. As a welcome gift, the Pacific Princess gave each of us a backpack that proved perfect for our snorkel gear before we set off for our personalized adventure. However, everyone we met along the road that was under construction when we reached the outskirts of George Town told us that the beach was a mile away. Not a good omen! It really was almost two miles but the end result was well worth the journey. (Sara is wondering how many passes for "Get Out of the Gym Free" she earned for the four-mile round trip.)

Smith's Cove is a lovely Caribbean beach with calm turquoise waters, shaded picnic tables and soft sand. As we arrived, we witnessed the conclusion of a wedding ceremony. Next time, we promised to be on time and bring a gift. we watched the beautiful bride in a long, white Grecian gown with a jeweled T-strap in the back and the grinning groom in a white island shirt and matching pants cut their cake, shove it in each others mouth and drink a champagne toast to their good fortune.

This beach is a favorite of the locals and their guests. We talked with a lovely couple from France who were visiting their daughter who had lived in Grand Cayman for seven years who told us what were the important sites to see. Fortunately, we had visited the rum factory, the turtle farm, the stingray cove and Hell, which really could be the same landscape as its namesake, when we were here before. We also met a couple from London who were visiting her sister who also has lived in Grand Cayman for seven years. Chris, an English native, and Kathy from horse country in Ireland told us what sites to visit when we end our trip with a tour of Ireland in May (the National Museum, the jail and the squares).

Our happy band of tourists were joined by a couple who had met at Penn State (Go Penn State! for all of Sara's relatives in Pennsylvania) and now live in Baltimore, and their adorable 19-month old son, Conner. John and Judy Matta, friends in Bradenton who are taking a cruise out of Tampa in February with their daughter, son-in-law and gorgeous almost 2-year-old granddaughter, Evelyn, this message is for you. The family was at the end of a week-cruise out of Miami on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas. At the beginning of their trip, they were concerned that Conner would not enjoy the vacation. And if Conner was not happy, no one would be happy! However, Conner quickly gained his sea legs and loved the voyage so all was well with the world.

We enjoyed snorkeling in the beautiful waters while Punxsutawney Phil delighted in his ride on the Blue Dragon. When we left the beach, we noted the time, which was a very good thing. Whenever, we met tourists who were trying to find this perfect beach, we were able to tell them how long we had been walking. They all seemed amazed that this beach that was only a mile from the downtown was so far away! When we arrived at the Paradise Restaurant on the outskirts of downtown, we toasted the lovely port with several beers.

Our next major adventure is going north to south through the Panama Canal on Sunday. Last year, Punxsutawney Phil took this voyage after he made his weather prediction on Groundhog Day, February 2. Watch for our next entry on February 3.