Christmas and SparkJ's birthday in Cayman

Christmas in Grand Cayman 2011!

I know that sometimes people wonder why we keep going back to Grand Cayman year after year. Why don't we shake it up, visit some other islands, join a cruise or what could possibally be so great about this island that we have been seven times in ten years? My short answer is that it feels like home! From the moment that we step off that plane, descend the steps in the heat of the ocean air and walk into the terminal, our steps get lighter, the smiles on our faces bigger and the weight of the world lifts. What could be better?

After ten years of visiting this island and staying at the same resort, we feel like we have our own little island family. Mr. Omar and Mr. Neily have watched us bring one little baby (CubJ), return with a second little baby (SparkJ) as we have heard about their finishing school, having children and grandchildren of their own! Our dear friend Elizabeth has enjoyed watching the children grow up each year as she serves us breakfast while we have learned about her family.

 In 2004, the year that SparkJ was born, Hurricane Ivan (a four letter wo
rd on the island) ripped Grand Cayman in half, submerging the centre part of the island under water and knocking out communication from the island for several days. The devastation was significant to the island. It was that year, as we wondered about our friends and how they were fairing that we developed a true bond with the island. The following Christmas when we returned to celebrate SparkJ’s first birthday, it was a tearful ride and joyful ride as we saw how quickly the island was recovering from the Category Five hurricane, how some of our familiar places or landmarks were no longer and all of the debris that was waiting to be taken to Miami! We could clearly see the power of a category five hurricane over one year later.  It is in those moments that you truly realize that as that white sand slips between your toes, the turquoise water soaks into your hair that Cayman has become part of your DNA. That is why we keeping being drawn back to the same island year after year....

 We really enjoyed spending our time on the beach, trying out new restaurants and just relaxing this year. For DaddyJ and I, the highlights were watching the littleJ’s snorkel together off the beach at the hotel. They really seemed to enjoy swimming after the fishes from the man-made coral reef that was put in 12 years ago to protect the beach from erosion from hurricanes. Watching the two of them together, their chatting and easy playing made breaking up all of those little bickering moments almost forgotten!

AquaBeach! Now that was a great new place that we tried. I have to be honest, not only do you get to eat outside while listening to live bands (some nights), do they have GREAT burgers, are their lots of TV’s showing hockey but it is owned by a Canadian who is NOT a Leaf’s fan! Really, nothing bonds Canadian Hockey fans like the polarizing effects of the Toronto Maple Leafs.... Good food, GREAT Family and an all around good time! We highly recommend AquaBeach and will be back again for more fun.

As has become our tradition, we spend our Christmas Eve swimming with the Stingrays at Stingray City and then had dinner at Cimboco! http://www.cimboco.com/about.html It was an ideal way to enjoy the day as a family! This year, the water on our afternoon long snorkeling trip was a bit more “exciting” than last year. The kids still managed to get in the water at the open sights, swimming in the water at the Coral Garden and the reef. While we did not get to see the Moray Eel, it was still exciting. In addition, Captian SparkJ and Captain CubJ got to drive the boat! 

Christmas Day was spent gorging ourselves at the buffet before heading to the beach to relax all day long! We have noticed over the years that as the economy has improved or worsened, the group of people visiting the island is particularly interesting. This year was not exception at the Christmas Day buffet! The highlight of this year’s buffet was a group of people who we are pretty sure “busted out” their “good pool wraps and t-shirts” to join in the buffet as “Christmas is not my celebration”! So we saw the spectrum of fine dresses/suits and ties to beachwear and a spectacular assortment of food and Moet and Chandon champagne (aka Mommy happiness in a bottle). Now, I try to respect other people’s celebrations, customs and the associated  dress codes and had great hopes of teaching this level of respect for World Cultures and Religions to the littleJ’s! Great news for me, after seeing that display, the kids have gotten the message all on their own, (I figure when the six soon to be seven year old is “mouth agape in shock” at your dripping bathing suited family a the Christmas Day buffet the message had been received. Let alone when you ten year old asks “why they are not going to change or at least dry of”... LOL) At the buffet, the kids had the opportunity to use their French with the Chef du Cuisine as he was from France. Pleasantly, while I had no idea what they were speaking of so quickly in French, he was very pleased with the quality of their French, their vocabulary and their accents! Yippie, double Christmas bonus for MommyJ and DaddyJ!

SparkJ’s Seventh Birthday was wonderful! It began with a visit from Mr. Omar to deliver “The Princess” her birthday balloons. (Seven years of watching her grow up has ensured that she is know to all of the staff as the little princess!) After that we spent the morning at the Turtle Farm http://www.turtle.ky/ checking out turtles, rejoicing in the banner year of hatchlings! Plus, that video of Stevie Y releasing Turtles into the ocean kept DaddyJ interested in the conservation movie~ LOL. Upon our return it was time to enjoy the beach and then head to our dinner at Solana where SparkJ received her birthday cake and the present (a Swatch watch that has alligators on it) that CubJ has bought in secret in town a few days before!

All in all, I can not believe that my little baby is SEVEN! Where oh where is that time going! Four years spent celebrating in Cayman, one in Cancun and two at home ..... that is where the time goes.

Thank you family, for another wonderful Christmas and SparkJ birthday in Cayman. Of all of the years visiting, I think that this was our very best year ever. You two littleJ’s have become a real joy to travel with and I never take for granted all that you do to make this happen trip after trip DaddyJ. Love you three!

May your Christmas holidays bring each of you such joy and may you all find your own islands that work itself into your DNA with such love as we have found in Grand Cayman!

Cheers,

MommyJ