daliflor Posted November 15, 2012 Author #251 Share Posted November 15, 2012 Well, often times, while cruising the Caribbeans, we may tend to forget (no pun intended!) that the beauty of the islands doesn't revolve mainly around shopping or the typical touristic attractions... So one of my fave spots in Grand Cayman, for example, is a green, tranquil place often overseen by the typical tourist. The Heroes Square is at the hub of the city of George Town, sitting in front of the Legislative Assembly (Parliament). In 1993, the Legislative Assembly passed the National Heroes Law, providing for the declaration of persons who have rendered exceptional service as national heroes. In 2003 the country celebrated its Quincentennial and the fourth Monday in January became a new public holiday, National Heroes Day. On the holiday's first celebration, a Wall of Honour was dedicated in Quincentennial Square in central George Town. The Wall bears the names of 500 men and women who made significant contributions to the Islands' development. On National Heroes Day 2011 (24 January), five more Caymanians were declared national heroes, and on National Heroes Day 2012 (23 January) another joined the ranks. Surrounding the square are several important public structures including the Peace Memorial, the Clock Tower, the Public Library and the Post Office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 15, 2012 Author #252 Share Posted November 15, 2012 The HEROES SQUARE is one of my local faves because it is a tranquil place with tasteful landscaping, splashing fountains, statues and interpretative markers talking about the heroes who have been important to the history of George Town and the Cayman Islands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 15, 2012 Author #253 Share Posted November 15, 2012 Caymanians have a tradition of hardiness and independence of spirit, which sustained them through many difficult years when their home was sometimes referred to as "the islands time forgot." In those years, they earned a livelihood at sea, either as turtle fishermen or as crew members on foreign-owned ships, or by working in North and Central America. Life in the Cayman Islands is a blend of the old and the new, traditional and modern, with both British and American influences. Many Caymanians have travelled the world as merchant seamen and others have lived and worked for long periods in the United States, Central America, Canada and Europe. Others, older residents have never left their island home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 15, 2012 Author #254 Share Posted November 15, 2012 Rant over! Time to slowly but surely return to the Pier to catch one of the tender boats back to the Carnival's Conquest (or Carnival's Magic as applicable)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 15, 2012 Author #255 Share Posted November 15, 2012 Life in the Cayman Islands is a blend of the old and the new, traditional and modern, [locals and tourists] with both British and American influences. Over the last 30 years, local governments have pursued policies aimed at developing the infrastructure, education, health and social services, fostering the stability which is an important factor in the economy’s continued growth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 15, 2012 Author #256 Share Posted November 15, 2012 And like in a life-cycle novel, we returned to the Pier, passing by some of the landmaks seen earlier in the day (i.e. Margaritaville Cayman, the Anglican Church) Same places, new faces (some more tanned than that Thursday morning!)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 15, 2012 Author #257 Share Posted November 15, 2012 The gentleman was filming the long lines as we're waiting to get back to the Carnival's CONQUEST via tendering boats on Wednesday afternoon, September 27th 2012. The good news? With three (3) Carnival cruise ships in port that day, there were plenty of tendering boats and things were running pretty smoothly overall ! Each cruise ship had its own designed area by the Pier and proper sings and communication avoided confusion. And OFF we go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 15, 2012 Author #258 Share Posted November 15, 2012 In front of us, Carnival's MAGIC cruise ship (and its tendering boats): And then there it was - our own Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship: VIDEO (tendering back to the ship in Grand Cayman): VIDEO (tendering back to the ship in Grand Cayman): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 15, 2012 Author #259 Share Posted November 15, 2012 Tendering back to the Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship on Thursday afternoon (September 27, 2012) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 15, 2012 Author #260 Share Posted November 15, 2012 Tendering back to the Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship on Thursday afternoon (September 27, 2012) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 15, 2012 Author #261 Share Posted November 15, 2012 If you're wondering what was everyone watching -- here is the "process" that got ALL men excited like little children: Getting back aboard our cruise ship, Carnival's CONQUEST (Thursday afternoon, September 27th 2012): An empty tendering BOAT went back to the Pier that afternoon: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruisin4cruisin Posted November 15, 2012 #262 Share Posted November 15, 2012 Disclaimer: The next few posts have NO commercial or marketing value! Note that I am NOT associated in anyway with the shop. It's simply one of my personal faves in Grand Cayman - it's a unique, cool and colorful place and I like it! Guy Harvey Gallery @ Grand Cayman - Thursday afternoon, September 27th 2012 I do not blame you, every time we are there, I like to go to the Guy Harvey store. I have a few of his artworks in my office and I try to get a new one every year, whether it be Father's Day or Christmas. He does amazing work, the tenders in Grand Cayman all have his artwork on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 16, 2012 Author #263 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Carnival's MAGIC cruise ship - seen from the Carnival's Conquest (Thursday afternoon, September 27th 2012) Carnival's MAGIC cruise ship - seen from the Carnival's Conquest (Thursday afternoon, September 27th 2012) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 16, 2012 Author #264 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Carnival's LIBERTY cruise ship @ Grand Cayman - seen from the Carnival's Conquest (Thursday afternoon, September 27th 2012) Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship- Sailaway @ Grand Cayman (Thursday afternoon, September 27th 2012) Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship- Sailaway @ Grand Cayman (Thursday afternoon, September 27th 2012) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 16, 2012 Author #265 Share Posted November 16, 2012 VIDEO (Carnival's CONQUEST Sailaway celebration @ Grand Cayman): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 16, 2012 Author #266 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Carnival's LIBERTY cruise ship @ Grand Cayman - seen from the Carnival's Conquest (Thursday afternoon, September 27th 2012) Carnival's LIBERTY cruise ship @ Grand Cayman - seen from the Carnival's Conquest (Thursday afternoon, September 27th 2012) Carnival's MAGIC cruise ship @ Grand Cayman - seen from the Carnival's Conquest (Thursday afternoon, September 27th 2012) Carnival's MAGIC cruise ship @ Grand Cayman - seen from the Carnival's Conquest (Thursday afternoon, September 27th 2012) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 16, 2012 Author #267 Share Posted November 16, 2012 (edited) Leaving behind the two Carnival's ships: "MAGIC" and "LIBERTY" @ Grand Cayman - Thursday afternoon (September 27th 2012): VIDEO (Carnival's MAGIC & LIBERTY cruise ships seen from the Conquest): Edited November 16, 2012 by daliflor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 16, 2012 Author #268 Share Posted November 16, 2012 I do not blame you, every time we are there, I like to go to the Guy Harvey store. I have a few of his artworks in my office and I try to get a new one every year, whether it be Father's Day or Christmas. He does amazing work, the tenders in Grand Cayman all have his artwork on them. Indeed! It's always a conversation topic when any of us return from the Caribbean with one of those 'treasures' from an art gallery. However, I didn't want to give the wrong impression here, so I felt a disclaimer it was appropriate because at the end, it's a matter of personal taste and choice rather than advertising. For the same reason, I've chosen to avoid photos from the inside and included in our story some of the exterior ones as they are very representative of the Cayman Islands too. Thanks for your comments and I noted your signature photo - tranquility... serenity... aspiration! Wonderful choice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 16, 2012 Author #269 Share Posted November 16, 2012 As always, lods of ACTIVITIES to chose from aboard a Carnival cruise ship, so some were enjoying bag toss during the Sail-away @ Grand Cayman that afternoon: (To play bag toss simply toss the bag into the hole) Bag toss aboard Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship (September 27, 2012) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 16, 2012 Author #270 Share Posted November 16, 2012 As some were involved with the bag toss, some others started dancing: VIDEO (the Conga line during the Sail-away celebration aboard Carnival's CONQUEST): The conga line is Cuban carnival march that was first developed in Cuba and became popular in the United States in the 1930s and 1950s. The dancers form a long, processing line. It has three shuffle steps on the beat, followed by a kick that is slightly ahead of the fourth beat. The conga, a term widely believed to be derived from the African region of Congo, is both a lyrical and danceable genre, rooted in the music of carnival troupes or comparsas. Bag toss aboard Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship (September 27, 2012) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 16, 2012 Author #271 Share Posted November 16, 2012 VIDEO (the bag toss contest during the Sail-away aboard Carnival's CONQUEST): ~ EVENING activities aboard the Carnival's CONQUEST - coming up next! ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trubadur Posted November 16, 2012 #272 Share Posted November 16, 2012 I do not blame you, every time we are there, I like to go to the Guy Harvey store. I have a few of his artworks in my office and I try to get a new one every year, whether it be Father's Day or Christmas. He does amazing work, the tenders in Grand Cayman all have his artwork on them. Good point! We have to check it out when in GC! Are you familiar with this Gallery in Marigot? This is where we had some of our office and home art work done: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 16, 2012 Author #273 Share Posted November 16, 2012 As part of the CruiseMiles Party group aboard Carnival's Conquest cruise ship (remember, won this Caribbean cruise for free basically!), all 160-170 of us were assigned tolate seating dinner in the Monet Restaurant. However, most of us received invitations (from the group's organizers) for a complementary dinner on Thursday night in the Steakhouse! Overall, it was a plesant experience mainly because the people that joined us! Great fun, good laughs! Unfortunately, the wonderful presentation of most of the dishes did not match up with the quality of the food or the rushed service received that evening... It was OK for this one time but decided not to repeat the experience for this sailing (as originally intended). Steakhouse dinner (elegant night) aboard Carnival's Conquest (September 27, 2012) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 16, 2012 Author #274 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Steakhouse dinner (elegant night) aboard Carnival's Conquest (September 27, 2012) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daliflor Posted November 16, 2012 Author #275 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Steakhouse dinner (elegant night) aboard Carnival's Conquest (September 27, 2012) Starters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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