***CAYMAN ISLANDS & stingrays - PHOTO journal @ Carnival Conquest (September 2012)***

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Open Mondays to Saturdays, Margaritaville Cayman is the place to enjoy a drink by the yard

or to simply relax and enjoy the laidback fun-in-the-sun island lifestyle.

 

 

 

 

 

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Just like the other Caribbean locations, Margaritaville Cayman is "wet by day and wild by night."

 

In Cayman, that means that you can get on the floor and dance your cares away… the music won't stop until you do!

 

 

VIDEO (the Electric Slide @ Margaritaville Cayman):

 

 

VIDEO (after the dance, the ladies were rewarded with free SHOTS):

 

 

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Had too much to drink? Don't worry!

 

 

Plenty of clean restrooms are available on location @ Margaritaville!

 

 

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While you're @ Margaritaville Cayman, take a wild ride on the Green Monster waterslide

or snag some Jimmy Buffett memorabilia!

 

 

 

 

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While you're @ Margaritaville Cayman, take a wild ride on the Green Monster waterslide! It's FUN for ALL ages!

 

 

 

At Margaritaville Cayman - taking a wild ride on the Green Monster waterslide!

 

 

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Leaving Margaritaville Cayman and its colorful... floor : - ))

 

 

 

 

 

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Now if you have never been to Grand Cayman, NO worries!

 

One can't get lost as the Downtown area is right by the Pier and it's pretty compact, so it's very easy to cover it by foot.

 

 

If you walk along the water, you can see the cruise ships

 

(Carnival's Magic, then the Conquest and somewhere in the far back, behind the Conquest, the tip of... Liberty):

 

 

 

 

 

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On the other side of the road, plenty of SHOPPING (and smoking!) opportunities!

 

 

 

 

 

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Stopped for ice-cream while keeping an eye on CARNIVAL's cruise ships, docked across the street in Grand Cayman : - ))

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAGIC - CONQUEST - LIBERTY

(last one right behind the Conquest, so almost invisible!)

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The refreshing ice-cream brought some energy, so back to more SHOPPING (or smoking!)... across the street!

 

 

 

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Flipping back and forth along the Water front:

from the cruise ships to shopping; rinse & repeat : - ))

 

 

 

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If you've been to the Caribbean, you can infere that some of the KEY factors are education, religion and beauty

(i.e. have seen - while cruising - numerous schools and universities, libraries, churches and lots of beauty shops).

 

 

 

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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 27, 2012)

 

 

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Guy Harvey Gallery @ Grand Cayman - Thursday afternoon (September 27, 2012)

 

 

 

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Strolling along the Waterfront area in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (September 27, 2012)

 

 

 

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Strolling along the Waterfront area in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (September 27, 2012)

 

 

 

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The Grand Cayman "walking around adventure" continues in Downtown

by taking some of the side streets where more luxury brands can be easily found!

 

 

 

 

Finally, making one last stop at my other fave spot in Grand Cayman that starts at the Peace Memorial:

 

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

 

 

 

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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.

 

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Rant over!

 

Time to slowly but surely return to the Pier to catch one of the tenders back to the Carnival's Conquest

(or Carnival's Magic as applicable)!

 

 

 

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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.

 

 

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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!)...

 

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The gentleman was filming the long lines as we're waiting to get back to the Carnival's CONQUEST via the tenders

on Thursday afternoon, September 27th 2012.

 

The good news?

 

With three (3) Carnival cruise ships in port that day, there were plenty of tenders/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!