WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU…

DEAR ISLAND LIFE…

I’ll tell you what I like about this little place I’ve called home for the past few months…

I like that when I drive around town that I see the my friends and acquaintances in the roundabouts, driving past me and walking by.  We always give a friendly wave.

I like that when I walk into a restaurant, bar, shop, I usually know at least 1 other person if not 20!

I like that my friends come from all places on Earth and they have very interesting stories.  This lends to a broader perspective of life and its ups and downs.

I like that I see my friends so often here and when someone needs something we just call out to the group and more often than not someone can help!

I like that it doesn’t take very long to become an expert tour guide in this town.

I like brunches on Sunday … that last all day!

I like that when my friends from the States come to visit, we walk into a bar, I know said 20 people and my friend says, “What are you, the f*cking Mayor?!”

I like that I go to sleep and wake up with the sound of the waves crashing.

I like that there’s no cold weather.

I like to make fun of the cruise shippers.

I like the sticky toffee pudding at Calypso Grill.

…and the curry cheese fries at Rackam’s

I like skinny dipping in the ocean at night.

I like scuba diving.

I like dinners at friends’ houses.

I like the 3 blonde dogs up the street that hang out in their front yard, and in the road, to allow cars, bikes, and walkers to pass by their paramount post.

I like the roosters… as annoying as they can be at 3 am it’s constant reminder that I’m in the Caribbean.

I like that the direction of the sea changes from day to day and completely baffles me.

I like driving in the Jeep  … even if it starts raining, it’s still warm rain.

I like the starfish

… and the lion fish – they taste good.

I like my secret pier.

I like my fellow runners on W. Bay Road in Seven Mile Beach in the mornings; they are my pals even though we’ve never met.

I like that when I meet someone new I get to play the little game in my head called “guess where that accent is from”.

I like that it’s mostly always sunny and warm and my skin devours it.

And even through the challenges that are presented I still really like my life and my friends here!

 

Xoxo

Em

Stingray City with Red Sail Sports and a Stinky Sighting!

I recently took a trip to Stingray City with my mom while she was visiting in Grand Cayman.  This is a common tourist attraction here on the island and during high season I’ve heard that nearly 3,000 people will make their way to Stingray City daily!  We were fortunate to not have those kinds of crowds, but it wasn’t low season for the stingrays;  there were plenty in attendance.

Mom and I boarded The Spirit of Poseidon, a 65 foot Red Sail catamaran at the Safe Haven location where we were greeted by friendly crew, James, Jake, Jeffrey, and the other guy… sorry, his name didn’t start with a “J” so I can’t remember it.  We got a short, witty briefing from Jeffrey, who would later be our bartender, before setting out across the sound toward the sand bar that the stingrays call home.

This 40 minute journey across the water is beautiful!  The water is every kind of blue you can imagine and the reggae tunes on board rounded out the perfect Caribbean scene.  We didn’t have a very large group so there was plenty of space on the boat for however one chose to ride.  There were sun bathers on the trampoline nets, those avoiding the sun by staying in the cabin , and some sitting along the sides with the wind in their hair.

Upon arriving at the sandbar we got another briefing, from the captain this time.  James told us about the sting rays and how to act with them, where their eyes, and mouths and stingers are, then he told us how to distinguish between the males and females.  After that, we all trickled down the swim steps and into the chest high water of the sand bar.

Standing in the water we could see the  shadowy dark circles approaching us.  It’s an odd feeling seeing these creatures close in on us.  Mom was a bit more squirmy than she thought she would be, clinging to me to get her feet off the sand.

We interacted with the rays for a while, petting them, kissing them – for 7 years good luck, and watching other people squirm – which is quite entertaining!  Then we got a visit from another famous islander…Stinky!  Stinky is the lone dolphin that lives around Grand Cayman.  You may remember I wrote about him in a previous post.  This was a treat because he came swimming through the group of us in the water and started playing with the anchor of our boat.  He isn’t the nicest to the poor stingrays though, he chases them and nips at them in a playful, yet bullying way.  Everyone was really careful to keep enough distance and definitely not touch Stinky.  He may be comfortable with humans, but he’s still over 400 lbs. and that is something you don’t want to mess with!

After an absolutely perfect day at stingray city we boarded the boat again, the crew drew up the sails and we mad our way back across the sound and back to Safe Haven.  I have to say that Red Sail Cayman has very professional and experienced people who make these kinds of tours a really great experience.  When you have your next trip to Cayman take the stingray city tour with Reds Sail and maybe you’ll have the pleasure of being on James’ boat, and Jeff can make you his famous rum punch!!

Thanks Red Sail and Thanks Jeffrey!

Xoxo

Em

Life just keeps getting better!!!

Greetings from South Florida,

I wanted to take a minute to just explain that I haven’t been writing much lately, you’ve probably noticed!  I have moved from Denver to Miami.  Timing was perfect because the temperatures were dropping in Denver and I was committed to being somewhere warm for the winter.  I couldn’t bear another cold, windy, snowy season; that was very clear.  Remember how I’ve been Chasing Summer?  But I didn’t exactly plan to end up in Miami.  It was sort of accidental that I ended up here; although, I don’t believe in accidents of that sort.

I was headed to Grand Cayman actually.  A friend of mine had gotten a job there and extended an invite for me to come along.  He knew how desperately I wanted to get back to the Caribbean ever since my trip there in January 2011.  This was perfect, what a great opportunity!

I started doing everything I could to get ready to go.  It would have been simpler if I didn’t have my 6 year old Cockapoo, but that was a commitment I made a long time ago.  I love that dog and would do anything to have him with me.  So I started the process of getting him vaccinated…. it’s  a process, believe me.  There is a lot of waiting and forms and emails and phone calls involved.  While stuck in part the waiting period, a friend of mine in Hallandale, FL offered for me to stay with her.  She had just moved from Denver and wanted some company.

My Oliver

Ok, long story short, I got notice from the Grand Cayman government that Oliver would be ready to enter the country sometime around the middle of January – it was November at this point.  My friend on Grand Cayman had met some roommates and found a screaming deal in a condo on Seven Mile Beach.  They had to take the deal, but there were 2 problems for me: 1. The place didn’t allow dogs and 2. There wasn’t a bedroom for me!

At the time I was, honestly, pissed!  All of the plans I made and all of the work I did getting ready and all of the money I spent on Oliver now seemed pointless!  I had to move out of my friend’s home at the end of the month because she was having guests.  I was determined to not go back to Denver.

I knew I had done all of this for some reason.  I decided to get a place and stay in Miami.  Not really sure of what was next I started brainstorming on an idea I’d had for about a year.  I started working on this project, this dream that I conjured up so long ago, but wasn’t really sure where to start.  Things started happening!

I am happy to announce that I am in the throes of beginning a company and creating my dream life!  It is so amazing how when you put something out there that you are so passionate about, the Universe bends and moves to help you make it happen.  I am a full believer in that and I know that is the reason I ended up in Miami.  I have dolphins swimming in my “front yard” in the canal, an amazing view from my “office” and I have the beach in my back yard!  Things just keep getting better!!

I will be posting more on my progress with the company.  I don’t want to give too much away just yet, but let’s just say that it involves warm weather, islands, sand, water, sun, and dreams!

Ahh!  I am so excited about what’s next!  Stay tuned, I’ll write in when I get some free time and keep you up to date!

A very excited Em!