Welcome Back

I know, I know. It has been forever. If anyone out there still checks my blog, thanks for the loyalty. Those of you with Google Reader, you don't count.

Speaking of Google Reader makes me feel guilty. I seriously check it around 3 times a day. I can check my Reader and read blogs, but I can't post one? Terrible. In my defense, my computer has slowed down considerably, making loading any kind of image almost impossible. We are looking into some pretty new Apples to buy when we are home for Christmas.

I promise to post some photos from our exciting vacation to IRELAND, which we leave for next week! We are so excited! I really need a break. Bob has been working much harder during the off season than we had hoped and my hours have been longer due to staff shortages. Also, it is just so hot and humid here, it will be nice to cool off. I have always been interested in visiting Ireland but when I saw my friends Jessi and Courtney's photos it solidified my resolve. Actually, it just made me really jealous I didn't pay the extra money and fly to Ireland with them!

So, good times ahead and probably some good stories! We are staying in an array of accommodations in a variety of towns. Should be interesting!

Hope all is well with you out there in internet world! Hopefully I'll post again soon!

Bob scored a try!

We play touch rugby now, thanks to our good friend Alanna. We play for her company, GCM. Read the following:

http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2011/06/27/KPMG2-waltzed-past-Grizz-s/

I know you may be surprised that I am playing a sport, but it has been lots of fun so far learning a new game. I may not be the best player but I'm trying!

Teignmouth Electron

This is a story that proves that when you bring a history nut with you on vacation, you never know what you may find.

Once apon a time (1968), in a land far far away (England), the Sunday Times sponsored a single-handed, around the world yacht race called the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race. There was a British man named Donald Crowhurst that believed he could build a new, innovative yacht that would win the race. He named it the Teignmouth Electron. This boat was a trimaran, which was untested for such long voyages and difficult to right, if capsized. Crowhurst added a special buoyancy bag to the top of the mast, just in case, and set off from Teignmouth, Devon at the last possible minute.

It turns out the boat is on Cayman Brac! Here is a photo of the boat today:

As you might suspect, things did not go so well for Crowhurst or the Electron. He had no prior experience on this type of yacht, hadn't taken the boat through any tests and left a lot of supplies behind. To sum up, he fell behind early, started radioing in false positions (making him sound in the lead), possibly was being poisoned by his food supply or water filtration system and then committed suicide by drowning in the ocean. His boat was found abandoned and was sold multiple times before it wound up decaying on the south shore of Cayman Brac. Go here and here for the full story.

It is weird. The story is really interesting and yet, there is no mention of it in Cayman Brac. No plaque at the site, no mention on any map. Just a pile of garbage between the beach and a road. The local girl at the hotel had never heard of it and the boat is located less than a mile away!

Here is our "history nut" with the Electron. Thanks James for telling us this interesting story, I can't believe the Brac doesn't take advantage of such a great tale!

Cliffs and Caving in Cayman Brac

Last weekend we took advantage of the Queen's Birthday holiday and went to Cayman Brac for the long weekend. This trip has been in the works since January and was planned by our good friends Alanna and James.

Cayman Brac is a bit different than Grand Cayman. It has a large bluff going through the center of the island. This allows for some great caves that have been carved out by the wind and water over the years.

Here we are in Skull Cave. The caves were ridiculously hot, probably due to the high humidity and the fact we went caving at noon. Of course, we didn't learn from our mistakes and did the same thing the following day.

I was looking forward to seeing the lighthouse. Sadly, I was a bit underwhelmed.

It turns out that modern working lighthouses aren't as exciting as their picturesque older brothers of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. We did take turns climbing to the top, though I'm sure it was prohibited.

Here is the crew at the top of the bluff, near the lighthouse.

This is the north side of the bluff, which we climbed on a very rugged staircase.

Near the top of the bluff is Peter's Cave which residents can still use as a hurricane shelter. It was VERY HOT!

Here is a shot of Bob and I on the top of the bluff.

This is on the far east side of the island. That little rock is known as Little Cayman Brac. We did not attempt to climb it.

And now a photo from the West end of the island on our final night.

It was a very fun vacation fill with plenty of pool time, some snorkeling, too much food and lots of laughs with friends. Thanks Alanna and James for a great weekend!

A Second Trip to the QEII Botanical Park

I am really starting to love this park! Everytime I go I find new flowers and interesting plants. I have no idea what these plants are called but they are awesome!

This time I went it was very sunny and hot, perfect weather to bring out the extremely endangered Blue Iguanas! They are large and blue. The juveniles are brighter blue but those are reared in a controlled environment. We saw 5 of the iguanas while walking around, it was a real treat!

Excuses

I have a lot of excuses for why it has been so long since I've blogged. I will let you pick which excuse you find as the most valid.

1. My computer wasn't working. I have had an endless battle with power cords for my Apple. The model is discontinued and I keep breaking them (it usually involves Siena). I have to wait for someone to arrive from the US to bring me new ones.

2. It takes a long time to load pictures onto Blogger/Picasa, which is discouraging. Summation: I need a new computer.

3. We have had a lot of visitors! Since Feb 1 we have had Lindsay and Travis; Elise and Bill; Annie, Joe and Jack, and Katie and Mike. All of these visitors were here for a week or more. That is a lot for two months!! So we've been busy which means less downtime to think of interesting blogs.

4. I've been trapped on the TARDIS. I've started watching (and liking) Doctor Who (whoops), which requires my full attention. :)

5. I work now and so have less time.

6. I feel like I'm repeating myself. This island is small with limited activities and I worry I'm just writing about the same things over and over.

So, I will try to be better about blogging. It is a little ridiculous that I've been here for two years (almost) and have yet to reach the 100 blog mark. Actually, I think I'm getting close and I may save the 100th blog for my official two year mark on April 15. That sounds nice.

Life is calmer right now. This weekend we are going out with some friends on Friday, watching Rugby on Saturday, and going to Brunch at the Ritz (courtesy of Mom and Dad -- Thanks!!) on Sunday. OH, also, Bob and I have signed up with our friend Alanna for a co-ed touch rugby team. You read that right, I will be playing touch rugby. I guess they really need numbers and are willing to gamble on my poor athletic skills and lack of rugby knowledge. Wish me luck!

QE2 Botanic Park

We finally made it over to the Queen Elizabeth 2 Botanic Park in Cayman a few weeks ago. The park was opened in 2003, during the island's 500th Anniversary, and the Queen herself actually came to Cayman!

My mother loves flowers and would always take us around this time of year to the Wichita Lawn and Garden Show at Expo Hall. Walking around this park's flower garden I felt like I was back at the Garden Show, looking at all the exotic plants. It is crazy to see how large some of these "house plants" can get!

The other draw to the park is their collection of blue iguanas. They look bluer as juveniles and more grey as adults. Below, in the center of the picture, is a blue iguana. They are super endangered and only found in the Cayman Islands.

I'll take you to the park the next time you come Mom. Sorry we didn't go last year!

Cat trick

This is my friend Alanna's cat, Pepper.

She prefers her water in the glass. :)

Christmas in Cayman

This year we were in Cayman for Christmas. This was the first Christmas spent away from our families, so I was a little apprehensive. How do we celebrate properly and make the holiday extra special? Luckily I have a few friends that were on island for the holiday that wondered the same thing.

I started by bringing every Christmas movie I love down on DVD (from A Christmas Story to A Muppet Christmas Carol) and some Christmas decorations from Target. Then we watched the movies with our friends over the week leading up to Christmas. On Christmas Eve Alanna and James had a Christmas open house including mince pies with brandy butter (no meat is in them any more, just dried fruit), meats, cheeses, and mulled wine. And of course, I brought a cheese ball :)

After the open house, the four of us headed out to St Ignatius for Christmas carols and midnight mass. The best carol was a west indian classic (apparently) "De Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy".

Christmas Day we went to the Ritz Carlton for their Family Christmas Brunch. It was AWESOME!

There was a long foyer filled with food stations.

There were multiple snow machines, so when you see little spots on the photos, you know it was just festive awesomeness falling from the sky.

Here is a view of the ballroom, all dressed up for Christmas. There was a harpist and a special arts and crafts station for children.

Here is Bob with Alanna and James, getting ready to enjoy the Moet!

Here is a photo with my new work friend Maria and her bf Joe. I have work friends now!!

And because the Ritz is ridiculous and he was there, Alanna and I had our photo with Santa!

Podany Visit

After Christmas Bob's parents came down to Cayman. Though the weather was a little cloudy and cool the first few days, I think they had a great time!

One of the highlights was the Red Sail dinner cruise on their last night. The food was catered by the Westin and really tasty. It was a nice catamaran ride up Seven Mile Beach. Great suggestion Bill!

Bob was off while they were here, so there aren't many more photos. It was good to see the Podanys, come back soon!

28 Years

Well another year has come and gone, which means I am now 28 years old. Yikes! If you would have told me at 28 I'd be married and living in the Caymans I never would have believed you. Unless it was last year, in which case I might have :)

We went for a happy hour with friends. They surprised me with gifts and cupcakes!!

Later in the night we went to dinner at La Dolce Vita, a new(ish) italian restaurant on the water. It was super yummy!

And my family sent me the most beautiful flowers! Thanks Mom!