Coming Back To Cayman – August, 2020
To all who love the Cayman Islands:
In our August 2020 edition of Coming Back to Cayman, we’ll treat ourselves to thoughts of the never-ending beauty of the Cayman Islands! The heat and humidity of summer have settled in where I live, so am moving my thoughts to the natural beauty of Cayman—its beaches, the ocean, its caves, its gardens, and so much more. As we eagerly wait for the “all clear” announcement for travel to Cayman, let’s reflect on the beauty that we long to see.
Beaches: Seven Mile Beach consistently wins awards for its unspoiled beauty. We’ve all spent peaceful hours on the amazing sand that look sometimes looks coral but other times light pink. And we love being in the refreshing water simply enjoying the view. No matter the time of day, an undisturbed 
walk along the shore rejuvenates the tired soul, doesn’t it? Unlike other island destinations, Cayman’s beaches are free from panhandlers or time-share hustlers. Visitors can fully embrace the peace of the sand, the sun, and the water. Folks particularly appreciate the long, gradual slope of the ocean floor and the close-to-100-feet visibility of the crystal-clear water. How nice to have no worries of undercurrents or sharp drop-offs as we snorkel or just gaze in the water hoping to catch sight of a bright orange starfish or a sea turtle. And, of course, the beauty extends to the many 5-star restaurants along Seven Mile Beach. Whether we dine at Luca, the Wharf, or the Westin’s Beach House, we know that the food will be delicious and that the view will be perfect!
Awesome Ocean Beauty: Another beautiful water location is Stingray City, Cayman’s number one attraction where visitors views and feed these gentle giants of the sea! Many folks love going a little deeper to dive-feed the rays. And breath-taking sights abound farther beneath the ocean’s surface! People fly from all 
over the world to dive Cayman’s beautiful waters and to enjoy the reef life. The colors are truly stunning: huge purple fan coral, bright yellow brain coral, and a range of colors that can be seen only here in these captivating depths. Some of the most special souvenirs are not actual items but are the moments of seeing a sea turtle or an eagle ray gliding gracefully through the ocean.
Gorgeous Caves: Diving isn’t the only way to experience under-the-surface beauty! The underground cavern system of Crystal Caves at Old Man Bay at North Side provides yet another opportunity to fall in love with Cayman. The hour-and-a-half guided tours are fascinating any day but especially on a rainy day! While admiring the stalactite and stalagmite crystal structures, take a moment and imagine all the other creatures who have spent time here long before you arrived. How about pirates avoiding 
capture? Or maybe they were hiding gold doubloons until they could return for them! You’ll probably see some of the bats that have been hanging around here for who-knows-how-long! Instead of thinking “vampire” when you see the bats, think “fertilizer” because that is how bat guano can be utilized! A few years ago, I got to meet Christian Sorensen and was struck by his passion for these caves. Each “Wow!” that you whisper will pay tribute to Christian, his dad Ole, and the Berksoy family who all worked tirelessly to make these caves available to visitors.
Perfectly Blue Day: Much larger than the bats of Crystal Caves, the charming (really!) Blue Iguana can be spotted at Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. I’ve become quite a fan of these Blue beauties and am so glad that 
they’ve been brought from the brink of extinction because of the hard work that goes on at the Blue Iguana Recovery Program. But the Park offers much more than a natural habitat for the Blue Iguana. During the summer, the orchids are stunning. Earlier in the summer, the Wild Banana Orchid was showing off its beauty. The national flower of Cayman, it can also be found in a variety of locations around Cayman. Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park will awaken all of your senses with stunning colors, light fragrances, gentle breezes—it’s the perfect place for renewing your appreciation of natural beauty.
A Little Something Extra: Little Cayman is just a brief plane ride from Grand Cayman, and it’s home to Bloody Bay Wall which is famous among divers. Unlike the gradual ocean floor slope at Seven Mile Beach, Bloody Bay Wall has a stunning drop-off of more than 5,000 feet where Cayman’s underwater beauty reigns. Imagine native sharks, turtles, forests of fan coral and tube sponges. Emerald. Turquoise. It’s all there. And it’s amazingly beautiful. With just a little flight to Little Cayman, you can see much more than a little something extra—you will see beauty that becomes yet another favorite memory from your time at Cayman.
