Day 5: Georgetown, Grand Cayman

I can now say that I've been to paradise and back.  Ohhhhhh, this day was amazing.  The boat was once again running late and since the dock was too shallow we had to ride tender boats to the shore, so by the time we finally got there our reserved driver was nowhere in site.  We hailed another cab and were able to make it to our tour just in time.

Jason was emberassed that I posted this picture, but the camera angle was particularly flattering and girl code states that if there's a good picture of yourself then let nothing stand in your way from posting it.

We rented jet skis and rode them out to a sand bar 5 miles in the middle of the ocean where we got to feed sting rays. ahhhh-mazing. I thought I would be nervous riding in the middle of shark infested waters (ok, maybe not infested, I tend to exaggerate), but that didn't even cross my mind. I was too busy holding on for dear life as we reached speeds of 50 mph, jumping over waves and crashing into swells so hard that the waves would wash over us leaving me hatless, breathless and my eyes stinging with salt water.  But I didn't care, it was an adrenaline rush and we were laughing and screaming the entire time.

We made it out to the sting ray city, and let me just tell you how bizarre it is to be standing out in the middle of the ocean with no land in site.  I had visions of swimming and feeding these magestic creatures.  Instead it went down something like this...

Those were some freakishly slimy and aggressive little guys.  And it didn't help that Steve Irwin's life passed before my eyes.  Even when our guide showed us how you can floss your teeth with their stingers, I wasn't buying it and instead admired them from a distance with an occasional finger poke if I was feeling brave enough. 

I tend to raise my arms.  alot.  It must be my inner spring breaker coming out.

Our lips were locked like 80% of this trip.  Paradise will do that to ya.

We went to a private island for a little bit.

Then we were going to go to a private, private island but our sea doo died.  Flat out died in the middle of the ocean.  We had to wait for somebody to bring another one out then rode ever so slowly back to shore as they towed it back.  Sad.

We spent the next several hours on the white sandy beach under the palm trees with the sun radiating off our 50 spf skin, listening to the waves crash, watching the boys snorkel, dozing in and out of sleep and forgetting that a whole other life of dirty dishes, carpools and wal-mart even existed.  If only my kids could have been transported there, I could have spent the rest of my life in that very moment.  We did pass the PWC office on our way to the beach, maybe Jason will have to look into a transfer.

The island was over run with these huge iguanas and wild chickens.  I asked our driver why there were so many chickens everywhere.  He looked at me like I was an idiot and told me because we were on an island.  Apparently it is common knowledge that chickens are native to islands??

Alas, all good things must come to an end.  After shopping for the obligatory cheap trinkets and souvenirs, we boarded the ship and sailed that night, the next day and the following night back to Miami.  Yep, just another day in paradise. 

Day 4: ...Jamaica, oooohhh I wanna take ya....

Every stereotype I've heard about Jamaica is true: 
It is beautiful. 
They all say "ya, mon". 
Everyone smokes pot.
We were excited to finally get off the boat and start exploring.  The 15 ft swells prevented us from docking at our original port in Falmouth, but 2 hours later we finally landed at Ocho Rios. And it was raining.  But we didn't let that dampen our spirits (pun intended). Our first stop was horseback riding (between all our cameras we had tons of pictures so I can't take credit for them all.  Matt took that cool picture above and the one right below is what I'll always imagine whenever I think of Jamaica).

Our driver took us to these "stables" then we took a wet ride through the jungles and villages then ended up at the beach.

While we let the horses rest, our guides took advantage of the down time to puff a few joints.  They were kind enough to share some with the horses too.  No wonder they were a bit skittish after that.  Then we hopped on the horses and rode right into the ocean, it was amazing.  Until the lead horse pooped and it floated all over us.

my Chinese Man from Snowy River

Then we rode along the shore line where the view was breath taking.  The blue water, the lush green landscape and the ominous clouds rolling in.  We soaked it all in and then literally got soaked again by the rain.  And then I almost died when my horse took off running and I couldn't get it to stop.  Thankfully the only casualty was the spray tan on my inner leg and I looked like I had a bad case of Vitiligo. 

Then our driver took us to the world famous Dunns River falls.  It was amazing.  It's this huge tiered waterfall that flows right into the ocean.  You (and a million other tourists) take a 45 min hike right up the middle of it to the top.  The guides are fun and bring out the crazy in you.  We have a video from there and we all act like we're spring breakers and not responsible parents, it's emberassing and liberating. 

Then our driver took us on a little drive through the villages to do some shopping.  I love shopping, but I hated this.  It was so uncomfortable, they follow you around begging you to come to their shops and then make you feel guilty if you don't buy anything.  We swear all the women put vodoo curses on us after we left.  In a good faith measure, we did buy a little wooden turtle for Maddox that he has named "Turtle Number" and added it to his collection of treasures that he carries around in his blue trick or treating pumpkin. But it was cool to experience a little bit of their culture and spend an incredible day in such a beautiful island tucked away in the Carribean.