Day 6 Saturday, February 22nd: Into the Caves!

We wake up on this Saturday morning to winds and the beach is "closed" for water sports and nobody really in swimming either. We were supposed to do free paddle board lessons at 09:00, but needed to reschedule to tomorrow morning. Lana was the early bird and got us two primo chairs located right on the water's edge at 07:00. You save your spot with beach towels and some personal article. We had breakfast and shortly after not our beach chairs. Pounding surf today due to the high winds. I went out swimming of course and it was fun. A loud complaining woman showed up with her two kids and husband with a lot of attitude about not finding a chair for her family. Eventually, a 'beach ambassador' showed up and escorted her to another spot. She was trying to just take over chairs that had towels and personal items on them.  Apparently there is "beach chair etiquette" to be followed.


We showered and changed our clothes for lunch at the pool side bar. We have lots of remaining $ credits for lunch and drinks!


        The Westin beach is sandy and the water an incredibly blue.



Poolside bar where we ate lunch at least a couple of times. Sent this picture to Jim Barton.



             My lunch dessert of Key Lime pie. Very yummy!




Our activity for today is the Jeep Safari which was supposed to start at 13:00 and be in the lobby 15 minutes early. We arrived at the lobby and then told it is 13:30 start. Apparently, the two jeeps were arriving late. Yup, this is typical Grand Cayman timing.   ;-)



             Our Jeep Safari jeep that seats eight of us in the back.




Our Jeep driver and tour/cave guide: Yves. Very informative, funny and personable.



Our first stop is the Blowhole.





Lana's video of the famous Blowhole.


                Check out the LIMESTONE rocks on the beach.




                                    Fossils in the rocks!



Drive to the famous Crystal Caves located on privately owned land. We park and walk to the reception building where there is a gift shop. Wow, what a surprise. Walk through the trees on a well groomed trail and come upon our first cave. Apparently, there are 105 caves, but only allowed to visit three of the caves. We take lots of pictures and learn more about caves. Do not touch anything! 1" of stalactite takes 100 years to grow. Interesting that the stalactite is actually hollow! All these grow from the inside. Water leaking through the limestone above creates calcium carbonate.

The caves are stunningly beautiful and so interesting. Some of the structures look like animals or human likenesses. Each of the caves are pretty well lit and some have air conditioning. The last cave has a spectacular lake/pool where they have placed various lights that can change the look of the pool of water.

Near this cave number three exit there are a number of small fruit bats hanging from the ceiling. Don't look up with your mouth open! Bat guano would be nasty. Short walk back to the gift shop and then to the jeep for our return trip to the Westin. The leg room in the back of the jeep is pretty cramped. No windows so very windy and you can feel the elements and easily see fellow motorists. We return to the Westin around 5 pm. Texts between Lana and her VP boss Dan about connecting near the pool to drink the Champagne. Plus, invite to Markus and his family.


      Yup, Lana as a dinosaur! Picture taken at the Crystal Caves building.














Terraced formations!







Tree roots have come through the ceiling and now reaching the floor of the cave.








                                         Cave entrance.























           Yup, the last cave with the pool in the background. Pretty cool background for the couples pictures taken by Yves.




                   Perfect round hole on the floor of the cave.




We agree to meet near the pool around 5:30 pm. Markus and his family arrive a little later although we have now finished the Champagne on ice. Good conversations and then we take a short walk to the Celebration Evening around 7 pm and on the beach. Pictures at entrance. Lots of mingling and we immediately run into Mark and his wife Ruth again. They live in Calgary and both are English. We find an unoccupied table for our group and then Brian Hannover (VP) and his wife show up beside us. The sushi/sashimi were pretty good. Chardonnay for white and Cab Sauvignon for red. NY striploin steak pretty good as well. The dessert choices were yummy. We did some dancing on the dance floor and had fun. Depart around 10 pm as that is when the music ends and everyone mostly disperses. Late night for the both of us and we say our goodbyes....













                With Mark and Ruth (couple from Calgary - both English).