Day 3: Tuesday, May 5. Grand Cayman Islands.

Today we explored the Grand Cayman Islands. We got up early, ate breakfast, and waited in a very looooong line to tender over to the shore. Our ship was too big and the shore is to shallow for our boat to pull right up to the island so we had to take a ferry to get on the island.

On the ferry waiting to leave for the shore.

That's our ship!

Once we got there, we tracked down a tour that sounded good to us, and then wandered around the shopping areas while we waited for the tour to leave. We got on the tour van with about 12 other people. Destination: the Stingray City sandbar. We weaved through the city in the clunker van, whose engine sounded like it would drop out onto the road at any moment. It was muggy outside, which was only intensified inside the stuffy van. We were following the ocean shoreline as we drove, with an endless view of blue water lined with white, sandy beaches. We also passed quite a few resorts, dive motels, and a handful of banks. We thought about opening a bank account there as a joke, but ran out of time. Bummer, no tax evasion for us.

We loaded onto a boat for a 30 minute ride out to the Stingray City sandbar. On the way, we got to know some of the people on our boat. We had seen a bunch of people on our cruise ship with hats and shirts that said “Liv Sxinny” (pronounced “Live Skinny”). We ended up on the same tour as some of them so we asked what Liv Sxinny was. It’s a multi-level marketing company that sells a powder that you put in your water to make you healthy. Jared said to me, “Sounds like one of the hundreds of start-up, multi-level companies you’d find in Utah.” Well, turns out the company started in…..Orem, Utah. Go figure.

Anyways, back to the stingrays. The Stingray City sandbar is a naturally shallow area in the middle of the ocean where stingrays gather (and tourists, subsequently). The water is only about waist deep. We got out and swam around for a bit while Jared tried to chase the stingrays down. I, on the other hand, steered clear of them and ran whenever one came close. One of the tour guides was holding one for people to pet; I did more of a swipe with a finger. It was really slimy. They had a photographer taking pictures of people kissing the stingray, and the whole time the photographer had a big booger hanging out of his nose. Ewwwww. Jared & I couldn’t stop laughing.

Stingray City sandbar

Crystal blue waters...

Those dark spots in the water (3 to the right of Jared and 1 to the left) are the stingrays. Yikes!

On the way back to shore, we had to tow a boat that was stranded. You're welcome guys!

We got back on the boat and headed to a nearby coral reef where we got out and snorkeled. I’ve never snorkeled in the ocean before so it was pretty cool. At one point, we were in the middle of a giant school of fish and they were swimming all around us…so awesome. And I only inhaled salt water twice into my breathing tube. After snorkeling, we headed back into the city where we caught the ferry to get back on the ship. We took a much needed nap and by the time we woke up our dinner seating time was just finishing up (sorry Canadian dinner friends, maybe we’ll see you tomorrow!) so we went to the pizzeria instead for some killer calzones. After dinner, we went to the evening show featuring a juggler and a comedian. Then went to another late-night comedy show. It was a great day.

Towel animal of the day: PUPPY!