Today we spent the day in Grand Cayman!!  I LOVE this place.  I could easily spend a week here but not on my limited budget.  LOL!  We headed off the ship about 11am. This was the first time that Cristian joined us for an excursion.  We did the Stingray City Sandbar which he really really really enjoyed.  We took a short bus ride to the dock and then boarded the "Emerald Eyes" and headed to the sandbar.  Lara and I were nervous that he would freak out over being in the water with the Stingrays, those of you that have seen Cristian's reaction to a small harmless bug within 10 feet of him will understand this one, but thankfully he really did OK with it all.  He was snorkeling around the Stingrays, pet several, and even helped hold one!  The guy kept trying to get him to hold it by himself but he wasn't that brave so I helped him hold one half and the tour guide held the other, LOL.  That was as good as it was going to get for Cristian.  But, he still had such a great time and it is definitely an experience he will always remember.  The only downside to the excursion is that they no longer allow you to feed the stingrays. :(  There is some new law around that stating that only the tour guides can feed them because they found that the stingrays were getting sick from being overfed.  So - no feeding this time around which Lara and I really enjoyed during our last visit several years ago.  Lara and I both got to hold 2 different stingrays and let me tell you those creatures are soft and silky but they can weigh a ton!  One of the stingrays we held was about 70 pounds.  She was heavy but she was so friendly.  She would just splash water at you, let you hold her and pet her…

Here are some pictures:

We did a little shopping but not much.  There was only one store that we really wanted to go to and as luck would have it we found everything we were looking for right there at Pirate's Grotto.  I love that store!  I bought some rum cake, rum balls, and Lara and I picked out a few yummy sauces - my favorite being the rum sauce.  I know - I sound like an alki don't I?  Funny - I hardly drink but this sauce is SO good.  Cristian is just so sweet with his money.  He bought several things for people while shopping.  He is so thoughtful!  

While on the excursion I had a little mishap.  I was taking off my new flip flops and the wind caught one of them as I was taking it off and tossed it overboard so I was one shoe short of a pair in no time flat.  Luckily, i found a cute pair of flip flops on shore for 7 bucks.  Woohoo!  This sweet lady and her family on the boat with us started chatting with us and she offered to let me use these water shoes she bought at Wal-Mart until I bought some shoes.  I returned them to her this evening.  Now, how nice is that?  I was very thankful to not have to walk on the hot ground with bare feet or better yet - on one foot :)

After hitting up Pirate's Grotto, we took a couple of pictures, and then headed back to the ship for some late lunch.  The restaurants and buffet were closed so we had to settle for the unhealthy crap that is open all the time, blah.  Lara and I had a Panini with Iced Tea and Cristian had chicken tenders and french fries.  I feel like it ALL went right to my hips!  After lunch, we hit the Aquaduck!!  Lara actually did it!!!!  She climbed ALL the way up the stairs and rode the Aquaduck with Cristian.  Now, who says you can't conquer your fears for a wet duck? :)  It takes a picture of you on the way up - can't wait to see what those look like.  I may just have to buy those up for laughs.

After a little bit of water slide action and swimming we headed back to the cabin to shower and get ready for dinner.  We hit up the Magic Show at 6:15 and it was pretty funny.  I think that Magic Dave did pretty good although I would love to have been able to catch the adult comedy show.  We just couldn't seem to make the time work out for us.  We also had some portraits done - guess it never hurts to take a few and see what ones turn out.  Cristian used to be such a ham in front of the camera when he was young and now it is a fight to get him to pose and smile - he does this fake smile that looks absolutely ridiculous so getting a decent shot just may take 20 tries - not joking…:(  

Dinner tonight was in the Enchanted Garden.  It was really pretty.  The lights are in the shape of flowers and as you dine they change colors and start to bloom.  It is quite a sight.  The entire environment just makes you feel like you have been whisked away into a magical garden.  Dinner tonight was just OK for me.  There wasn't really anything on the menu tonight that I wanted to eat.  My choices were Sea Bass, Pork, Prime Rib, Scallions, or Chicken Breast.  So I went with Chicken Breast, broccoli, and cauliflower for my main course.  

Appetizer:  Cucumber Roll (Me) & Lobster Ravioli (Lara)

Soup:  Cream of Asparagus

Main Course:  Chicken breast with vegetables (Me) & Sea Bass (Lara)

Dessert:  Banana Foster (Half)

Here are some pictures:

Cristian also met Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Daisy Duck, and Donald Duck today. 

I am feeling completely lost without my scale to be able to weigh in each morning.  As much as I love all the food and variety I can't help but miss my normal routine and food because I know it isn't packing on the pounds.  I have been eating in moderation and haven't been going crazy with sweets or having snacks in between but I still feel like I have gained 20 pounds, even though I know I haven't!  Lara and Cristian decided to do the Mystery Muppets game tonight which is pretty neat.  You get a card and are a detective trying to solve a Mystery.  It sends you on a hunt ALL around the ship, up and down, back and forth, to find secret pieces of art that come to life and show a story once you show your detective badge and let it scan it.  You have to find all the clues you need to solve the mystery.  They are getting their exercise for sure considering it takes you all over creation and takes a good couple of hours to finish.  

I decided to take myself to Deck 4 to the track.  In my crop shorts, nice shirt, and sneakers I decided I was going to do my own exercise this evening.  I did 1.5 miles around the track.  I jogged half a lap and walked half a lap the entire time.  I was pretty proud of myself.  I was surprised to find that with my jogging I wasn't winded or out of breath as fast as I normally am.  I think tomorrow I will put on my workout clothes and even attempt to jog an entire lap at a snail pace lol.  But, hey why not?  It can't hurt to try!  I know that I burned some heavy calories tonight because I could feel my heart in my throat the entire time.  Hopefully hitting the track every night and taking stairs for both up and down will help burn the extra calories I am taking in by eating the food on the ship!  We haven't been taking the elevator - even when going and coming from the 11th floor.  :)

Tomorrow's stop is Costa Maya!  Mexico - here we come!

Cheers,

M E