by.ABC Photography

By: Allyson B Campbell

Mar 07 2010

Tags: Caribbean, photography, travel

Category: Blogging

Leave a comment

This was the first stop of what would be the long list of Caribbean islands my husband and I would visit, via cruising.  Bright from the heated sun, clear blue waters and colorful establishments, Grand Cayman Island welcomed us as we docked its port.   We were lucky to visit this island a month before it was tossed around by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004 – who swept across the island as a Category 5 and damaged 80% percent of the buildings.  So of course, you are seeing these pictures before this incident.

Everyone said – “You have to see Hell.”  Personally, I didn’t care for it.  There were three to four little shacks housing souvenirs from the island and a post office so you can mail out a postcard that says, “I’ve been to Hell and back!”.  You can get souvenirs that state “from Hell”. If you don’t know much about Hell and why it is called that, it is because of the settlement of limestone rocks in the west part of the island, that looks like one mass of volcanic remnants.

It’s a small island that takes about 15 minutes to drive from one end of the island to the other – one road, people. But if you love shopping – and especially for jewelry, this is one island that is a must.  If you like the beach and being able to see the bottom of the ocean – just from sitting on  the shore, this is one island that is a must.  Rum cakes (and not your Trini/Jamaican Christmas, fruit laden, rum-filled, rum cake), visit Tortuga Rum Co. Ltd. on your way to Hell.  Interested in snorkeling, scuba diving, touching the stingrays, iguanas and green sea turtles – you can certainly do it all.  Again, this is one island that is a must.

It’s been almost six years since we’ve been to this gorgeous island, and I am so sure it is more than it was.