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Published: December 27th 2008
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12/26/08 Friday: Iguanas and Blowholes on Grand Cayman
Leisurely start to the day; DD and DGS had some pool and ray time while she was doing a load of laundry and I did some tidying in the kitchen (can’t get away from housework completely) and made lunch to take along for the afternoon.
We headed to the East District again, and went to the Mastic Trail. It goes into what is still a scrubby natural area on the Island. The northside trailhead was a little tricky to spot - it’s right beside a house that has a front wall marked Beware of Dogs; I had thought it was at the end of Further Road, east of Old Man Bay, but it’s at a right-hand turn a little over half-way in. It starts out in a tall, grassy area, with trail barely visible and eventually gets into a somewhat treed, shadier area. We only went in about 20 minutes and it seemed to be pretty much all the same. A few birds, one snake, lots of different plants; on the way back out, near the parking area, I saw a pair of parrots fly by. Saw another pair fly away
Butterfly on large poinsettia shrub
At the beginning of the Mastic Trail in a front yard (hanging out over their wall). from the trees across the street from the house by the 2-3 car parking area. There was a large poinsettia tree/shrub in the yard, that was attracting orange butterflies. I did not know that poinsettias got to be so tall.
Next we went back along Frank Sound Road and had a very enjoyable visit at the Botanic Park ($8.00 CI each adult, free under 12). It’s beautiful and between us we saw several of the sizable blue iguanas, which pose nicely for pictures. They offer a tour in addition that shows some of the iquana breeding area, which is no longer open for the general admission. The heritage and color gardens are lovely. A very friendly gardener pointed out an iguana for me and we chatted about a few things (he even asked me about the fires in the States - of all people he should ask! I used to be a fire info officer for the Forest Service; I could have given him so much more info that he really wanted when he asked how they started).
It was getting on toward 5 in the afternoon, so we headed back to the Blowholes a few miles east
of Frank Sound road to try for sunset pictures. We were successful in that venture. DD’s camera does much better; mine isn’t fast enough to catch the blowhole very well, and she has a sunset setting that really enhances the effect (so when you see glorious Caribbean sunsets, keep in mind that some of them may be enhanced!).
We got gas in Savannah; it was a little cheaper than in Georgetown: $3.20 for regular (which is called something else here); $24.00 CI for a fill-up of a quantity of 7.501 of whatever (litres?) - we had been down to about ¼ of a tank. The majorly decorated house on Shamrock Road was just starting to be turned on at 6:30, so we missed it again - hope they keep it up several more days. I’ve seen pictures of it, and I think it may be even more fantastic than the one on South Church Street (which is wonderful) - so much better than anyone in Asheville does.
Yummy leftovers for dinner (turkey in gravy over mashed potatoes), then some time in the pool for DGS - but he didn’t stay in very long, got kind of chilly.
Iguana Number One in the Botanic Park
This one was along the trail near the visitor center at the walking entrance. We’re trying to get more artistic photos this trip, and also to avoid taking so many duplicates of each other’s - looks like we’re succeeding.
Lots of lovely photos today for another great vacation day!
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