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Published: June 13th 2015
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Cayman Agressor
I watched the divers enter and exit the water. Notice the swim ladder that leads from Darlene's yard to the sea. A Generous Gift…A Gracious Hostess
Between dives I was still worrying, wondering how I was going to get back into my budget mode. I did some internet searching looking for cheap accommodations in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. I had hoped to dive these other sites as long as I was in the vicinity. However, from the information I could glean, they were even more expensive than Grand Cayman and I finally gave up the idea of diving there. What now?
On dive day three our dive boat was staffed by an all women crew; two dive masters and the boat captain. There was another woman diver, Darlene, and the only man on the boat, Ed whom I had dived with the day before. The dives were easy, not confused by multitudes of divers and I was busy taking photos as usual. Ed gave me a lift back at my hotel after the dives.
The next day, after rinsing my gear at the end of the dives, I was surprised to see Darlene pull up. She offered to give me a ride back to my hotel. I was extremely grateful because carrying
Comfort and Color
After ten days in a hotel this seemed like heaven. my dripping gear even four or five blocks on the busy street in the heat was a workout. Before we reached my hotel, Darlene asked if I would be interested in house sitting for a week. Wow! Would I? I was sure glad I had not made a plane or hotel reservation. Of course I said yes. I quickly changed into dry clothes and we went back to her place. I unloaded my dive gear and hung it on her patio to dry. We exchanged phone numbers, emails and other important information and she gave me a key. At the hotel I made arrangements to check out the next day, and packed up my things. My biking days were over.
Darlene was busy with last minute business, and she left for the airport almost immediately after I got there the next day. I settled in. I had a separate guest room with bath. There was a comfortable chair in the living room to sit in and read, and when I happened to glance up, I could see the ocean through big picture windows. The adjoining kitchen also had a window with an ever changing view of the
One of Darlene's sea sculptures
This was so colorful and delicate. It graced my bathroom. I love it. sea. Big expensive private yachts moored out front as did cruise ships. One day the dive live-aboard, Cayman Aggressor, dropped their divers on the reef for two dives. Every morning hardy souls swam laps in the salt water and often there were groups of twenty or more snorkelers out front exploring the reef. I snorkeled the reef a couple of times and took a few photos with my Fuji camera. Once I counted over 20 species of fish, as well as a school of squid flashing different colors. You could snorkel for a mile or more, through at least three dive shop reefs.
It was wonderful having a fully equipped kitchen and I was able to fix some comfort foods like peanut butter and honey on toast for breakfast. I even made French toast. What a treat. I had mac and cheese with tuna and I could fix a big American breakfast and sit outside on the little patio and watch all the activity in the harbor while I ate.
Darlene’s place was right next door to the dive shop and a little closer to the market. I no longer had access to a
Window on the Sea
The bar was a great place to edit photos. bike, and I didn’t miss it a bit. I balked at the idea of buying water every day, but carrying several gallons of water at a time was a real challenge, so going to the market, a thirty minute walk, was part of my daily routine. I learned a lot about the neighborhood and met more people walking instead of riding the bike. I often rewarded myself with a mini blizzard, since Dairy Queen was the half way point between the market and the apartment – a good place to take a break.
There was no internet at the apartment so I walked to the library, which was only ten minutes away. The internet there was free and the library was air conditioned. The bus depot was across the alley from the library and there were signs advertising fares to various tourist destinations.
With this gift of an extra week, I decided to take the bus and visit the botanical gardens. Thanks, Darlene.
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