We arrived very early in the morning at George Town due to the high speed overnight transit from Jamaica. Our tour disembarked at the normal time and its first stop was a butterfly garden.
Seemingly just a pleasant stop, this was actually a very impressive enclosure, habitat, and breeding facility hosted at the Cayman Turtle Center. We saw more varieties of butterfly than I could count as they fluttered and flitted around us. Some specimen seemed more cooperative, landing near or even on us, while others seemed to relish teasing the cameras keeping just out of frame.
Next on the itinerary was Pedro St James, a National Historic site and the oldest surviving stone structure in the Cayman Islands. Originally built in 1780 for an English plantation owner it features wide verandas and rich materials. It became the site of Cayman Islands’ first Parliament in 1831 and was also the location where British abolition was announced four years later.
I think I was more impressed with the location than the house. The waves breaking on the southern coast of Grand Cayman’s rocky shore was very striking and filled the air with salty wind. On our way back to the ship we stopped at Cayman Islands Brewery for a free beer at their tasting room. It was very light and crisp, a perfect beverage to enjoy while taking a break from the intense tropical sun.
At the conclusion of our excursion tour we were deposited in George Town and opted for a stroll rather than boarding the tender straight away. We ambled south along the shoreline and eventually found a waterside restaurant porch where we enjoyed some drinks and each other’s company as we savored the shared tales we had just created. It was a whirlwind tour of eight countries, but an unforgettable and enriching voyage. Oh, and Lindsey and I got married three years later.
We bundled back aboard the MV Explorer to enjoy the amenities for one more day at sea to steam around Cuba before docking back in Nassau to catch our flights back to the grind. Thus ends the Enrichment Voyage, be sure to check in for our next exciting adventure!