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Saturday, May 26, 2012

Cruisin’ the Day Away
















Clip Art courtesy of: www.123rf.com

As I reported last week there is a huge storm hovering over the Cayman Islands, Cuba, and Jamaica and for whatever reason it just won’t move on out. Now, I am a bit perturbed as the storm has seriously affected my swim routine which I’ve been using for both recreation and fitness purposes. However, I can only imagine how so many people who booked cruises months ago must be utterly disappointed about the storm. So what do you do when you can’t dock at the assigned port? Well, the last cruise I went on back in 2007 did a ‘Day at Sea’ when the weather prevented our ship from docking. We were supposed to dock at Port Lucaya in the Bahamas and while everyone was extremely disappointed, we were all grateful that we’d boarded a ship with lots of on board activities. No one goes on a cruise expecting to miss a port, so if that does happen it’s important to make sure the cruise you decide to embark on has enough on board fun and excitement. I feel so bad for those who were unable to dock at Georgetown in Grand Cayman. And if in fact they did do a ‘Day at Sea’ I certainly hope the ship chosen was a good one.

My pick for the line with the type of cruises and ships you’d want to take if you plan on vacationing during the Caribbean rainy season, which as life would have it is the same time period as the Summer in the U.S. is Carnival Cruise Lines. Carnival Cruise has some of the best ships and prices available. Their fleet of 25 ships makes for a large pool of choices. However, if you are caught with the 'Day at Sea' you can’t go wrong with any 4, 5, or 7 day Carnival cruise on the ships: Paradise, Valor, Magic, and Legend. These four ships offer the most variety in dining, indoor and outdoor recreation, and children’s activities. One of the ships even has a male spa!

So to all those looking into cruising this summer with the unfortunate necessity of keeping the crazy weather in mind, good luck, have fun, and bon voyage!

Friday, May 18, 2012

Rainy Day Equals Read-Day
















Photo Credit: www.bestintravelmagazine.com


Today a storm is a brewing in Grand Cayman Island, my current place of residence. I’d plan to go for a walk and them a swim but with the rain falling down hard and frequently, it turns out today will be like the days of my youth – try to find a quiet indoor activity to pass the time.

So, I’ve decided to spend the day scouring the internet for what I think are underrated travel magazines. There are so many on the market today. One of my favorites is Caribbean Travel and Life. But in a word where Travel + Leisure, CoastalLiving, Islands, Budget Travel, and Conde Nast Traveler reign supreme, I can only imagine how difficult it may be to find your niche. That’s why from time to time I will post a blog about travel magazines that I think deserve some attention.

Today I will focus on a great travel mag titled: Best in Travel. It’s a monthly magazine produced in the U.K. delivered online with a focus toward what the editors describe as, “the luxury traveler.” Though I can’t exactly call myself a ‘luxury traveler’, however it is my desire to aspire to become such one day! Nevertheless, it doesn’t matter if you can or can’t afford the many extravagant trips and adventures the magazine features. Best in Travel is simply beautiful to look at, easy to read, and each article makes you wish you were at the destination. And like most worldwide journeymen, the articles focus on the cultural learning experiences one is sure to discover if choosing to embark on one of the adventures they highlight… of course an adventure you’d take steeped in luxury! I highly recommend taking a look at what Best in Travel has to offer. Who knows? On a rainy, lazy day, you – like me – might find an adventure worth taking… luxuriously or not!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

...And Just What is ‘Batabano’?





Though I missed out on my usual Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the U.S., my current place of residence - the Cayman Islands - did not let me down! Saturday was the kickoff for the island’s annual ‘Batabano’ celebration.

Now I have had the pleasure of going to Carnival in the U.S. Virgin Islands before so I thought I had some idea of what to expect. But let me tell you – Batabano definitely has its own unique flair! Batabano is a celebration every May that highlights the island’s culture and pays homage to their wildlife heritage steeped in turtle farming. The festivities last all month long with a bevy of activities including concerts featuring a number of reggae and dancehall artists, a food festival, and a masquerade ball to name a few.

Artistically, the 2012 Batabano street parade included some of the most beautiful and unique costumes of any island carnival I have ever attended. In addition, youth ages 13 and up were able to participate making the festival feel very family oriented, unlike may island carnivals that… Ahem… can get a bit outrageous for younger eyes. Click on: caymancarnival.com to learn more about Cayman’s Batabano Cultural celebration.

Saturday, May 05, 2012

Cinco de Mayo Is Here!


Photo Credit: http://www.lilsugar.com

I love Cinco deMayo! Having been born and raised in Los Angeles May 5th  was highly anticipated. For Southern Californians the day feels like a pre-summer holiday where you can drink margaritas all day and night and actually show up for work a little late the next morning with absolutely no questions from your boss! Though I am in the Caymans right now I can only imagine how great today is in El Pueblo in downtown Los Angeles! I can hear the mariachi bands right now! And I can smell the sweet smells of freshly baked churros, hear the crunches of thousands of tacos being eaten by native Angelinos and tourists alike! Oh how I wish I could be there right now! So to all who love Cinco de Mayo as much as me… Celebrar and Festejar mis amigos!