Cayman Parrot Sanctuary

For days we drove past the Cayman Parrot Sanctuary with a closed sign on the gate.  On Thursday we finally saw it was open.  We paid our small fee to enter and found out that they rehabilitate injured birds that are native to the island. Some of them will be released back into the wild while others have been in captivity too long to ever go back.

This is Coco.  He talks and dances and shows off.  We found him very entertaining.  When we came back to him to do a Marco Polo, he didn't do anything except try to pick the lock to get out of the cage.  

Parrots aren't the only things in this place.  These lizards are everywhere.  Although I think this one was a different species than the dozens we encountered.

Several turtles made their home here as well as about a dozen guinea pigs. 

The birds were the main attraction with several kinds to watch.

Those who are permanent residents had lots of toys in their cages. 

We saw love birds who were sitting together two by two.  Except for one set who must not have been speaking as they were apart.  There were doves but mostly just beautifully colored birds.  It was a fun visit.  When we came in we were told that this place is very interactive and asked if we wanted to hold the snakes.  I said no thanks.  She said that they hear that a lot. I guess the thing that I recognized about these tropical islands is that their wildlife is very different than what we see here in the Midwest. All are so beautiful.  I cannot imagine how people can think that all of these marvelous creations happened randomly.  God is good! 

 

Pedro St. James

On Pedro point there is a "castle" that was built hundreds of years ago and in the last 50ish years has been rebuilt.  It burned after a lightning strike.

It was quite elegant for the time.  I love the wrap-around porch on both of the upper floors.  The ground floor had a kitchen and even a jail.

There were some meeting rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors were political meetings were held.  Thus the shutters on the "windows".

I loved this bedroom on the 3rd floor.  I can imagine that mosquito netting wasn't in everyone's home.  I'm  guessing that the wealthiest people had it.  The hardwood floors are beautiful!

I could sit on the porch and look at that view all day long and totally enjoy the breeze coming off of the ocean.  

Cemetery

Something fascinating that we saw were the cemeteries and graveyards.  The graves are not six feet under but rather only a few feet under.  It makes sense as with hurricanes and big waves that can erode the ground away, you don't want your loved one's caskets floating out to sea. 

Therefore, they are buried in concrete vaults just below the surface of the ground. Some, like this one were quite fancy.

Most were like these.  Concrete with a stone marker.

Some were available for use.  The steel "handles" were still attached.

We saw several as we traversed across the island several times.  Finally we stopped at one just to check it out.  This one had some grass but most had sand between the lots/plots. 

 

Starfish Point

On Thursday evening we were signed up for a Bioluminescence tour.  It was too dark to get any pictures but the plankton glow when they are touched so as people went into the water and moved it looked like they were making snow angels.  I didn't go into the water as we were told not to stand up or we would stir up the jellyfish and could be stung.  As it was, three different women were stung.

Prior to the tour we went to Starfish point in the daylight.  We also stopped there as part of the night tour.  They were more fun to see in the daylight.

They were hanging out in the shallow water although you didn't even have to get your feet wet to see them.  

Each time I looked in a different place, there were more.  

They varied in size but pretty much were very similar. 

Except for this one.  It has six legs rather than the five all the others had.  I think starfish are really an interesting piece of the ocean creatures. They don't move fast and they don't do any cool tricks but they are beautiful!

 

Stingray City

On Wednesday morning we went on a snorkeling adventure.  There were so many different kinds of fish and coral.  I'm always amazed at the whole different life that lives beneath the water. 

I didn't stay in the water very long.  I think I was missing a part of my snorkel and I felt like I couldn't breathe.  

I enjoyed sitting on the boat visiting with the other people.  We stayed there for less than an hour and then headed to Stingray City.  This space is where the fishermen always cleaned their fish by the sandbar and so the stingray started coming there.  There is a natural reef further out so that also adds to the reason the stingray come here. 

Our guide, Logan, would dive under the water and come up with a ray and tell us what it's name is.  He let us come next to him and we put our chin down in the water.  

If the stingray felt like it, it would come and slide itself down the side of your face.  "Stingray kisses."

These are not the same kind that killed Steve Irwin.  They do not have barbs like that one.

We were able to hold a piece of squid and feed them.  The eat by suction.  They really have some good suction!  

It was fun to just stand in the water and have them swim by your legs.  

I would never have guessed that they were so soft.  Another adventure that I never expected to have.  It isn't one that I ever knew a person could do.  I'm glad we did it!

Turtle Sanctuary

Once we finished with the dolphins we went across the street to the Turtle Sanctuary.

These turtles were HUGE!  As we came to the edge to watch them, they came over near us.  Perhaps they thought they were getting some food.

There was a window where we watched the fish under the water.  This fish just stayed in the same place the whole time.  It has some sharp teeth.  I wonder if it is a barracuda.  

Another iguana sighting.  This one was not a blue iguana.  Did you know that the bright green iguanas eat the blue ones?  Cannibals!

In one place there was a chance to touch the turtles.  Wash and sanitize your hands both before and again after touching them.  These weren't nearly as large as the others. 

They all seemed to be the same type of sea turtle.

We were there at feeding time.  The guy walking on the dock was dumping what looked like dog food into the water.  The water appeared to come alive as they all tried to get to the food.

They were interesting but turtles aren't my favorites so it was a good experience but not great!  It was included in the price of our dolphin experience so we did it.

A close up of feeding time.

Swimming With Dolphins

On our way to Hell we passed the Dolphin Discovery Center and decided to stop on our way back.  We were able to go out into the pool area and watch the dolphins.  We weren't out there very long when Pat talked to one of the trainers and we were back inside buying the experience to be in the water with these magnificent creatures. 

Lately in the morning, I've been watching old episodes of Flipper and thinking how fun it would be to be pulled through the water by a dolphin.

The experience each person got was dependent on how much each one paid.  

We were able to have them up close and personal with each person in the group.

Dolphin kisses were had by all.

Everyone had the opportunity to have them float in the water by you and then when commanded they opened their mouth as if smiling for the camera. 

The look on our faces says it all.  

We really thoroughly enjoyed this experience. 

They feel so soft and velvety.  Very sleek.

A dolphin can pull or push 5x it's own body weight through the water.  

Luna weighed in at just over 500 pounds so pushing and pulling us was an easy thing for her to do.

We all got pulled through the water.

We put our right arm up out of the water and the dolphin came under us upside down and pulled us as we grabbed a hold of her fins.

We had the opportunity to be pushed on a kickboard.  She came up behind us and pushed one of our feet with her nose.

The people who paid the most got to have two dolphins push both of their feet and raise them up into the air rather than having the kickboard experience.  They said it felt like they were flying.  It would have been nice but it didn't matter.  

This was one of those things you think about doing one day in your life but never really think you're going to be able to do it.  Wish fulfilled.  It was amazing and we both loved it!