Return FROM Paradise, concluded

Saturday, the day after the wedding was quite low key.  We walked around the town some seeing the local economy drivers

and saw some of the other citizens also out for a stroll

After walking around, we headed back to the wedding venue for the last time, walked the beach a little

and enjoyed a little brunch buffet while the "younger set" enjoyed the pool with their “stuff” spread about

After conversing with our new and old friends for a while, we took our final leave, thanking our hosts who were leaving the next day for birding adventures in Trinidad and Tobago and made the last drive back to the Hotel.  In the daylight, the return trip was at last mastered without visiting our favorite hospital parking lot and we had a late dinner on the veranda, and enjoyed the entertainment.

The next day (Sunday) was not only our last full day, but the only day without needing to "be" someplace at some time.  It turns out that the Caymans is a very religious country and many things we take for granted on Sunday are closed there.  So shopping, some tourism items like glass bottom boat cruises are not open on Sunday.  So, darn  the luck we were forced to don more casual garb

And I should point out that those of you who have been to continental beaches abroad, my beach clothing WAS NOT what you see hairy, overweight, "gentleman" (almost) wearing, revealing much more than you want to see..  As I’m sure you would know, the Bottom Feeder would be properly and tastefully DF’d..

So with correct attire, and shopping opportunities not available, we were forced to endure a whole day like this:

Watching the passing scene

Staying healthfully hydrated

And interacting with the local residents

Under the watchful eye of others

And so we spent the entire day!  No tours, no gardens, just absorbing the scene.  So, while we don’t have very good answers for “did you see the……?” questions about the Caymans, it was a wonderful relaxing day spent doing….. nothing! (except as noted above).  We finally retired and had a restful evening.  So the next morning we had one more breakfast

And went back to the room.   The clothes I took in case there was a DFD opportunity never saw the light of day, and went back in the suitcase

And we took our last trip through the lobby

And succumbing to heavy coercion from the staff we posed in front of “the wall”

And drove to the airport, leaving the palm trees, iguanas, and beautiful azure waters behind for…

The trip home was routine, this time going through Charlotte, which is a huge facility (why are our gates always at the end of the concourse?)  and finally we boarded the flight for the last leg back to BWI, and decided to stay overnight since we didn’t arrive until after ten.  Next morning we drove back to the digs.

Musings (you didn't think you'd escape did you?):

While we never thought we’d be taking this journey (as we are approaching our "twilight years" we kind of have adapted a "do it while you can" attitude), it was a wonderful experience (well, okay I’ll give you the somewhat harrowing auto trips “LEFT, LEFT!”).   The people of the Caymans were kind and gracious ambassadors for their country.  And a special thanks to our San Diego friends for the opportunity to see new shores (so to speak), meet new people, and experience our first “destination” wedding.  

And to the readership, that is the last trip on the books for a while, although we leave a week from today to go back to Missouri for our annual Christmas visit.  We’ve lined up a few food experiences with the FOJ’s.

After that, we can maybe return to actual food stuff, I have to recount my bout with Chicken Marsala, talk about restaurant movements and so forth.  Will try to do some of that before our trip, although the social calendar is heavily booked.

And of course through it all we will maintain our staunch commitment and mission to convert all to be

DFD

A late postscript, today saw the final shuttering of Lenny's one of the icons of early independent restaurants in the county... more later.