Cayman Christmas !

It's Christmas time on the island! What Cayman lacks in snowflakes, it makes up for in thousands of colored lights! From the town centers to the residential areas, everyone goes all out with bright lights - a sight to see especially when flying in during the evening hours. Do take the time to plan a night time drive around the island - you will be amazed at the detailed light displays!

When here this season make sure you plan to visit Camana Bay, the newly developed town center, offering 5 restaurants, a deli, coffee shop, ice cream parlour, movie theatre, retail shops all within a beautiful upscale, island-style setting.

On certain nights of the season it actually snows throughout the open air paseo! Beautiful lighted fountains add to the festive fun. Moonlight and Movies is another fun kid friendly passtime offered some evenings at Camana Bay. The Wednesday Market Night is fun for local crafts, food, steel pan music. Just a lovely place to take a leisurely stroll through and enjoy all the sights. http://www.camanabay.com/



Another fun and festive place to see holiday displays is at the Ritz Carlton resort - The Ritz is just a 5 minute walk up the beach from Beachcomber and the friendly staff at the Ritz makes all visitors feel welcome. The Ritz is always decked out in its holiday finest - fun to walk through the common areas to see the spectacular floral arrangements, art gallery, displays. Go up for an evening cocktail or try any one of the 6 fabulous restaurants. Go for lunch at Periwinkles then head to Silver Rain spa for a luxurious spa treatment or plan a set of tennis on one of the 4 courts offered (1 grass and 3 clay). The Ritz offers a wide variety of children's programs as well,the Ambassador of the Environment program is not only fun for the kids but educational - depending on the choice of activity you choose. On some evenings the Ritz offers open air movies for families, next to Periwinkles restaurant - marshmellow roasting included! The Teddy Bear Tea is offered from Dec 18 12:00 - 2:00 for families with young children. The Ritz just knows how to make everything special!http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/GrandCayman/Information/Calendar/Default.htm

If you are here December 26, think about participating in the, always popular, "Dashing Through the Sand" beach fun run. It's all about the tee shirt and having fun, fun, fun - free breakfast at the end! 7:30 AM behind Grand Cayman Beach Suites (the old Hyatt) and ending with breakfast at Tiki Beach (Public Beach). If it's too early to get up and out... at least cheer on the participants as they pass by Beachcomber! It's a very Jolly bunch!
Wherever you are spending the holidays - we send our very "warmest" wishes to you all for a wonderful, blessed Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year, and hopefully, in the not too distant future..... See you on the Beach !

Thanksgiving Island-Style !

While Thanksgiving is not a holiday in the Cayman Islands ( Cayman Islands are a British Territory) Most of the local restaurants do offer the traditional American Thanksgiving meals in honor of the many American visitors.

Here are just a few choices that I have personally enjoyed and can attest to - all are just a short distance from Beachcomber. Please note: orders / reservations must be made by November 22.

One of my favorites and the best value is the Thanksgiving Take Out dinner offered
by Foster’s Food Fair–for CI$ 69.95 you receive:
A choice of: A 10 – 12 lb roast Turkey or 6 -8 lb Glazed ham (I’ve had both… hard to choose)
A choice of 3 sides: Stuffing, Mashed Potato, Green Bean Casserole, Broccoli Casserole, Buttered Corn, Rice & Beans, Macaroni & Cheese, Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, Fried Plantain. Also includes gravy, cranberry sauce & dinner rolls. A choice of (1) Apple Pie or Pumpkin Pie - Pick Up at The Strand Plaza
Phone: 345-945-4748

Next up is Chicken Chicken – Caribbean Wood Roasted Turkey Dinner for 6 – 8 @
CI $ 115.00
(1) 10 lb Wood Roasted Turkey
Garlic & Herb Mash Potato or Rice, Aunt Dee’s Stuffing,Sweet Potatoes
Homemade Gravy, Cranberry sauce w/hint of fresh orange, Carib. Cornbread
Choice of (1) Pumpkin Pie or Pecan Pie
OR – You may order individual dinners Phone: 345-945-5175
Order by Nov 22 and pick up from Chicken Chicken in West Shore Plaza

The Ritz also offers “Turkey to Go” for 6 people @ CI$ 290 + 20% Grats. + $30 delivery chg. This scrumptious and perfectly packaged dinner includes:
Island Salad, Caribbean-spiced,roasted squash soup; Citrus basted Free Range 10 lb Turkey Cranberry-ginger chutney, Giblet Gravy
Cornbread Stuffing, Golden mashed potatoes w/leek & sour cream,Tri-color Cauliflower, Pumpkin Pie or fresh Apple Pie.
Order by Nov 21 call: 345-815-6043 for Pick up or Delivery between 10 AM – 4 PM

Lone Star Bar & Grill is offering Turkeys Only – 12–14 lb Smoked Turkeys @ CI$ 3.50 per lb. (CI$ 42-49) Phone: 345-945-5175

Nothing compares to a lovely homemade (take out!) Thanksgiving Dinner served on a patio overlooking the Fabulous Caribbean Sea surrounded by family and friends!
Plus you are only steps from a large Flat Screen TV offering any number of Thanksgiving Football games (in case you are traveling with avid fans!)

For Dining Out:

The nearest restaurant to Beachcomber is the popular Edoardo’s Restaurant – Edoardo’s will be offering a Traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving night. For Reservations call: 345-945-4408 www.edoardos.ky
The Ritz Carlton lives up to it’s glitzy name when it comes to dining at Thanksgiving!
The Restaurant “7” offers an amazing Thanksgiving Buffet 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Call: 345-815-6200 for reservations.

Most restaurants on Grand Cayman offer a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner, just remember to make reservations early !
See: http://www.caymangoodtaste.com/ for a list of local restaurants.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday, Island-style!

SPECIAL BEACHCOMBER SUNSET WEDDING

Good Morning! Just have to share another beautiful wedding held on Beachcomber beach Oct. 8, 2011 !
Congratulations Ashley and Bryan! Thank you for choosing the Beachcomber for such a special family occasion. It was a beautiful weekend filled with moments / memories to cherish forever! Enjoy!

To view the slide show:
www.rebeccadavidsonslideshows.com/WEDDINGS/AshleyandBrian/index.html

The sunset ceremony started at 5:00 pm on Beachcomber beach. The fabulous photos are from Rebecca Davidson Photography/ Picture This. A reception of dining and dancing took place at Pappagallo's restaurant following the ceremony.

The Beachcomber is available for small on site weddings based on individual requests for dates from May - mid-December for 25 or fewer guests. Grand Cayman is a premier location for destination weddings. There are many wedding planners that are available to help guide couples in the planning. I always refer guests to Crystal Blue Weddings for island wedding advice/ ideas. http://www.crystalblueweddings.com/

We also like to know when owners or guests are celebrating any special birthdays or anniversaries. We always like to acknowledge the occasion - so let us know in advance...
and we will See you on the Beach !

Time to say good bye to another busy Summer Season on 7 Mile Beach!

Thanks to the many returning guests and the new Beachcomber visitors, we have broken more occupancy records this Summer! Many thanks to all, for choosing our little bit of paradise on 7 Mile Beach, for your family-fun/memory-making holiday. We will look forward to seeing you all back next Summer! Three new condos have been added to the rental program, so guests now have more beautiful condos to choose from: Ground Floor 4Bed/4.5Bath # 1, 5th Floor 3Bed/3Bath # 26 & 6th Floor 3Bed/3Bath # 34. Enjoy the searching!

Now is the time that each of the condos gets a thorough ‘deep cleaning’ and time for the owners to make any new additions/updates to their rental property. We will be busy cleaning top to bottom, restocking the new 100% Puma cotton bath linens and big, new, fluffy beach towels and the ever popular, soft Hilden bed linens that we get so many raves about! Maintaining a property on an island is a continuous, daily effort. Salt air and sand right out our back door must be addressed daily – it can be very corrosive if left unattended. Thankfully, Beachcomber has the staff that can make the job seem effortless!

In addition to restocking new linens and towels, we are saying good-bye to the satellite TV system. We have now switched over to West Star Cable TV which will make it much easier for guests to access TV programming w/ no interruptions due to rainy weather. (Yay!)
Cable TV offers 115 TV channels – 20 of which are HD – including all major networks, Nat. Geo., Discovery, ESPN, Disney, just to name a few. Guests may now see Cayman’s local news/ weather, all from every room in each condo.

September and October are the most quiet months to visit Grand Cayman.
The beach is deserted and restaurants have plenty of tables available with lots of specials being offered all around the island.
Now is the time to take advantage of the Stay 7 Pay for 6 promotion offered here at Beachcomber August 15 – November 1 - before the island gets taken over by those pesky pirates that usually show up around early November !!


See you on the Beach !

It's LIQUID SUNSHINE !

Summertime weather is here! And we all know what that means; Yes, it's the Rainy Season in the Tropics! While for our visitors this is a bit of a concern, for us residents & plants, it is a welcome relief from the dusty, dry season!

Hopefully I can put to rest some of those 'rain concerns' and let our visitors know more of what to expect during the rainy season. From late May until mid-November we can expect to have a morning of rain showers and sun in the afternoon - or - a sunny morning with showers in the late afternoon or evening. Rarely does anything 'hang around' all day making for a dismal, dreary day... don't expect that.

Actually, I enjoy watching the rain clouds/ showers form and move across the water. These systems move through very quickly and in fact, while it is raining on the beach, George Town, East End, Rum Point can be dry and sunny - a good time to hop in the car and 'follow the sun'.

The rainiest months of the rainy season are from mid-August through October and typically these months do have more tropical storms in the Western Caribbean / Cayman Islands. Please note: We have quite a bit of advance warning for storms headed our way, rest assured we keep a close eye on that activity and do keep our Summer/ Fall visitors updated on the latest storm weather reports.You may keep an eye on the Cayman weather: www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Grand-Cayman/forecasts/latest Just be very mindful that the weather can change minute by minute! Rain could be in the forecast one day but because of an unexpected, slight wind change... those rain clouds could be blown in another direction! So, just wait 5 minutes and all could be sunny & bright!

Here are some Grand Cayman Rainy Day suggestions:

Go Shopping !! Camana Bay: http://www.camanabay.com/ The shops in George Town, across the street from BC is The Strand shopping Plaza. Do make a point of stopping by Pure Art Gift Shop http://www.pureart.ky/ a fun shop to explore, rain or shine!
Go to The Spa !! Just across the street from BC: DaVinci Wellness Centre http://www.davinciwellnesscentre.com/ also across the street Touch of Thai http://www.touchofthai.ky/or a short walk up the beach to The Ritz Silver Rain Spa. All great choices!
Head to West Bay and check out the Car Museum http://www.caymanmotormuseum.ky/ afterwards you can go across the street for lunch at the Cracked Conch restaurant.
Head to George Town to see the National Museum http://www.museum.ky/ and the National Gallery http://www.nationalgallery.org.ky/
OR - Pick up a great book, a cool tropical drink and curl up on a lounge chair on your Beachcomber patio. Break out a challenging jigsaw puzzle, get a card game going or pop in a DVD rented from the local Block Buster. Here are some other suggestions: www.hubpages.com/hub/rainy-day-kids-activities
Go Diving! You're wet anyway !

If there is a pending shower during your Cayman/ Beachcomber visit, please pop in the office and pick up one of the nice big blue golf umbrellas we provide for our guests - or - one of the smaller portable umbrellas to carry 'just in case'.

We can't change the weather... but we can always have a 'rain plan' and still have fun at the beach !

See You Soon !

Easter: Cayman Style

April is such a lovely time to be on Grand Cayman, especially during the festive Easter weekend. If you are visiting this weekend you will notice campsites set up all around the island, the long Easter weekend is traditionally a time for families to gather together to enjoy the fun of camping on the beach. (this is the only time camping is allowed!) Families will also be gathering for church services and Easter brunches throughout the island.

If you are visiting this weekend try to include an Easter service or Easter brunch in your schedule. Visitors are most welcome and heartily embraced at any one of the numerous churches. A few of the denominations that are nearby The Beachcomber:

A Lutheran service is offered every Sunday at 10:00 AM at the Ritz Carlton conference room. Just a short walk North of Beachcomber - after the service you may want to enjoy the Easter Family Brunch. Join the Easter Egg Hunt on the Ritz Great Lawn @ 11:30 AM or on the South Lawn @ 1:30 PM. Seven Restaurant will also offer their Champagne Brunch 12 - 3.

One of my personal favorites is the Cayman Minister's Association Easter Sunrise Service at the Public Beach on 7 Mile Beach. Grab a beach towel and walk the 15 - 20 minutes going North up the beach from Beachcomber. Listen to a lovely Easter message from local ministers and choirs as the sun rises over the island. There is always a seaside baptism after the service, a beautiful way to start the day!

St Ignatius Catholic Church offers Easter services 8:00 AM - 9:45 Am - 11:30 AM and 6:00 PM.

St George's Anglican Church services: 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Historical Elmslie Memorial Church is a beautiful church located in George Town.

Many of the local restaurants will be offering Easter brunch: LUCA, AQUA restaurant and The Ritz & The Westin restaurants are the closest within walking distance of Beachcomber. New to the neighborhood this year, is Blue Cilantro - offering Easter Brunch CI$ 55 W/bubbles CI$ 45 W/O bubbles!
Cracked Conch and Grand Old House restaurants will also be offering an Easter brunch.

Just a reminder: Good Friday, April 6 and Easter Monday, April 9 are Public Holidays and businesses will be closed. Restaurants and Tourist Attractions will be open !
How fortunate are we to be surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Caribbean Sea and enjoy the friendliness of the Caymanian people, not just at Easter but everyday ! What a blessing!

See you on the Beach !

Beachcomber Restaurants - So Many So Close !

We get quite a few inquiries about restaurants within walking distance of The Beachcomber so I thought I would post information about the 12 restaurants that are the very nearest to us.

The closest restaurant is Edoardo's which is directly across the street from Beachcomber. Open 7 days a week for dinner: 5:30 PM - 10:30 PM Open 5 days a week Mon-Fri for lunch: 11:30-2:00 PM. Edoardo's offers FREE take out delivery to Beachcomber condos! Thanks guys! http://www.edoardos.ky/

Directly behind Edoardo's is Copper Fall's Steakhouse. Open 7 days a week 5:30 - 10:30 PM Great Food - Great Service! See: http://www,copperfallssteakhouse.com/ If you like Indian cuisine then Gateway of India is a must for you! Located next door to Copper Falls Open for Lunch and Dinner. Very Good!

Roots Vegan Cafe and Juice Bar is a great little place to get freshly made juices/ smoothies we love the veggie wraps and veggie burgers but the Mango Medley smoothie is the BEST! Roots is located in the Parc Place plaza behind Edoardo's across from Touch of Thai. Open Mon - Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM See: http://www.roots.ky/
Another popular favorite is Sunshine Grill, located on the Sunshine Suites hotel grounds. The BEST Fish Tacos and Amazing handmade Hamburgers! Also love the little complimentary soft serve ice cream cone at the end of the meal! Open 7 days 11:00 AM - 9:30 PM 365 days!http://www.sunshinesuites.com/sunshine.htm

The Strand Shopping Plaza is home to Canton Chinese Restaurant Open 7 days for Lunch and Dinner. Next door to Canton is Kentucky Fried Chicken Open 7 days. Paperman's Coffee House is a popular favorite for breakfast and lunch, located in the Strand Plaza near Kirk Freeport jewelry store. While in the Strand you can always pick up something from the fruit/salad bar at Foster's Food Fair or have sandwiches made at the deli or check out the daily homemade selections from the food bar! So quick and easy!

REMEMBER: Foster's Food Fair is closed on Sundays! So if you are arriving on island on Sunday be prepared to eat out or consider having groceries ordered and placed in the condo before your arrival - see: http://www.caymanshoppers.com/

Next up and just South of Beachcomber on the beachside, is LUCA restaurant located on the ground floor of Caribbean Club. Great for lunch Mon - Sat 11:30-2:30 or dinner 7days 5:30 - 11:30 PM and fabulous Sunday brunch 11:30 - 2:30 PM Beautiful setting! See:http://www.luca.ky/

The Ritz Carlton is just a short 5 - 10 minute walk North of Beachcomber and offers restaurants: Seven Prime, Periwinkles and the 5 Star, Blue restaurant, all great choices!

The restaurants listed above are the closest within walking distance of Beachcomber. Guests may still want to walk a little further to check out: Eats Diner, Yoshi Sushi, Deckers, Hemingways, Bamboo, Ragazzi, or the restaurants located at the Westin resort.

There is always the restaurant delivery service: Fine Dine In - Dominoe's Pizza, Papa John's Pizza - only a phone call away!

Thanks to Beachcomber's convenient location in the heart of Seven Mile Beach, owners and guests may easily stroll to dinner after a relaxing day on the beach. Just Remember: We drive on the left and pedestrians need to be very careful when crossing the 3 lane West Bay Road!

Let us know if you have any questions regarding dining out on Grand Cayman, we are happy to advise and guide you to the many fabulous restaurants around the island. Email: beachcomber@candw.ky Also see: www.caymanrestaurants.com

Star Gazing on Seven Mile Beach

While I know this probably won’t be a top ‘Spring Break’ activity on Cayman over the next few weeks… I did run across this interesting article from Nick Kelly the local president of the Cayman Islands Astronomical Society and wanted to share with you nighttime sky watchers / navigators - something to look for while enjoying the night sky from your Beachcomber patio !

Here is Nick Kelly’s recent article on star gazing this March:
“The planet Jupiter, the largest in the Solar System is visible in the western sky at
the month’s beginning, setting about 2 hours after the sun. It is the lone bright object in that part of the sky.
On Mar 12 – 16, Mercury is close to Jupiter, just after sunset & the smaller planet’s proximity to the giant makes it easy to find. Seven Mile Beach offers the best clear view to the west.
Jupiter will be gone from the night skies by month’s end, but Saturn, which rises 2 hours after sunset in early March, will be visible at dusk by then.
In the morning sky, Venus, the bright “Morning Star”, is brilliant 2 hours before dawn and still visible as it begins to get light.
The moon is full on the 19th & spring officially begins in the northern hemisphere on the 20th, at 7:21 pm whn the sun reaches equinox.
All month long, the bright & distinctive Winter constellations dominate the evening sky with their bright stars.
On March 12, the first quarter moon is close to both Aldebaran in Taurus and Capella in Auriga. In Taurus we can also find the star cluster of Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters. Sharp eyes may be able to distinguish the 7 points.”

If you prefer a little mood music to go with your star gazing then you are in luck!
A Celebration of Music kicks off on Thurs. March 10 with Broadway Under the Stars on the Great Lawn at the Ritz Carlton ( a short walk up the beach from Beachcomber)
On Sat. March 12 American artist, Chuck Holden and local musician Gary Ebanks will perform Jazz on the Green. Guests are invited to bring a blanket to spread on the lawn.
The final day of the event will feature a Gospel Brunch at 7 Prime & Sunsets restaurant at the Ritz. The proceeds from these events will go toward a new observatory to house a fully computerized telescope.

A Celebration of Music Weekend
March 10, 12, and 13

Join us for A Celebration of Music –a three day event presented by Rotary Club of Grand Cayman showcasing a rhapsody of musical performances from Broadway, Jazz and Gospel.
• Thursday, March 10 at 8:00 p.m.: Broadway Under the Stars with Greg Rolph (Tenor) and Susie Diaz (Soprano). Performance held on The Great Lawn at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Tickets $40.
• Saturday, March 12 at 8:00 p.m.: Jazz on the Green with Chuck Holden and Gary Ebanks. Performance held on The Great Lawn at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Tickets $40.
• Sunday, March 13 from Noon – 3:00 p.m.: Gospel Brunch with Maryel Epps, Clyde Kain & Omar Walters. Performance held at 7 restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Tickets $145.

For more information or to purchase tickets please visit www.rotary.ky.

We can’t forget the always popular: Full Moon Madness at Calico Jack’s beach bar on 7 Mile Beach ( a 15 – 20 minute walk up the beach from Beachcomber)
March 18! Geared to the younger crowd within walking distance, always a safe bet!!


March 19 is the date for the Moonlit Beach Walk ! A fund raiser for Breast Cancer Awareness – Beachcomber owners and guests will be lighting up their patios in support of the walkers as they pass by going North and then on the return heading back South. FUN! So follow the pink glow in the night sky and we will …



See you on the Beach !

BEACHCOMBER AMENITIES

While we are 'all about' the best beach, sea, snorkeling/diving, sunsets... Beachcomber offers owners and guests a few other amenities that add to the vacation/island living experience.

A favorite feature of mine is Beachcomber's underground parking. If you have ever lived in a hot climate and had to open your car door to a wave of heat and gingerly touch an interior that has been baking for hours... you will understand the joy of parking underground! The 2 elevators both open into the garage for easy access to the villas &
keep the cars cool & secure.

Next up... and what seems to be the favorite pastime for most men at Beachcomber, is beachside Grilling! There are 4 Weber Gas grills located on the beach for guest's use and from the many comments from our guests, they are a huge hit when staying at Beachcomber.




You cannot beat buying fresh fish from the local fishermen in George Town or from Foster's Food Fair fresh fish selection (located just across the street)then adding a little seasoning, wrap in foil and grill for 15 - 20 minutes-mmmmmm just the best!
Even hotdogs and hamburgers taste better right off the grill. Now add that to the most amazing Caribbean location for seaside dining and you have the perfect island experience!

After all that fine dining and lounging on the beach, guests may want to check out Beachcomber's Fitness Centre. Located on the 2nd level on the South Side of the building,the gym is open at 5:00 AM daily, a beautiful time to start your day, working out while watching a beautiful sunrise. If 5:00 AM is too early to start, not to worry, the gym is
open until 10:00 PM daily.
In addition to the Precor fitness machines/free weights, Towels, Water, Flat screen TV and Bathroom are available for guests. The machines/gym are cleaned & fresh towels provided, daily. Guests must be over age 18 to use the fitness centre.


Whatever your choice of beachtime / leisure activity, I am sure you will find plenty to fill up your day here at Beachcomber, Seven Mile Beach!
See you on the Beach!

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CAYMAN SUNSET !

It's time to get out of the warm, crystal clear water and get ready for the next most popular Beachcomber activity... SUNSET GAZING ! Beachcomber owners and guests have the best seat in the house for the magnificent nightly show ! Just when you think you have seen the most spectacular sight on the horizon... here comes another more vibrant one the very next night.

And now that we are in the cooler, breezier winter months and the atmosphere is a little clearer, you will have a greater chance of seeing the elusive Green Flash appear just as the last bit of sun dips below the horizon! Look carefully because it IS literally an instant 'flash'. http://www.atoptics.co.uk/atoptics/gf1.htm

At this time of the year the sun sets right around 6:00 PM (Cayman is on Eastern Standard Time). So start positioning either on a beach lounge chair or up on the villa patio about half an hour before setting time. Have your camera 'at the ready' and tropical drink in hand, sit back and enjoy! Do feel free to applaud after the show, it just comes naturally to show appreciation to God's glory in the sky!


The most amazing sunset photos have a scattering of clouds and some sort of foreground element (palm tree, boats, people,etc)to add interest. It is always hard to gauge a good vs dud sunset - you just need to be ready half an hour before the set time and watch the colors change. Experiment with different angles and compositions.

For the best color in your photos: if your camera has an 'adjust for color saturation', increase it so colors are more vibrant. If no color saturation adjustment on the camera then open the photo editing program on your computer and increase color saturation there.
Although, the photos pictured here - have NOT been adjusted!! That's the real color!

Try different camera settings: 'clouds' setting will make the sunset colors more orange. Shutter speeds and aperture settings won't really give the sunset more color... it has more to do with the white balance & color saturation. Just be ready to take the photo because the colors change and vanish quickly.

Whoa! Look at the time... grabbing my spritzer...

See you on the Beach !