Sun, Salt and Slow Time

Yes, I travelled with my carefully selected watercolours. Having lovingly chosen the colours that I imagined the water would look like. The water there isn’t just blue. It’s more shades of blue than you can imagine.  Sometimes ultramarine.  Then cobalt. Then teal and turquoise.  Then seafoam green.  And often all at once.  I’m hoping these photos give you the idea. Perfect water to paint with watercolours – I did not pack cyan – and I think I would have needed it. 

However… painting Plein Air was not to be in the cards. It was simply too hot.  And often too windy. We walked on the sand and waded in the ocean. 

The Cayman Turtle Centre was more engaging than I expected. Being close to the turtles—watching their slow, deliberate movement, the quiet way they exist in their own rhythm – felt grounding. There’s something about them that pulls you out of your head for a minute. You just stand there and watch. No rushing. 

The Centre has so much to offer with its waterpark complete with waterslide. The place is pretty much kid perfect.  And I loved the bird enclosure – finally was able to get photos of the beautiful green parrots that are all over the island.

We made our way to Seven Mile Beach as often as time allowed. It really is one of those places that lives up to every bit of its reputation. With the beach stretching seemingly forever and impossibly clean, with the water so clear it barely seems real. 

I was fascinated with the subtle shifts in colour—the pale green at the shore slipping into deeper blues further out. Oh and the incredible turquoise at the crest of the curl on the waves.  I took so many photos trying to catch that colour at the right moment.

As a painter, it’s the kind of scene that makes you mentally mix colours in your mind ….

Out on the water, we were amazed with the clarity of the water and how you could see the sandy bottom even as the water deepened.

The sunset built slowly. Thin washes of colour at first—pale gold, then warmer, then a quiet push into coral. Everything blending, slipping into the next and rather quickly. The water reflected up every shift, turning it into something fluid and alive. It felt less like watching the sunset but more like being part of it. No photo can quite capture it.

We had to head back to shore early because of an unfortunate situation that happened while on the boat. Although we were disappointed, we still got to see the island from the water and watch the sunset. 

On our final full day we got to be tourists and explore the town. We wandered into so many air conditioned T-Shirt and souvenir shops. Happy that I was able to get the perfect “turtle” to bring back with me. We each got touristy ball caps and a few other random momentos.

It was really hot and so people-y with all the cruise ships in. We found a restaurant with a waterfront table available. We watched the shuttles going back and forth to the four cruise ships. Was fascinating to see all the people and all the boats. And the funny looking glass bottom boat.

Spending time with family! The whole purpose of the trip. The Island experience was the bonus!

Calvin and Robyn took us on many a guided tour and excursion while sharing history and stories of the Island. And we sampled food at many a restaurant as well.

Time spent at their home was wonderful. The girls were on their spring break so we got to hang out with them every day.

Thank you so much for your wonderful hospitality! So grateful!

And a few bonus photos of Teddy, Lilly and the official bird of the Island – the green parrot!