Day: July 7, 2019

Exhausted after another full-on school year I have spent the weekend just catching my breath and taking stock of our time here so far.

It’s only been the blink of an eye but three years have passed since we began this adventure.

To help with this period of reflection we have friends staying with us.

The great thing about having guests is that you get to see the island through their eyes. You get to explore afresh and show off your favourite sites.

Saturday found us swimming at governors beach, visiting Hell, popping into Macabucca for Mudslides, stopping at Camana Bay for a mooch before driving out to Spots Beach to swim with sea turtles.

Sunday was James’s 17th Birthday. Yep my son is 17 years old.

So we had breakfast in town before donning snorkel gear and heading out to the reefs over Eden Rock. After a couple of hours, we headed to shore and Vic drove everyone down to Sunset House. I swam.

At Sunset, Sue and I swam out to see the mermaid. We free dived down to get a better view before settling down to enjoy the view with a Mudslide.

Monday and we circumnavigated the east of the island stopping to see the Blowholes and the Wreck of the 10 Sails.

Then on to Starfish Point for a picnic via Over the Edge for a Mudslide and Jonny Cakes.

We rounded off the day at Rum Point with Mudslides.

Tuesday, Sting Ray City in the morning and Sue, Steve, Andy, and Sarah spent the rest of the day just grinning from ear to ear and were still on a high from the outing the next day.

We rounded off the afternoon with a lazy lunch at Rackham’s and snorkeling with the Tarpon. Everyone was nicely sun-baked and exhausted so soup for dinner and cocktails just to help everyone sleep.

Wednesday, Poppy took our guests on a walk to town. Their aim for the day to go ‘Geo-Cashing’. The world-wide treasure hunt craze; for the uninitiated. Sarah stayed behind so I had her helping me with baking.

We made high tea with a Caribbean twist, Cucumber Sandwiches, iced tea, Venezuelan Pan de Jamon and Pina Colada Rum Cake. The gang returned and within 20 minutes all our hard work was gone! Everyone was left suitably replete and with the weather looking overcast we snuggled in to watch a film.

Thursday. Dive Day. James and I headed out early for a dive; the final part of my Advanced Diving Qualification and my 100th dive. Over the wall for a deep dive and then onto the Wreck of the Doc Polson. Both wonderful.

Steve tagged along for the ride. He started the day being typically English and reserved not wanting to be in the way. By the time we finished, he was barefoot and shirtless climbing all over the boat jumping in the sea. Clearly channeling his inner pirate.

We watched the most spectacular storm over George Town.

Then in the afternoon, we took Sue and Steve (now back to normal) diving. They undertook their Discover Scuba training and then we all headed out to the reef near the Lobster Pot for their first dive.

They loved it!

Friday. I headed into work to get some end of year reports done. Vic and the gang headed towards 7 Mile stopping off at the Ritz on the way to see their in house art gallery.

Suitably culturally recharged they then headed on to Royal Palms for a day of Cocktails and a top-up of sunshine.

 

 

Steve particularly enjoyed the cocktails… he was as tired as a newt afterwards.

Reports done I headed home and started cooking up a storm. Mango curry, chicken and coconut korma and a spicy vegetable curry all served with fluffy saffron and coconut rice and chapatis.

The gang descended Jon, Dee, Jack, Holly, Arty, Drew, Paul, Steph, and Clive. With Sue, Steve, Andy, and Sarah plus those already in residence it was quite a house full!

Still, there was plenty of food to go round.

Saturday and off to the Turtle Sanctuary.

Sue, who left the house unsure about ‘why we had to go to the turtle farm‘, fell in love with the place as soon as we entered the park. She literally screamed and I am sure she said, ‘they’re so cute I could die‘ and proceeded to turn into Agnes.

 

 

Mesmerised by the adults in the main pond we just stood gaping happily at the giants for half an hour before reluctantly moving on to the babies.

It’s hard to describe how pretty they are. Each one like a living broach, their shells like exquisite paintings.

 

 

Of course, the encounter tanks were a hit with all even Andy who managed to get bitten by one baby. After a good long time we eventually wrestled, a now besotted, Sue out of the water, ‘but I love them’ came her wail, as she was dragged out.

 

 

We mooched on to the big pool and met the reef sharks, barracuda and tarpon.

After a suitable period of ‘ooh’ and ‘ah’ and ‘would you just look at that’ it was time to snorkel.

 

 

We rather lost our guests at this point as they simply refused to leave the turtle pond until it shut. They swam about giggling and goggle-eyed. But who can blame them? Swimming with sea turtles is magical after all.

We moved on to the aviary and hand-feeding time.

 

 

Which was nice.

To cap off our visit we hung out by the pool. And because we were just next door to Macabucca we just had to stop for a Mudslide.

At this point, we were beginning to worry Sue might be hooked.

So to help her:

Sunday and breakfast at the Marriott with the gang.

Wreck snorkeling and a final Mudslide while watching one last sunset over the Caribbean.