Cayman has an ideal climate with temperatures year-round varying on average by no more than about 10 degrees averaging from around 75 degrees in Winter to around 85 degrees in Summer. July is the hottest month,.but soaring summer temperatures are often held in check by rains which fall between May and October. The Atlantic Hurricane season starts on June 1st and ends officially on November 30th.
The beaches are wonderful, and fully live up to the images one will have of a tropical Island Paradise. Silver-white sand, turquoise-coloured water, waving Palm trees. There was more cloud around than we might have expected, but it is low flimsy stuff, that provides some relief from the heat of the day, and is to be welcomed, and you will still get a tan!
The Cayman Islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503. Situated in the Western Caribbean, northwest of Jamaica and south of Cuba, the Islands are a Crown Colony governed by an Adminstrator who reports directly to London. 2003 was a big year for the Caymans as they celebrated 500 years of History. However, permanent settlement did not really begin until around 1700 and it is not until the early 1900`s that development began. At the beginning of the 20th Century the population was around the 5,000 mark. By 1970 it had only just doubled. But by the year 2002 it had topped the 40,000 level and is stilll rising steadily on the back of a very buoyant Tourist Market and the growth of International Banking.
There are three Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, is the largest where most of the population is, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Grand Cayman is about 22 miles long, a mile wide at its narrowest and 8 miles wide at its fullest. The highest point is the centre of the Island at "the mountain", an elevation of about 60 feet above sea level. Cayman Brac is 11 miles long and about a mile and a half wide. Little Cayman lives up to its name at 10 miles long and a mile wide.
Because of the influx of large numbers of American Tourists, mainly by Cruise Ships, prices can be high, both for accommodation and meals and drinks. A bottle of wine for instance starts at a price of around US$30, and a bottle of beer at around US$4.60. Although Cayman has its own currency, the Cayman $, most transactions can be made in either US$ or Cayman$, with a fixed exchange rate between the two of US$1.25 to Cayman$1. There is of course no shortage of Banks on Cayman, but strict controls means that the Banking community is one of the most regulated there is. Plenty of ATM`s!!
See below for the addresses, etc of the official Cayman Web Site. However, my wife and I found that by searching the net, you can often find the most affordable accommodation. We found "Annie`s Place", accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis in a private home, convenient for the main Beach area around West Bay at Seven Mile Beach, and only a short drive from the capital, George Town. I strongly suggest you check it out yourself, you can visit the web site at www.anniesplace.ky or email Annie direct at ampm@candy.ky. I know you will be made more than welcome and certainly well looked after with all the modern conveniences you could ever need, to include air conditioning, colour TV, tea & coffe making facilities and a most comfortable bed! You can come and go as you please, and generally it is an ideal location for a holidy in Cayman at affordable prices.
You will need to hire a car whilst you are there. Driving is on the left and petrol is sold in UK gallons (around 46p a gallon when we were there in January,, 2003). Most of the Cruise Ship tourists congregate around the George Town centre for the duty-free Jewellery Shops, or the popular stop-off at the Turtle Farm, in the north-west of the Island. You can get a sneak preview of this by going to http://turtle.ky/video.htm where they have 4 web cams showing the Turtle Farm. The Cruise Ships generally arrive only during the week and are not there at weekends, when it is a lot more peaceful!!!
I would strongly urge you to visit, if you can, and enjoy a wonderful experience. |
