Georgetown, Grand Cayman, as seen from the top deck of the Veendam as we arrive at our first port in early morning.

Met in the Wajang Theater and ours was the first excursion to disembark via tender. From the harbor we were led a couple blocks to our van/bus, and we started the island tour. The bus driver acted as tour guide, telling us interesting facts and anecdotes about the buildings and sites we passed during the ride. First stop: Hell, a spot of jagged volcanic-looking rock sporting a small gift shop that took advantage of the name. I took pictures.

Jill stands in front of the jagged rock formation that gives this place its name: Hell. There's also a gift shop.

Then a short drive along the island's suicide roads to the Tortuga Bakery where they make the signature flavored cakes, and also sell the several varieties of Tortuga Rum. Almost next door to that is the tortuga farm, where the sea turtles are raised, mated and hatched. The farm is expanding, the construction but one of a myriad sites where the little island is rebuilding after the devastation of Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The turtle farm also provides care for Ridley-Kemp turtles as well as the prettier cayman varieties. Our free time at that venue gave us just enough time to sample a bowl of turtle soup. My impression: it tasted like Campbell's beef vegetable. (There was not much turtle meat in the soup.)

At the sea turtle farm, we got to hold a juvenile. (The adults are too big.) Stroking one under the neck calms it and prevents the turtle from flapping around too much.

Back in the bus for the short drive to a dock on the other side of the island, where we boarded the Sun Rayz, a catamaran that can hold up to 125 during busy season, but today was loaded with 25.

Aboard the "Sun Rayz," our catamaran for the excursion, just before we leave the dock for the lagoon and Stingray City.

After a brief intro by Amanda (our photographer), we set out for "Stingray City" on the sandbar located just inside the reef, a trip that took about half an hour. Once there, we climbed into the water, which varied in depth from about 2 to 4 feet depending where one stood on the sandbar. Saw a couple dozen stingrays, and the tour brought along a bucket of squid to feed the rays, so the larger female rays were bumping and rubbing our legs with complete lack of shyness. Fed the ray and held one for a photo, and just floated about in the very refreshihng water until it was time to head back.

Here we are at Stingray City, holding a medium-sized female stingray. (Actually, most of the holding is being done by the assistant just off-camera to the left.)

This being the slow season, and only one cruise ship in port that day (an unusual occurrence according to our captain), we were able to maximize our time in Stingray City, and didn't have to fight crowds or wait for a place to moor.

We boarded the tender upon our return to Georgetown. We planned to do a little shopping that day, but wanted to clean up and have lunch first. Back aboard Veendam, we showered and changed. Jill found some interesting noshies in the Neptune Lounge and returned with a couple plates of cold appetizers that served as lunch. It wasn't too long before we were again on the ship's tender headed to downtown Georgetown. The ship had started with 6 tenders (meaning the 4 normal tenders plus two lifeboats), but was down to 4 tenders by that time of the day.

We walked around the various shops located near the harbor. Found the Tortuga store, the one that sells the rum cakes and the rum. Picked up a few things. Shopped a bit more without buying anything else (Jill bought some rum-flavored Jamaican coffee beans) and then decided we'd had enough for the day. It was getting warm and humid (rain threatened), so we boarded our last tender for the day and returned to the ship.

On the tender, heading back to the Veendam. On this day, tenders were loaded and unloaded from the port side, so we had to motor around the stern.

Ran into Mom as we came off the tender, and told her we would call them if we came up with any before-dinner plans. Then it was naptime. Jill found a spa special listed in the day's announcenments, and called up to find they had an opening available at 4:00. She expected to be done by 5, so we decided we would meet in the Crow's Nest then. Her appointment ran a little late, so by the time she finished, we were all gathered in the crow's nest for an hour or so watching the ship pull away from Georgetown. With time still to kill before dinner, we went down to the photo gallery to find the pictures taken of us during the Captain's Gala from the night before. Mom and Dad had taken a good picture at dinner, but none of the 4 taken of me and Jill turned out well enough to spend money on it. I think the problem was the photographers were too short, and the photos all were taken looking up at us instead of straight on.

Mom needed to pick up a toothbrush (she left hers at Jill's apartment), so they went to the shop. I took Dad on a mini-tour of the Upper Proemnade to show him where all the bars were. I was still in shorts and tee shirt, so needed to change, so we all ended up in our stateroom before dinner, where I downloaded the pictures from the digital camera and we looked at the images, plus the one taken at Stingray City. That one had been taken by our photogrpaher-guide with an underwater digital camera. Instead of printing copies and mailing them to us, she simply copied the file onto a CD for everyone who purchased their picture.

To dinner. Had thought about staying up for the Margaritaville party at 11:15, but alas, by the end of dinner we were pooped (again), so it was up to the room for the night.