49. CAYMAN ISLANDS — NIYA'S VIEW

Recently I enjoyed a surprise weekend trip to the beautiful British Overseas Territory, Cayman Islands. Across the three islands, I visited Grand Cayman, the largest of the three islands yet still close to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Flying into Owen Roberts International Airport, the low lying limestone base surrounded by cool coral reefs was inviting.

The flat 22-mile island gave a great window into the beachside capital of Georgetown. Flora and fauna captivated the land. It was there that I learned the national symbol of the Cayman Islands is the Green Sea Turtle. I didn’t see any though, maybe next time.

Eager to escape the city for a few days, The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman became home. My fiancé and I found a welcoming and fun atmosphere, thanks to Kizzy-Ann at reception and Ibrahim by the concierge area.

At Andiamo, we savoured Caybrews, a caesar salad with salmon alongside a tasty pizza. Our waiter, Arnel was attentive and friendly providing great customer service. It was the perfect place to pop by to watch a World Cup match. Then we went for a long walk to catch a sensational sunset.

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Later on we explored the hotel grounds and discovered a spot for dinner. Seven was cool and casual in an elegant environment. Note that a reservation is necessary. Walking in, we were escorted to a romantic booth. Our waiter, Edwin was knowledgable on the menu and cracked a few jokes making it a jovial time.

For dinner, we shared the cracked conch with a spicy salsa. I had the salmon accompanied by fennel, radish and coconut rice. Then my fiancé decided on the ox cheek ravioli with magnificent mushrooms and a creamy sauce. All the dishes were delicious with flavourful touches.

The next day was all about the adventure of Seven Mile Beach. We walked and talked. Definitely got our steps in reaching 7,100 steps.

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On our final day, we had a quick bite at the beachside and poolside restaurant, Saint June. Irene was excellent in keeping our holiday party vibe alive. For lunch, I tried the Jenever cocktail which consists of Hayman’s Gin, Watermelon, Grapefruit, Lime, Berry Shrub, Moet & Chandon Champagne. Rather refreshing. From there, I got the kale caesar salad with lemony chicken. Yum!

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This was definitely one of the best birthday celebrations. I would highly recommend The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Beach, luxury and fun! Can’t wait to visit more of the Caribbean.