Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Plant of the Month: The Miracle of Aloe Vera


This will be the first in a series of featured Silver Sands flora. These grounds have so much going on it is time to explore!


The Silver Sands grounds is not only a beautiful place filled with lush flowers and tropical plants, it is also useful! Scattered around the property there is Aloe Vera growing for all to use. Aloe has several medicinal uses, but probably the most important for Silver Sands guests is for sunburns! Just pick a stalk, split it open, and slather that gooey magical aloe all over your sun kissed skin. It is even better if you put some in the refrigerator, when it is cold and you apply it, it cools down the burn immediately, as well as heals from the inside.





Saturday, April 18, 2015

A Fine Evening for Fine Dining

Cayman has become a foodie's playground. From casual beach dining, to our ABC's of where to eat, you can get just about anything you want from the island's selection of restaurants. And sometimes what you want is the very best. Here are our top 3 recommendations for the finest of them all.

Osetra Bay
This stunning restaurant is more of a dining experience rather than a meal. From the moment you sit in the elegantly decorated sea side dining room, with white curtains gently blowing in Morgan's Harbor breeze, your senses are filled with flavors and tasters that are unforgettable. 







Luca
Located at The Caribbean Club on 7-Mile Beach, Luca has the food and wine to make any foodie's heart content. And if you are really looking to live it up, Sunday Brunch here is top notch. From the omelet station to make your full breakfast complete, to over flowing sushi and seafood, and then onto a full roast, topped with dessert that will make your mouth water, oh and did I mention free flowing champaign? Yes that is Luca.







Blue
This super high end restaurant is located inside the Ritz Carlton. It specializes in seafood but has something for everyone. This restaurant is nothing but class, as is usually the way from Eric Ripert.





Photos courtesy of:

Sunday, April 12, 2015

You Just Can't Beat a Silver Sands Sunset!


Sitting on the Silver Sands beach watching the sun set over the Caribbean Sea is one of the absolute best moments in life.



You can enjoy it while sitting on one of the many hammocks around the property...





Get the family together and get some pictures, or just hang and enjoy the beautiful colors that light up the sky.



Take a sunset walk along our quiet stretch of 7-Mile Beach.



And remember that just because it is stormy, rough or cloudy, that sunset could surprise you with some brilliant colors, so its always worth stepping out of your condo for a quick look.


Watch the cruise ships leave port and another Cayman day come to an end...



Photography by:
Heather Holt Photography
Josh Homewood
Marie Adkins

Sunday, April 5, 2015

The Charming Houses of Cayman


The old traditional Caymanian houses are a colorful and unique part of Caymanian heritage. Although there are quite a few around still, they are disappearing quickly. What once were the standard residence, now are scattered few and far between. Many are being torn down for the building of condos or other more profitable construction and many are crumbling in disrepair. 

The National Trust is active in trying to document and keep track of these old wooden houses, however as they are privately owned there are no laws protecting these buildings. 



This is one of the more famous houses still standing and it can be seen at the Queen Elizabeth Botanical Park.



Unfortunately this one that stood on South Church St. in South Sound, was torn down but it is a great example of the unique lattice work each house used to have. The particular design was the woodworker's personal signature style.





Another reason why many of these old houses have disappeared was Hurricane Ivan that struck Grand Cayman in September 2004, knocking down the already fragile homes. 

Check out what Ivan did to Silver Sands here.