Pirates Week/Heritage Week
Author: Jose
Well I got to attend one of the Pirates Week events, simply becuase of being busy, I attended the finally day of Pirates Week, I took my children down to the Landing and to see the Pirates and Float Parade.
It wasn’t as I expected this year and I go bored very quick, I guess I was not in the mood, but the Kids sure enjoyed themselves and was glad to get the free handouts.
Later that evening my friends and me, went back to the Street Dance, and again the performing band did not get me into my usual dancing mood so we left at about 10:00pm and went to a local bar to wrap up the night.
If you were new to the Pirates Week festivities you i guess you would have enjoyed yourself, but for me I see the same thing every year.
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Pirates Week or Heritage Week?
Author: Jose
Well folks I am back, had to regroup myself from my various ventures and faciliate a move into the City George Town as we call it.
Things are getting back to normal and thus will allow me to write more, I have some new ideas and writings for the site, that will inform both the Caymanian people and our visitors to the Islands. After all that is what Living Cayman is all about.
I start writing today about Pirates Week that is what it is called for the Tourist/Visitors and Heritage Week for us Caymanians.
Pirates Week was developed some years back not to celebrate Pirates but to bring tourist back to our Islands during what we call our slow period.
Pirates Week is 11 days of Good Fun, excitement and partying built around the fantasy of Pirates of days gone by.
Hertigae Week was brought in shortly afterwards due to the protest of the local people, stating why should we celebrate a week of ruthless people like Pirates.
Well we have the 2 as one and the Government, Local business and locals get the best of 2 worlds or should I say 3 Islands.
Pirates Week/Heritage Week fro this year is schedule as follows: -
SATURDAY
1st November
Little Cayman Day
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THURSDAY
6th November 9:00pm Pirate Party at The Wharf Restaurant
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(Kick-off Party revised time to be announced)
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MONDAY
10th November 11:00am - 8:00pm West Bay Heritage Day, Boatswains Beach
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TUESDAY
11th November 11:00am - 2:00am North Side Heritage Day at Lions Centre
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WEDNESDAY
12th November 11:00am - 2:00am Bodden Town Heritage Day
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3:30pm - 8:00pm Mike Lockwood Memorial International Swim Meet - Lions Pool
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THURSDAY
13th November 11:00am - 2:00am George Town Heritage Day, Cardinall Avenue
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1:00pm - 4:00pm Underwater Treasure Hunt at Dive Tech – West Bay
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FRIDAY
14th November 11:00am - 2:00am East End Heritage Day
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4:00pm - 8:00pm Mike Lockwood Memorial International Swim Meet - Lions Pool
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4:30pm Late Registration 5K Run
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5:00pm 5K run sponsored by Ministry of Sports & Gatorade
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SATURDAY
15th November 8:00am - 5:00pm Mike Lockwood Memorial International Swim Meet - Lions Pool
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12:30pm - 2:00pm Cardboard Boat Race sponsored by Caybrew
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2:00pm - 3:00pm Pre-Landing Entertainment sponsored by Ministry of Culture
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3:00pm - 4:00pm Landing Pageant
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4:00pm - 5:30pm Float Parade
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5:30pm Pirate Costume Competition sponsored by Home Gas
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6:15pm Miss Festival Queen Costume Competition sponsored by Ministry of Culture
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6:45pm Pirates Week Songfest sponsored by Digicel
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7:30pm Trial of the Pirates
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7:45pm Fireworks sponsored by Atlantic Star & Department of Tourism
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8:00pm - Midnight Teen Up. Teens Own Disco - Craft Market
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8:05pm - Midnight Street Dance Finale - Harbour Drive
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SUNDAY
16th November 7:00am Pirates Week 10K Run sponsored by Krys & Associates
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8:00am Mike Lockwood Memorial International Swim Meet Cont’d
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1:00pm Mickey Mouse Darts Tournament - Julian’s Billard Lounge, sponsored
Lots to do for a 11 days.
This year there was a change to the schedule due to the coming and passing of Hurricane Paloma who missed the big Island and devasted our Sister Islands, our thoughts are with them during this depressing and tough time.
The usual things the locals really lot forward for is the Friday night opening of Pirates Week on Harbour Drive with the largest Fire Works display, song competition, Street Dance, Drinking and Food galore. The on Saturday at about 2:00 the festivities start again with the landing of the Pirates or Invasion and the Capturing of the Governor (an imposter) by the Pirates and then the real partying and eating begins and the pirates celebrate their capture of the Leader and its people. A themed float parade entered by each town/district, business and Schools takes place and usually last for about an hour is Judge later that evening with prize awards for differnet categories, during this time the roads are blocked for the festivities and local foods and foods from around the world is sold on the streets, there is a another street dance by a local bands and a group from Trinidad, Jamaica or some other Caribbean Islands that plays Caribbean Music (Soca, Calypso etc.) entertains the crowd that night, a Teen Street Dance for the youngsters seperate from the adults of course also takes place that night.
Sunday there is some swim meets and road races and then Monday to Friday each district/Town has an Heritage Day that brings methods of cooking, working and life from the past back to life for all to see, lots of local food (Turtle, conch, whelks, fish etc..) is for sale each district has a dance until the early morning (3am).
Then on the Saturday evening there is the trial and capture of the Pirates, that is when the Pirates Week committee announces the winners of the District/Town Heritage Days and awards and prizes are giving out, and then pirates week closes with a large street dance and a final swim race. Until the next year aaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhh!
Hurricane Gustav
Author: Jose
Hi folks, the Islands have been under Tropical Storms watches then Tropical Storm Warnings and now @ 9:00pm Hurricane Watch. Gustav is sure giving Jamaica a beating with heavy rains, which is not good for the Island as they are mountainous compared to Grand Cayman and her sisters.
However Grand Cayman the next target on Gustav’s agenda is just about 8 feet above sea level, which not good, things can get pretty ugly very quickly for low lying areas in Grand Cayman and high seas will be difinitely a concern.
I have a salt water aquarium and had previously marked a live rock on Sunday to put in my aquarium, went this afternoon to retrieve it, that sure did not work as where the Live Rock was, was only thigh deep on sunday, this afternoon the sea was so high I got to about 10 feet from were I had the Live Rock marked and the water was up to my chest. Gustav is still about 313 miles away but this sure shows the might of this tiny storm.
I will get some before and after pictures of my backyard (as I live right on the beach) to post here on Gustav’s arrival and departure.
And please stay tune as I will be posting to this blog as long as eletricity and power premits.
Louisana please take caution for this one Gustav appears to be a sneaky guy.
Where To stay in the Cayman Islands.
Author: Jose
Where to stay in Cayman Islands, your stay will be enjoyable and one of the Islands 7-mile Hotels or go East to one of the seculed hotels.
These are my recommendations for the 7-mile Beach area you have so many hotels and condos to choose from : -
Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort -
Westin Casuarina Grand Cayman -
Sunshine Suites - http://www.sunshinesuites.com/
For some peace a quiet Eastern side of the Islands know as East End has 2 time share resorts :-
The Reef - http://www.thereef.com/en/index.html
Morritt Tortuga - http://www.morritt.com/
The 7-mile Beach area is comparable to any large city with high traffic and lots of people, if you are interested in peace and quiet then visit and stay out at the Eastern side of the Island.
Cayman Turtle Farm
Author: Jose
The Cayman Turtle Farm dispite changing its name to Boatswain Beach, and it making itself a theme park of sorts, has gotten the attention of some angry tourist who wrote The People for The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA) this their story here
We at livingcayman.com support the well being of animals, and supports their claims, and back their concerns, however the Green Sea Turtle is a national icon, and for some is considered a national dish.
Livingcayman.com ask Boatswain Beach to be more humane to the Turtles and house them differently.
RCIP - Cayman Islands Police
Author: Jose
I have been reading a forum in Topix and made a comment there as well, persons are seeking to join the Royal Cayman Islands Police Force, so I have decided to post some info here.
The starting salary for a Police Officer in the Cayman Islands is about US$33,000.00 per annum. Male Officers wear a white shirt and Black pants with a red stripe on each side, female officers wear a white shirt with either a black skirt with a red stripe on each side or the black pants with a red stripe on each side.
You can get more information and an application from www.gov.ky
Olympic Games in China
Author: Jose
The 2008 Olympic Games was given an extravagant welcome and opening night by its host country Beijing China, The ceremony, held in the National Stadium known as the Bird’s Nest, was attended by thousands, and watched by millions more on television. Highlights of the nearly 4-hour performance was drummer performing with a light show, dancers, a man flying in the air and thousand of other performers, this has left lasting memories for many and the world talking on what a fantastic show. The opening night in Beijing will sure give London an opening to beat and definitely live up to in 2012.
Despite the tragedy of murder of the US Volleyball team coach’s’ Father-in-law, and the injury of his Mother-in-Law in the same incidence, which appeared to be a random attack by a deranged man. The midday attack sent shock waves through the Games after the Olympics’ spectacular opening ceremony had set a joyous tone.
However the games continue, and medals are being racked up, china has so far taken the most gold medals with the US following close behind.
Technorati
Author: Jose
One Of The Top Cops Finally Charged!
Author: Jose
In an alarming and disturbing controversy, 3 top cops were suspended and one was finally charged this week with two counts of misconduct in a public office and two counts related to obstruction. Leaving the other 2 facing further investigations for other misconduct, and wait until you hear for what, just as trivial as Mr. Dixon’s charges.
Mr. Rudy Dixon (Caymanian) which was second in command of the Police Department was charged with “doing an act tending and intending to pervert the course of justice and misconduct in a public office have been laid in connection with each of two incidents.
The first is said to have occurred on 22 June 2003. Mr. Dixon is accused of falsely representing to the chief inspector of the Cayman Brac Police Station that it was the policy of police not to prosecute persons for illegal gambling. The charge continues: without reasonable excuse or justification, he instructed the officer to release two men from lawful custody after they had been arrested and instructed that a quantity of cash and gambling registers that officers had seized from them be returned.
The second incident occurred on 7 April 2004. The charge alleges that Mr. Dixon without reasonable excuse or justification instructed a chief inspector to release a man from lawful custody after the man had been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.” As quoted by the Caymanian Compass on 7th August 2008.
This is all a bunch and load of politics that someone in government did not have guts to tell the 3 tops cops you are not doing a good job it is time for you to leave, the Governor or the Cabinet had to bring and investigation team into the Island supposedly investigating another top cop that in the end did not materialized to anything, to get these high ranking officials to vacate their post to give the lead investigator the post of acting commissioner and well as lead investigator in the investigation of the 3 top cops, where is the fairness in this investigation.
Senior Investigating Officer Mr. Martin Bridger also the new acting commissioner of police, whether bias or not now sits on collecting CI$13,000.00 or US$15,500.00 per month tax free, get to drive a pretty car, and live in rental accommodations at the expense of the Caymanian people. Why would he want to find any innocence in the top cops with those perks, who would? We at living Cayman believe that he should stick to his investigation as Senior Investigating Officer and then leave.
It was time for the top cops to leave, but the Governor and the Government should have had a spine and fire them, or give them a letter saying “Early Retirement” and pay them off, that was what they use to do in the days gone by when the Government wanted to get rid of dysfunctional government employees.
We personally think that it is time to bring some new blood into the Police force a top cop from the USA, with a sound educational background and with experience with a Police Department in a large US city. It is time for a change and the time is now.
Best Time of the Year to Come to the Cayman Islands
Author: Jose
The best time of the year to come to the Cayman Islands is all the time.
Simply because we enjoy excellent year round temperatures and sunny days, however April to July is our rainy months with May, June & July have the most rain fall. We also have our Hurricane season from July to November, but the plus here we have had no major Hurricanes since 2004 and the one before that was 12 years prior.
November to early March we experience a lot of Cold fronts from up north, these systems produce high winds and high wave action shuts the beaches down for sun bathers for days however if you like to surf try the 7-mile beach during this time (tubular dude).
We have lots of cruise ships in port from December to April which is our high season, some times 7 cruise ships are port makes the Town really congested, and the locals try to avoid the town area those days, kinda give the tourist the run of the town. My suggestion if you here when there a lot of cruise ships on Island go to the other side of the Island to Rum Point or Cayman Kai enjoy the day there, usually the cruise shippers do not come that way because of the time frame. Better yet take a plane ride to one of the other Sister Islands Little Cayman or Cayman Brac.
Just simply come and enjoy our little piece of paradise and make it yours too.
