Grand Cayman
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman.
For the first time in my flying career I picked up a layover in Grand Cayman, one of the Cayman Islands.
Randomly before I went I saw a friend post on Insta that he was down on vacation there so we made plans to try and meet up once I got down there even though my layover was somewhat short.
After landing in Grand Cayman we realized us flight attendants were staying at the same hotel as the pilots which is always a sign the place will be nice. We usually stay separate and their hotels are always nicer so whenever we end up at the same place you know you’re in for a treat.
The hotel sat right on the Seven Mile Beach. Not that I knew squat about any of the Caymans but I guess if you go that’s where you’ve got to be.
After getting drinks with my crew whilst hearing stories of crazy coworkers and avoiding conversation with the pilots who flew down with us I parted with my crew since I had friends to meet.
I walked to dinner about twenty minutes away at Mizu, and felt completely safe walking alone (it was around 7). There were plenty of other people, mostly tourists, out doing the same walking to and from dinner. Dinner was good enough but the real fun started after when we went to the beachfront bar.
Unknown to us this particular night the bar was hosting a fashion show for Carnival. My knowledge of Grand Cayman, which was and still is scarce, didn’t include the fact that they celebrate Carnival.
Drinking at a huge outdoor bar that sat right on the beach (and had a shocking amount of handsome young men, not to mention on an island) would’ve been cool enough but DAMN the fashion show livened the whole place up even more with hyped music and crazy feathered costumes.
I’ve seen pictures of Carnival and know a few people who have gone in Brazil but never have I gotten to experience it myself besides through FOMO.
The icing on the cake of the experience was catching my straight male friend making goggly eyes at the girls walking across the stage in nothing but feather and sequins.
The plan pre-meeting my friends was to be back at my hotel by 10pm. Seeing as that the show started around then that didn’t happen. Without a doubt it was worth being a little worn out the next day at work.
I get to go to cool places on the airlines dime often enough that I don’t always find places that I’d spend my own money or free time traveling to, especially if it’s somewhere I’ve been. Grand Cayman however would be a destination I’d pick to spend my limited funds and time getting back to.
Early morning at the airport.
If you want to see a highlight from my Grand Cayman adventure click here!