We went to Belvedere’s lookout where both Bays are visible from a high vantage point. The girls enjoyed a short to a small babbling brook (we’d hoped was a waterfall) and we also stopped at an archaeological site where there was a platform of stones –the general stage area for rituals and scared sites in these parts. The information was in French so we can only guess! We drove all the way around the island trying to see the beauty that we had been told so frequently about. It is lovely; the lagoon looks divine, in its shades of turquoise, but the lack of easily accessible beaches for us to park ourselves on for lunch and enjoy, was disappointing. We found ourselves looking for open shops (it was Sunday) and came across Eva’s Pearls. I had seen her advert and was really happy that she was open. It is funny how things work out, but in the time we spent with her we managed to almost damage our hire car by running over a massive boulder – so Eva and I were there pushing the car while Joel was reversing with wheels spinning! I learned she too had twins, although now grown and had been in this business for 25 years and when choosing pearls to work with, hand selected them herself. Amazing to think how many would have passed under her inspection. Needless to say, it was a delight to purchase something from her and that memory will always be with us. |
Before Stu and Chante made it into Cook Bay they too were delighted to see the whales we had seen days before. Joel took the dinghy out through the pass (unfortunately the girls were napping so we all couldn't go) and got to experience the awe of swimming with the whales. The juvenile (we think) was very playful coming very close (within a few feet). Stu and Joel swam with the calf for 10 or 15 minutes, while it swam and dived and curled about. They could free dive as the calf dived or just hang back and let it come to them. Joel took one (last) free dive and noticed 2 white stripes appear in the water. It was the mother who had suddenly appeared on the surface out of nowhere. She had such presence, didn't really move and was the size of a small bus. Within an instant the hump-back whales were gone, the calf and mother diving deep into the thousands of feet of water below.
With no beach in Cook Bay we re-anchored back in d’Opunuho Bay and enjoyed a couple of days with our friends, playing on the beach, getting ice cream from the shop and dinners on board. One spectacular morning the sun shone and we all took our dinghies over to a shallow sand bar, they call Stingray City (yes, Cayman people can you believe there is more than one in the world!). However this place offered an additional thrill: sharks. Black tip reef sharks also congregate here and we were able to have both species swimming around us for at least an hour. The water was only 4 ft deep and crystal clear so whether in or out of the dinghy the animals were magnificent. Our girls enjoyed seeing the stingrays and were quite happy to point out the sharks when they were approaching. Our next goal is for them to get their heads under wearing their masks so they can see everything as clearly as we can, then they will really see them coming!
Also, another thank you for people leaving comments and emailing us – very much appreciated! Even a comment from Jonathan! If you read the blog please do leave a comment if you have time (even a brief one giving Joel stick about his beard) or pop an email. We don’t usually have internet time to write back but we do enjoy reading them! More about the other Society Islands to come soon.