I look forward to the Instapundit Caymans report every year, though as noted, it suffered from COVID-interruptus. These reports inspired me to go there a few times and I love it. But I am saddened by the downturn and am not sure I can convince my wife to go there any longer since she doesn’t dive. Last year we went on a small ship cruise throughout the Society Islands and atolls of French Polynesia. We loved it so much we are headed there again this October. It’s a bit of a haul from our home in Florida but completely worth it. If you decide to branch out, give it a try. The diversity and number of fish and the acre+ sized coral heads will not disappoint.
I've been to Grand Cayman several times as a cruise stop. For me, a late afternoon on 7-mile beach is one of the greatest things to experience. It is a beautiful beach and every time the weather has been perfect.
Well! A Jack O'Neill shirt! Down in Santa Cruz, we knew him pretty well for wetsuits and surfboards and even hot-air balloons. In addition to fine wearables.
When so many successful developers get that way thru corruption of the poor, local decision making politicians, it actually makes some sense to slow down development, tho that fails to reduce poverty.
If rich and/or retired Americans are buying the high rise condos, those new owner occasional occupants might well also support increased NIMBYism to reduce future development. Any place that is Nearly Perfect might well be degraded more by future development than improved.
Most places with lots of new development haven’t exactly shown elimination of poverty. Probably because much poverty is based on lifestyle choices, bad ones. Which are more available, and more often chosen, always, whenever there is “more things for visitors to do”.
We started diving in Cozumel in 1990. We went annually or more frequently after that until the cartels started using the island as a drug drop and dead bodies started appearing on Cancun beaches. The huge cruise ship terminal they installed also entirely changed the character of the island. The main sidewalks in San Miguel can't hold all the bodies. It's too bad. The diving is excellent, and the beach clubs are wonderful. We went to Grand Cayman once in the early 2000s. Good diving, great beach, really good restaurants but without the Caribbean character we enjoy. I suspect the Cayman Islands have enough inherent commerce to survive without tourism.
Didn’t the Caymans use to be well known for their discreet banking privacy laws, i.e the Switzerland of the Caribbean? Surely that’s an opportunity for non-invasive local prosperity. Not that I’m interested in tax dodging or anything like that, but what’s the environment like for those activities currently Glenn. Inquiring minds want to know.
“Perhaps next year I’ll stay for two weeks and do an in-depth report!”
Truly, a man willing to suffer for his art. 😂
I look forward to the Instapundit Caymans report every year, though as noted, it suffered from COVID-interruptus. These reports inspired me to go there a few times and I love it. But I am saddened by the downturn and am not sure I can convince my wife to go there any longer since she doesn’t dive. Last year we went on a small ship cruise throughout the Society Islands and atolls of French Polynesia. We loved it so much we are headed there again this October. It’s a bit of a haul from our home in Florida but completely worth it. If you decide to branch out, give it a try. The diversity and number of fish and the acre+ sized coral heads will not disappoint.
A well deserved vacation for you, Professor. You were certainly missed.
Cruise ships have gotten so big, I wouldn't be surprised if they need a bigger dock and deeper harbor to anchor onshore.
I've been to Grand Cayman several times as a cruise stop. For me, a late afternoon on 7-mile beach is one of the greatest things to experience. It is a beautiful beach and every time the weather has been perfect.
Well! A Jack O'Neill shirt! Down in Santa Cruz, we knew him pretty well for wetsuits and surfboards and even hot-air balloons. In addition to fine wearables.
Great notes, so nice to hear about good diving.
When so many successful developers get that way thru corruption of the poor, local decision making politicians, it actually makes some sense to slow down development, tho that fails to reduce poverty.
If rich and/or retired Americans are buying the high rise condos, those new owner occasional occupants might well also support increased NIMBYism to reduce future development. Any place that is Nearly Perfect might well be degraded more by future development than improved.
Most places with lots of new development haven’t exactly shown elimination of poverty. Probably because much poverty is based on lifestyle choices, bad ones. Which are more available, and more often chosen, always, whenever there is “more things for visitors to do”.
went there on our honeymoon in 1987....wonderful place to dive. Little Cayman is crazy good if it is not windy and you can get on Bloody Bay Wall.
We started diving in Cozumel in 1990. We went annually or more frequently after that until the cartels started using the island as a drug drop and dead bodies started appearing on Cancun beaches. The huge cruise ship terminal they installed also entirely changed the character of the island. The main sidewalks in San Miguel can't hold all the bodies. It's too bad. The diving is excellent, and the beach clubs are wonderful. We went to Grand Cayman once in the early 2000s. Good diving, great beach, really good restaurants but without the Caribbean character we enjoy. I suspect the Cayman Islands have enough inherent commerce to survive without tourism.
Didn’t the Caymans use to be well known for their discreet banking privacy laws, i.e the Switzerland of the Caribbean? Surely that’s an opportunity for non-invasive local prosperity. Not that I’m interested in tax dodging or anything like that, but what’s the environment like for those activities currently Glenn. Inquiring minds want to know.
Since the US tax treaty, they're much less anonymous.
Did you get the chance to dive the wreck of the Balboa?
I've done that in the past.
Bring me back a T Shirt.