It was a graduation gift from my parents. Ten days in the Cayman Islands with my best friend and his older brother. For the two of them, it was an annual event. For me, it was another Caribbean island to be explored. Yet for all three of us, it was the first trip of this kind without parents.
Looking forward to the Cayman climate, I stepped off the plane ashamed to feel a degree of humidity greater than that of Baltimore. The heat was intense as the bright sun beamed on me from the cloudless sky. After making my way through the small airport, I was surprised to find myself hopping into the driver's seat of the taxi cab. How could I forget? The Cayman Islands are British Protectorates; everything is on the left side. The island of Grand Cayman was not too striking at first. It was not until I saw the beach that I found the true natural beauty of the island. The pure white sand, the crystal clear blue water. I had been to many beaches in my life, but never one like this. Upon entering the warm ocean, I was surprised to see fish swimming around my ankles below.
Since walking was a limited method of transportation, I decided to borrow a bike from the resort I was staying at. I grabbed my camera, hopped on the bike, and headed down the main road, hoping it would lead me to my destination, Georgetown. Georgetown, the largest city and capital of the Cayman Islands was a busy metropolitan area, full of tourists and native Caymanians. The architecture of the city was composed of a motley of vibrant colors. The streets were lined with tour guides, souvenir and jewelry shops, and various street vendors. With a big camera around my neck, it was very evident that I was a tourist as well. While exploring the outer limits of the city, it became clear that I was not welcome. My travels for the day were over. I hopped on my bike and headed back to the resort.
On Sept. 7, 2004, Grand Cayman was hit by Hurricane Ivan at category five intensity. The island was torn apart. There were approximately 200 casualties. 99 percent of the structures on the island were damaged in some way, complete electricity is estimated to be back by December, and many were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Most of the images on this page can no longer be seen. Looking back on my trip, I feel very lucky to have had this experience before the island was completely destroyed.
