Tyana M.

Walton

International College of the Cayman Islands

Instructor: Melissa Hamilton

Reflection # 5 – Island Tour

Seminar on Cayman Islands (SO 430)

19 May 2018
The overall experience of the all-island tour was awesome. There were many stops made

including Pedro St. James, Botanic Park, Crystal Caves and Cayman Segway Tours.

Pedro St. James also known as Pedro Castle was built using slave labor in the year

1780 by a wealthy Englishman called Mr. William Eden as per our tour guide Mr. Stacy Eden

Hurlstone. I’ve learned from Mr. Stacy that Pedro Castle was a grand home for the Eden’s

family. It was also a courthouse, a government, and a restaurant before the local Cayman

Islands Government purchased the land in 1996 and restored the house back to its original

18th-century state. Furthermore, Mr. Stacy also mentioned that Pedro Castle is also the

birthplace of Democracy for the Cayman people.

Our next stop was Queen Elizabeth II, Botanic Park. There we were greeted by a very

knowledgeable tour guide who has been there with the park for 18 years. His name is Mr. Hal

Miller. Mr. Miller spoke to the different type of trees that are indigenous to the Cayman

Islands such as the ironwood tree that was used for stilts because the tree was termite resistant

and there was also the fiddlewood and whitewood trees. Mr. Miller went ton to say that the

Banana Orchid is the Cayman Islands National flower and only blooms in June.

One interesting observation made at the park was that the kitchen and houses back in

those days were built and kept separately. Per Mr. Miller, this was done to prevent the house

from burning down if the kitchen caught on fire. Mr. Miller displayed a sound knowledge of

the Cayman Islands flora and fauna and their uses. Also, he expressed his love for farming

and showed the group how to plant cassava.

Our next stop was the Crystal Caves. There we saw many stalagmites and stalactite

crystal structures. I also saw images through my camera of a skull and he wreck of the ten

sails when taking pictures as suggested by our tour guide Mr. Rudy. While seeking all those
beautiful sites we also came across the beautiful lagoon in which the tour guide provided an

exciting light show. The highlight of the tour was the lovely lunch provided by Ms. Liosy.

Lastly, the other remaining stops were the Cayman Segway Tours and visiting the old

time Caymanian homes on BOGGY Sand Road in West Bay.

The overall experience was wonderful. I really enjoyed it and learned a great deal.

Many thanks to my Lecturer for co-ordinating such an amazing experience for myself along

with my classmates.
 References

Cayman Crystal Caves. Retrieved from: https://www.caymancrystalcaves.com/

Cayman Segway Tours. Retrieved from: https://www.caymansegwaytours.com/

Mrs. Janet Holness, PRIDE, Department of Tourism

Pedro St James. Retrieved from: http://pedrostjames.ky/

Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. Retrieved from: http://www.botanic-park.ky/