Help Make This Dream Come True - Click Here
For The Theme Park Proposal
|
|
   Caribbean Weekly Hot Shot submitted by viewers like you:  Send us your favorite Caribbean picture with a brief description (Please, no copyright protected material - THANK YOU! INSTRUCTIONS: Click Send Picture, then click attach (file) on your email program, locate picture file on your computer, attach picture file, insert description, & press send on your email program.) |
Columbus called the islands Las Tortugas after the large numbers of turtles around the Caymans. Turtles provide an excellent source of food for sailors because they could be kept aboard ship alive on their back. So why are not the islands named Las Tortugas instead of Las Caymanas? In Carib, Caymanas is the name for the saltwater crocodiles that were plentiful around the islands. And like the turtles, the sex of the crocodiles is determined by the temperature of the nest. The warmer weather season at the beginning of the year means more females are hatched while cooler weather latter in the year is a more favorable condition for baby male crocodiles. In any event, you better watch your step if you venture beyond the village boundaries and don't even think to approach the water! Gotcha!
A large portion of the Cayman population were either merchant sailors, fishermen, or turtle catchers. Many went on to be renowned sailors and others either to crew or captain vessels all over the world for the big shipping companies. Ask our Caymanian about some adventurous tales concerning pirates like Sir Francis Drake and other seafaring stories. According to local historians, how Britain's Cromwell's Army ended up in the Cayman Islands, a British dependent state, partially explains the islands racial hodgepodge.
Click Caymans Islands to learn more. |
|
You can email comments to the webmaster at webmaster@caribbeantown.com. Copyright © 1999 - 2002 Caribbean Town. All rights reserved. Visit us at www.caribbeantown.com Revised: November 11, 2006, Site Map, Search |
As
at any true fishing village, maritime history prevails among the locals. Our
easygoing Caymanian will tell you all about his schooner and many other things
dating back to the 1780's when the Caymanians were well on their way to becoming
master boat builders of the Caribbean. Such craftsmanship is an offshoot of
their British maritime culture and old seafaring tradition. The English too were
surrounded by water. And for your gratification, we encircle your with numerous
maritime historians, all British, because how else did anyone get to these
islands if not by boat, canoe, ship, or schooner. And for the British sailors
gratification, they had as late as the 1970's, a daily measure of rum which
continued a tradition dating from the eighteen century.
And
may we suggest other ways to learn about the Cayman islands? That is, do not
forget to learn about the Cayman's red footed boobies (a seabird) explained at
the Caribbean Carnival Extravaganza. Better yet, how about visiting more of fine
feathered friends such as the Caymanian parrot and macaw at the Trinidadian
village aviary. There, we certainly uphold the motto "That life is for the
birds." Moreover, go to the Ports of Call Marketplace and experience
Caribbean banking at its finest. The Caymans with their over five hundred banks
is known as the fifth largest offshore banking capital in the world. The bank
has a fantastic historical display of notes and coins including gold bullion
from different islands and periods. Learn some cotemporary financial tidbits of
the rich and shameless, oopps, famous. Visit next door and see some wonderful
straw craft in the making and coral art work. Lastly, divers from all over the
world know that the Cayman islands are one of worlds best diving locations, so
visit the Aquarium of the Caribbean. Discover what lies under the waves or face
it first hand at the ocean activity center. It certainly is better than
venturing in the water at this village with so many crocodiles present,
remember, Caymans stands for Crocodile in Carib.