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CAYMAN ISLANDS
Capital | George Town
FLAG DESCRIPTION: a blue field, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a crest with a pineapple, representing the connection with Jamaica, and a turtle, representing Cayman's seafaring tradition, above a shield bearing a golden lion, symbolizing Great Britain, below which are three green stars (representing the three islands) surmounting white and blue wavy lines representing the sea and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
Population | 50,209
Area | 262 SQ KM
Official Language | English
Holidays | Constitution Day, first Monday in July
Currency | Caymanian dollars (KYD)
Time Zone | UTC -5
Best Time to Visit | June to October to avoid peak season
Connecting with the Culture | Diving famous spots such as the Bloody Bay Wall and Jackson Point on the northwestern coast of Little Cayman. Strolling through the mile-long trail that winds through the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park – lush terrain, orchids, iguanas and parrots. Treasure-hunting in Cayman Brac – spelunkers can go caving along the northern shore, where legend has it pirates used to stow their treasures. Spending time walking through Mastic Trail – the old growth forest that once supplied early settlers with timber.
Read | The Cayman Islands: The Beach and Beyond by Martha K. Smith – excellent for those who think that living on the beach is boring.
Listen | to West Indian soca, calypso and reggae
Eat | Fish and seafood are the main ingredients for any Cayman dish; the most popular are Tuna, turtle, Snapper, mackerel and dolphin which are usually prepared with tomato, onion and peppers. Cayman Islands are considered to be the homeland of the Conch and Strombus Gigas, a type of Conch, has been the staple dish for ages. Conch is served marinated, in salads, in creamy chowders or in stews. People from Cayman Islands enjoy spicy dishes; a popular spicy sauce in Cayman Islands is chili sauce made of tomatoes, onions, vinigar and peppers. The cuisine has both Jamaican and British influence given that the Cayman Islands were colonized by both Jamaica and the UK at one time.
Drink | a cold beer or sip on a gin and tonic
In a Word | Brac (actually a Greek word meaning bluff)
Characteristics | shipwrecks; pirate history; resorts; snorkeling and lots of diving.
Surprises | The Booby Pond Nature Reserve is home to one of the hemisphere’s largest breeding populations of the red-footed boobies (sea birds). Cayman Turtle Farm is the only one of its kind in the world. The government-run operation raises green turtles to increase population in the wild and sell their meat and shells.
