TBT: Breezes By the Bay

It’s not often that a person gets to go back to their throw back, but that’s exactly where I found myself a few weeks ago; back at Breezes. Not for work (thank goodness!), but for a cheap happy hour. Breezes was my first job in Grand Cayman back in 2008, and it was horrible place to work but it did have the best Conch chowder I’d ever had!

Breezes By the Bay at Sunset

Caymans white Conch Chowder

As the sun set over Hog Sty Bay, we sat on the balcony at Breezes and the two for five dollar happy hour specials quickly began to get the best of me. Before I knew it I was talking to the chef asking him to specialize my order just the way I liked it (oddly enough he remembered me really well and was happy to accommodate).

Denise, whom I had worked with six years ago, still worked there and was talking to me in the kitchen. I told her how I had run into her sister, Natalie, who had immediately told me how much weight I had gained. I think it’s a Jamaican thing to be honest. Thats when my old manager, Steven walked up. When I worked at Breezes he had made my life miserable. I remember him sending me home because I forgot my wine opener (that I never used once while working there!). I remember him sending Alyssa home because she didn’t have on her Mardi Gras beads. Worst of all, I remember him yelling, oh god the yelling!

In my intoxicated state I blurted out, “Denise and I were just talking about getting old and fat. Apparently its a thing, huh Steven?” He laughed it off, but I couldn’t stop. “They still have you here? I can’t believe you haven’t run this place into the ground!” Little did I know, Breezes had plans to close just a few weeks later. That’s when the nostalgia began to kick in. The funny smelling bar started to bring back memories of hanging out after work with friends, making fun of the cruise ship passengers that thought they were in Mexico, and talking each other through break ups. Yes it was a really crap job, but the friends I made during those six months of employment are still some of the best friends I’ve ever had! That place brought me to Cayman, and Cayman brought me to Nick.

Days off at 7 Mile Beach

Some of my favorite girls in the world!

After today, Breezes by the Bay will be closing its doors forever. It’s really not surprising considering the high prices and low quality of customer service, but I will always be thankful for everything it gave me.

Mark back in the good ol’ days

Clarks Mango Mojito made it until the end!

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m going to miss you Breezes. And thanks for the job even though I was just passing through.

One of the few that stayed to see Breezes close its doors!

Breezes By the Bay RIP

Throwback Thursday: An Ecuadorian Thanksgiving

This time last year I was celebrating American Thanksgiving in Salasaka, Ecuador. I had volunteer at a school called Escuela Katitawa teaching children in an indigenous community. Around Thanksgiving we had about ten volunteers that all lived in a big dirty house they called PachaMama. There was only one other American in the house, but somehow the American holiday became something we all decided to celebrate. As many of you know, I don’t usually strive to celebrate American holidays when I’m abroad.

The volunteers were allowed to cook their own meals, which was great because we were able to plan our Thanksgiving dinner. I don’t know how to sugar coat it so here’s the truth, Thanksgiving was a disaster. We had two vegetarians, and thus it was decided that every single meal would be vegetarian including our feast. I was thinking that it would still be OK, until we discovered that our normal Thanksgiving dishes were nowhere to be found in Ecuador. I would have killed for sweet potatoes!

Dinner turned out to be simple with boiled veggies and mash potatoes, and a very confused couple from South Korea. In the spirit of Thanksgiving I suggested everyone name what they are thankful for, and they just smiled and nodded. I felt bad that no one seemed to welcome them because of the language barrier. I would have been okay with our misfit holiday and added it to my list of  cultural experiences, if our living situation wasn’t such a nightmare.

Escuela Katitiawa had sounded great when I was researching volunteering in South America and found that it only cost $10 US a week. What a deal! Most agencies just want your money, but I thought “this place must for real!” Well, you get what you pay for. The house was by far the dirtiest place I have ever lived in my life. There was mould, dirt, bugs, broken windows, and mice that invaded our kitchen. The leader at the school even told us how he once found a dead mouse in the oatmeal that they serve every morning and just scooped it out and used the rest of it. To make matters worse the showers were ridiculously cold, and dogs barked and chased us on the walk to school. Next time I will definitely choose a more reliable volunteer opportunity, and give thanks that I don’t have to return there.

Photo captured 2013

The kids were the BEST part about volunteering!

This year, I am happy to be celebrating the holiday with my wonderful adopted family in Texas! A beautiful, normal, Thanksgiving is something I am very thankful for today!

Thanks for the meal Salasaka, but I’m passing through Texas this year!

Throwback: Finding Corby

We have left Gossip Island and the kitties could not be happier! We are going to miss them, but they seem to love the forest island. This has me thinking about the interesting situation that led us to adopting Corby.

But Friday night, birthday party, and a bar over the ocean! Sounds like the kind of night that will ending cuddling a small kitten eh?

His first night at home, we made him a bed out of a cereal box and an old shirt

It was the night of September 17, 2011, and the birthday party was for our good friend Nico. The plan was to hang out at our awesome apartment before heading to the bar to meet up with friends. Our place was, well… small and plain. It was also cheap, three blocks from the waterfront, and a ten minute walk into town. That night we began walking to the bar just before midnight, but as we approached the waterfront we heard a strange sound. Is some strange bird dying? Wait, what is that dog messing with? We chased the dog away to find a tiny brown kitten. I didn’t even blink as my cat saving instinct set in! I scooped up the baby and insisted on carrying it home immediately. I cupped it’s tiny body in my hands, and brought him home for the first time. Our neighbor Femke was still up and gave us some food for the little baby. He was scared, tired, and undeniably adorable.

Baby Corby with Tio Nico

We had been consuming adult beverages when the subject of naming the kitten came up. “It’s just for fun. It’s not like we are going to keep him!” Corbin..no, Corby! -because the name sounded cool (The next day Nick reminded me that Corby was a hotel guest I’d met the day before), Braveheart–because he was so brave against the scary doggie, Rico-in honor of Nico’s birthday since we didn’t celebrate, Zipper-because its cute and he’s cute And that’s how our cat got his name:                                     Corby Braveheart Rico VonZipper Beasley Curtis.           (The Von just sound right for a Dutch Island). I knew we couldn’t keep him. I have an insatiable need for travel, and I’d heard cats aren’t much into that. The next day I went knocking on doors to find the owner, because maybe the kitten had accidently gotten away? And maybe the owners were looking for him! The first door I knock on was answered by an elderly Dutch man. I inquired about the kitten and he responded “I heard that cat when I was going to bed around eight, but I didn’t go see it.” I was stunned! How can anyone hear a poor innocent animal calling out for help and ignore it?

Baby Corby

We decided to keep him for just a few days. Thats always how it starts right? We grew fond of him while he took naps on our laps, and stole bits of sausage from our dinner plates. I met a couple of medical students on day four that wanted a cat, and I sadly said goodbye to Corby. I came home the next day to Femke holding the kitten saying they brought it back because their landlord said no. The cat came back the very next day! We took it as a sign. The next year we adopted a sister for him and named her Dushi, which in Papiamentu, the local language of Bonaire, means sweetie. Thanks for the pets Bonaire, but we were just passing through!

Family Christmas photo 2011

Have you ever kept an animal that you rescued yourself? Does it make you feel closer to the animal?

Corby growing up

Corby and his best friends: the girls next door