Day 2: Castaway Cay, Bahamas

Here we go, day two. It was an absolutely gorgeous, hot, and steamy day on Castaway Cay. FYI, that last sentence did not rhyme, because "Cay" is pronounced "key" as in "Key West." Crazy Caribbeans and their English, I tell ya.

What is Castaway Cay? You can read about it at wikipedia, but I'll explain a little. It's Disney's own private island, a 1,000 acre plot west of Great Abaco Island. It's beee-aaauuu-tiful. I wish I could visit more often. They need to put condos or villas there or something. I know I'd go! Castaway Cay has many activities, such as jet skis, para-sailing, banana boat rides, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, sun bathing, biking, hiking, and of course eating and drinking (this is a cruise after all!).

There are some less active activities (can you use the root word active twice in a row?) such as a cabana massage on the beach. I'm sure it's very therapeutic laying down getting all your knots untangled with the sound of the waves crashing on the shore, the wind through the palm trees...

Oh where was I! It was very warm, but not too hot, upper 80s or lower 90s. It was great weather for the beach, the shade, the hammock, or BBQ!

We spent some time on the island, but didn't have any excursions booked ahead of time. I enjoyed some time on the beach, food (of course), and my new passion, photography! I found some beautiful flora. In this shot, the flowers on the right are African tulips. I'm not sure of the ones on the left, but they are beautiful too.

Another attraction that Disney added is the Flying Dutchman ship from Pirates of the Carribean. I got a decent shot of it as well. We got a visit from Captain Jack Sparrow, although I neglected to take my picture with him this time.

Dinner this night was good. It always was. Here's the menu:

Appetizers:
Tostada Vera Cruz, Braised Eggplant, Green Olives and Cilantro, chilled on Basil Tomato Loaf
Smokey Chicken, Vegetables and Cheddar Cheese Fritters with Smoked Salt and Pomegranate Barbecue Sauce
Baked Crab Martinique, Jumbo Lump Crab baked in a Creamy Cheese Sauce
Island Jerk Tuna and Conch Ceviche, Marinated in a Yuzu, Soy and Ginger Dressing and served with Fragrant Shitake Mushrooms (or fungus for you, Devon)

Soups and Salads:
Cold Cream of Mango and Papaya flavored with Passion Fruit
Cream of Sweet Onion Soup with a Cheese and Calamata Olive Crouton
Parrot Cay Salad, Lettuce with Tomato Dressing
West Indies Caesar Salad with Spice Dusted Croutons and Parmesan Shavings
Tropical-style Fruit Salad, drizzled with Honey-Lime Syrup

Main Course:
Island Roasted Rib-Eye of Beef, Island Spiced Rub, carved to order and served with Double-baked Potato and Green Beans
Mixed Grill, Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Lamb Chop, Bacon-wrapped Sausage and Jumbo Shrimp with a Cabernet Mushroom Sauce
Pan-Seared Grouper with Baby Shrimp Lemon Butter on Olive Oil Potato and Cauliflower Puree with Grilled Zucchini
Caribbean Roast Chicken, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Corn Kernels and Spinach with a Spice Glaze
Barbecued Pork Tenderloin with Prickly Pear Glaze, Caramelized Pork Tenderloin, Carved to order, served on Commeal Cake, Mango and Papaya Coleslaw with Spiced Kale

I missed the dessert menu... but I bet it was goooood. :o)

Happy Mothers' Day!