Happy campers keep Easter tradition alive!

By Christopher Tobutt

Camping has been an Easter tradition in Cayman since…well, as long as anyone can remember. Ask your grandparents if you don’t believe me. This year was no different. The early birds were putting their tents up on beaches all over the island, from West Bay to East End, on Wednesday night. They had settled in the best spots by Thursday and Friday was when all the family fun started happening. Barbeques, playing ball, playing dominoes, going fishing, or going for a swim or just a splash around in the sea. It’s about having fun and getting away from all the stress of the modern world, and its also a good way to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection. He cooked fish for the disciples on the beach after he rose again, didn’t he?

Mr Todd has been camping near South Sound Dock, and loves it. “We do it every year, and my family, friends and everybody,” he said. “I like it because you get away from society, you know? Back to nature. I’ve been doing some fishing and playing games like hide and seek with the children, and playing a little music,” Kirstie, his wife said, “I’ve been camping every year since I’ve been married to this man.”

Smith Barcadere was packed with campers. Lots of them were playing dominoes. Armando Range is a great barbeque chef, and he was cooking up some great jerk chicken and jerk pork on a traditional charcoal grill, for his family and friends. It smelled really good too, but the smoke kept on getting in my eyes. “The kids are in the water right now. The family’s playing dominoes and I’m cooking so we’re all enjoying ourselves. We usually play ludo, too, but we kind of forgot the ludo board this evening,” he said.

and Charmaine had been having lots of fun, too with a tent tucked away under the sea grape trees. “Myself and my fiancé was here from Thursday night, camping. We barbeque, went fishing, played ball, swam, everything you could think of where fun is concerned. I really enjoyed myself 100 percent,” said. Charmaine agreed. ‘I really enjoy it. It has been a lot of fun. I particularly like playing ball and swimming,” she said.

Paula Scott has seen a lot of changes going camping over the years, and doesn’t like all of them, but she still has lots of fun. “This is my usual camping spot,” she said. “We’ve been having family time, cooking and get-togethers,” She said. Yvonne Evans agreed, “We had a nice little social event last night, making jokes, a little get-together with family and friends were we were all talking. Paula cooked some conch soup for them. I love coming here. She comes here every year, so I come here every year, too.