50 Chitchen Itza - Grand Cayman

5. May 2007

Although I spend a good deal of yesterday afternoon exploring the ruins of Chithen Itza, I went back this morning as I realized that I had missed part of the large area. At about 11 I checked out of the hotel.

I asked the reception to get me a taxi to Chithen Itza airport – but they did not seem to believe, that the airport existed?  When the taxi arrived, the driver did not know of it either.

But there is an airport by that name about 15 km from the ruins. It was built only a few years ago, but it is hardly used at all. When I got to the airport, I found a guy, who had to unlock a padlocked door to the terminal, so I could get to the plane.

I flew VFR to Cancun. I had to do 2 left hand orbits due to traffic, before I joined the right down wind to runway 12 for landing. The only reason for me to land in Cancun again was because it is an international airport, and that I have to leave the country by such an airport in order to clear emigration etc.

After about an hour, the formalities were done, and an IFR flight plan filed to go to Cayman Islands.

I had from originally planned to fly to Havana in Cuba, but I have had no reply to my application to go there?  So it is handy, that I can fly to Cayman without prior permission.

I was routed via Cozumel, but shortly after departure, I was given a shortcut. Again I climbed to 11.000 feet, and I enjoyed very good weather all the way. Out of Roberts International Airport I was lined up for the visual approach using the Goran2 arrival.

On the ground, I walked on my own to the emigration office, and the formalities here were done with in half an hour. Leaving the GA terminal I walked to the main terminal to hire a car.

In the Caymans you drive on the left side of the road, and to add to the challenge the hire car also had the steering wheel on the left side. Rather unusual!

But I made it safely to a hotel situated along the Seven Mile Beach.