Grace Bay beach is breathtaking.......the colours.....golden sand, frothy white waves, turquoise and dark blue and the bluest of skies with a few white puff ball clouds.
Marta
Grace Bay Beach
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Shopping Turks and Caicos
Victoria is our coffee lady and she roasts coffee beans here on island.
While my sisters were visiting we did some shopping for items to take back to Canada and the UK. Our favourite and top of the list for must have is Victoria’s coffee. She roasts the beans here on island and her beautifully packaged coffee blends are available in many shops on Provo. A friend of long standing, the photo on her coffee label is one that I took years ago out at Malcolm Roads. We thought it would look great on her coffee labels and it sure does.
The green coffee beans are slow roasted to perfection for that oh so good cup of freshly brewed coffee.
Victoria and TCI Coffee Roasters is the first and only speciality coffee roaster on the island.
Tina introduces Victoria and her coffee to her wedding guests....each received a very special blend as a gift from the bride and groom.
Victoria’s coffee is found in many of Provo’s shops including FOTTAC or Flavors of the Turks and Caicos in the Regent Village on Grace Bay.
Althea Williams shows Eve the wide selection available in her store.
Fottac carries delicious Bamberra rum cakes which you can taste while shopping……samples are available and Althea’s rum punch is to die for. We could have stayed there all day just sampling all the edible items. Bamberra rum is for sale along with three different flavors of rum cake, mango jam, hot sauces and jerk rubs. Our guests over Christmas and New Year all received a gift basket containing Bamberra rum, mango jam and TCI Coffee Roaster’s coffee.
Althea shows us samples of products she carries in her store called Fottac.
My sister Eve told me today that she showed co-workers her photos of our beautiful islands while serving some Bamberra rum cake and coffee. It was a great success especially as it was freezing cold out side in Montreal today.
Here's Eve at Daniel's Cafe on Middle Caicos...... note the bottles of hot sauce and condiments.
We stopped in at Daniel’s Cafe in Middle Caicos for a late lunch…………amazing fresh fish catch of the day (Parrot fish they told us) with peas and rice. We simply raved over Marilyn’s tamarind hot sauce. I called her up the next day in order to buy some more so that my sisters could take them home.Marilyn made up sealers of delicious Tamarind pepper sauce for us.
Marilyn and a sealer of Tamarind hot pepper sauce that she made and brought into her shop for us.
Marilyn was at her store in Ports of Call on Grace Bay…..watch for her home made special sauces . You can buy some items at Gus’s also called Pay Less.
Chalice Ferguson at Mama's Gift's in Ports of Call shopping centre.
Last but not least are my good friends Chalice and her sister Mama. They have a wonderful store with souvenirs of all kinds and a friendly very happy type of service to their shoppers. I send all our guests at Harbour Club Villas to Mama’s in Ports of Call . You’ll find all kinds of gifts, T-shirts and souvenirs there.
Well, I know we enjoyed finding all these wonderful items in the stores on Grace Bay… most with an island flair.
Enjoy!!!!
Marta
Middle Caicos Part 2
Looking back towards the hidden little beach from the paved path.
We headed to the beach at Mudjin Harbour. What a spectacular stretch of pure white sand beach with big roller breakers coming in. I went straight towards Dragon Cay as the sand was pretty much exposed across to the Cay.
Looking along the beach at Mudjin Harbour towards Dragon Cay.
The natural sand causeway from the beach to Dragon Cay is exposed at low tide.
A picture perfect setting as we pose for a photo together by the rock pool.
When a friend of ours was here a few months ago the pool was about nine feet deep with fish swimming in it. Last week the water was only about four feet which means the sand is filling it in. Mother Nature has a way of surprising us as these pools appear and disappear.
I coaxed....."forced" Eve to get into the pool even though the water was quite cold. Better her than me, I say!
Beautiful view looking through underneath the overhanging rocks.
View of the tidal rock pool beside Dragon Cay on Middle.
We had a lovely day and my sisters were thrilled with their birthday present as they had always wanted to visit another of our beautiful islands. The quiet and tranquil islands of both North and Middle Caicos filled with friendly people will be remembered through these photos.
Marta
Middle Caicos Part 1
Ahhhhhh........stunning...what a heavenly piece of paradise on Middle Caicos at Mudjin Bay
As a special birthday celebration for my two sisters, Anna and Eve, we headed off to North and Middle Caicos for the day. A short ferry ride and an open jeep waiting at Sandy Point and we were off.
Our first stop was a visit to the Indian Cave on Middle Caicos
We hopped into our jeep and headed along the coastal road past the amazing aqua blue waters of Bottle Creek and across the crumbling causeway. What a sad sight to see all the rubble and rebar sticking up and it sure gives you an bird’s eye view of what a hurricane Cat 4 can do. We first went to see Indian Cave which is just past Conch Bar and is a large cavern with skylight holes through the ceiling.
The Indian Cave was once inhabited by the Lucayan Indians.
We were in awe as we took in the breathtaking view from the bluff overlooking Mudjin Harbour and Dragon Cay. One more stop before heading onto the beach where I wanted to find a beautiful rock pool a friend had told me about. I was hoping it was still there.
View from the bluff looking along the coast line towards the hidden beach.
I made Anna and Eve go down the hand chiselled steps carved into a hole that tunnelled down and opened up at this wonderful little gem of a beach.
A flight of cement stairs opened out into a hidden little beach.
Our wonderful day on Middle Caicos will be continued as we try to find the pool that was there by Dragon Cay in early December. I was sure hoping the wave action hadn’t filled it all in with sand.
It is difficult to describe the natural and awesome beauty of Middle Caicos.
Marta
Turtle Rock
Snorkeling out at Turtle Rock this afternoon was fantastic........calm waters and oh so clear.
We anchored off Turtle Rock for a lazy afternoon………..we had lunch and drinks along with some good snorkeling. This unique rock formation looks like a turtle and is part way between South Dock and Osprey Rock on the south side of Providenciales.
Unusual rock sculptures jutting up out of the water.
The water was “cold” for those of us that have been on island for so long but nonetheless, I braved the water to get some close shots of these unusual rock formations at Turtle Rock.
Barry will do anything for a beer as he "hangs" around Turtle Rock.
I had to bribe Barry with extra beers to make him pose for the camera.
Lobster for dinner as we hailed a passing fishing boat.......four nice sized lobster tails.
A nice sized grouper along with a parrot fish were caught that day.
The snorkeling was amazing through a channel between the rocks and since it was low tide, we were in three or four feet of water.
Come snorkel with us here on Providenciales and in the other islands of the Turks and Caicos.
Marta
Sapodilla Bay Afternoon
A picture perfect day on the beach at Sapodilla.
We started off by deciding to go out to Leeward Beach. We took a detour going totally in the opposite direction because Anna wanted chicken wings from Sweet T’s for lunch on the beach. I suggested since we were so far from Leeward that we head for Sapodilla Bay. I hadn’t been out there for a good two years and had forgotten how beautiful this beach is.
The tide was going out and the water had formed these ripples in the sand.
We loved the clear, shallow water and as the tide went out, the water created ridges in the powdery white sand.
Sapodilla sunshine as Anna and Eve enjoy the rippled waters.
A lone sailboat sails into Sapodilla anchorage for the night.
Put Sapodilla Bay beach on your list of places to see when you head down to the Turks and Caicos Islands. I’ll see you there now that I’ve re-discovered this gem of a beach.
Marta
The South Shore
A beautiful south shore view at the end of Turtle Tail just as the sun is setting.
The tranquil south side of Provo where Harbour Club Villas is located.
Marta
Happy New Year!
Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year.
Wishing you all the best for the New Year 2011.
Marta
Maskanoo 2010
David Bowen danced up a storm as he led the Maskanoo parade last night in Grace Bay.
Wow!! What a spectacular evening we all had as hundreds of people turned out to enjoy the sights and sounds and the fun of Maskanoo 2010. Maskanoo is a combination of Masquerade or “Massin” as it’s known in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamian Junkanoo.
Young and old came out to watch the masked revellers as they paraded and danced their way down Grace Bay Road.
Locals were out in full force dancing to the rhythms along with our island visitors as everyone joined in together to celebrate the TCI’s FIRST Maskanoo.
This Maskanoo-er had unique bottle shakers with colourful decorations.
David Bowen, the cultural director and his group of dedicated helpers and workers have put in hours to stage this event. It’s important for the younger generation to get involved as well as educated about our island’s heritage and culture. What a great way to pull everyone in together for a funfilled Maskanoo.
Happy smiles and dancing feet during last evening's Maskanoo parade.
Dancers from the We Funk group up on the stage.
The evening was full of local entertainment with dancers, bands, ripsaw, drums, arts and crafts displays, food, drinks…a great showcase of the islands’ cultural heritage.
This local youngster was part of the great entertainment.
Dancing to the beat of the drums, whistles, shakers and other instruments
Mark your calendars……….an event NOT to be missed. Next year will be bigger and with more participants. See you there.
Well done everyone. We had a super fun filled Maskanoo evening.
Marta
Merry Christmas
Christmas wishes from the Turks and Caicos Islands
Merry Christmas,
Marta