Author Archives: marta

Queen Angelfish

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The Queen Angelfish is one of the most beautiful and colourful fish found in the warm waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Queen Angelfish is one of the most beautiful and colourful fish found in the warm waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands

Such amazing colours….electric blue speckled with a bright canary yellow body, yellow tail , fins and a face that has blue highlights around the eyes and mouth. The Queen Angelfish stands out in a crowd because of all that colour but this too works perfectly so that this fish can  hide and blend in with the surrounding vibrance of the coral reefs in our area.

Queen Angelfish have a speckled, blue ringed spot that loks like a crown

Queen Angelfish have a speckled, blue ringed spot that looks like a crown

The royal title comes from this distinctive marking. It is a blue circle on the top of its head, known as the “crown” that gives this fish its name. 

This shy fish feeds on the sponges, algae and soft corals of the reef.

This shy fish feeds on the sponges, algae and soft corals of the reef.

They are quite large for reef-dwellers and can grow up to 18 inches (45 centimeters) in length. The Queen Angel has a  rounded head and small beak-like mouth. They have these long upper and lower fins that stream dramatically behind them. Although I love the Queen Angelfish best, The French Angelfish is also among the most beautiful of all the reef fishes.

The French Angelfish.....it's scales have bright yellow edges, making a vibrant pattern against its dark blue body.

The French Angelfish.....it's scales have bright yellow edges, making a vibrant pattern against its dark blue body.

A big thankyou to our Harbour Club guests Brian Gatt and Connie McEgan for their spectacular photos of the French Angelfish. I don’t dive (only snorkel) so I have to rely on others for underwater photos. The Queen Angel photos were taken by our son Mike on some of his regular visits to Provo.

The French Angelfish has a light blue face, gray/white mouth, and yellow highlights on its eyes, gill plates, and fins.

The French Angelfish has a light blue face, gray/white mouth, and yellow highlights on its eyes, gill plates, and fins.

I’m sure you’ll see these exotic fish as you snorkel at Smith’s Reef and the Bight Reef at Coral Gardens. For those that scuba dive, our coral reefs and walls are some of the best in the world. Come to the Turks and Caicos Islands for your next dive vacation and stay with us at  Harbour Club Villas. Dive boats leave our Marina every day  and if you don’t dive, snorkeling is great here too.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.diving.tc

Taylor Bay Beach and Sandbar playtime

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How lucky can she be.......a whole sandbar playground to herself!!

How lucky can she be.......a whole sandbar playground to herself!!

Lucky little munchkin……….not many can say that they had a tropical sandbar playground to themselves for the whole afternoon. A magical afternoon as the tide drifted out and exposed the sandbars at Taylor Bay.  A gentle breeze ruffled the water and wavelets lapped around the edges of the sandbar.

Forget all those other toys....she wouldn't let go of the Joy detergent bottle

Forget all those other toys....she wouldn't let go of the Joy detergent bottle

It’s amazing how babes choose the simplest of things and play with it for hours. Lil’ munchkin loved the Joy bottle Mom had brought with her and had no interest in the bucket, spade or other water toys.

The best time to go to Taylor Bay is at low tide especially if you have little kids.

The best time to go to Taylor Bay is at low tide especially if you have little kids.

Hot work all this playing and time for a cold drink.

Hot work all this playing and time for a cold drink.

A sandbar kids’ playtime with inches of warm, gentle water sparkling as the sun sinks lower in the western sky. The sand ripples can be clearly seen through the water. It doesn’t get any more perfect than this. Head out to Taylor Bay with your kids and enjoy an afternoon of fun and sunshine.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Leeward Beach

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Late afternoon .... deck chairs made for two and a gentle, pastel ocean blue

Late afternoon .... deck chairs made for two and a gentle, pastel ocean blue

One of my favourite photos taken in the late afternoon one day out at Leeward Beach. Shooting through some wispy sea oats and grasses, two empty deck chairs sit overlooking a spectacular hazy turquoise ocean. Such gentle pastel colours mixed with a brooding cloudy sky set the tone for this photo.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Frangipani blooming

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You should see my Frangipani right now........beautiful blooms and the scent is divine!

You should see my Frangipani right now........beautiful blooms and the scent is divine!

Outside our bedroom window, my Frangipani is blooming to beat the band.  A profusion of white blossoms with yellow centres.

Several commercially cultivated Frangipanis grow here bearing beautiful pink, cream or red flowers

Several commercially cultivated Frangipanis grow here bearing beautiful pink, cream or red flowers

There’s a stunning pink Frangipani out at Da Conch Shack in Blue Hills. These next photos were taken there a few years back.

Such a pretty combination of pink blossoms with yellow centres

Such a pretty combination of pink blossoms with yellow centres

The Frangipani is also known as Plumeria

The Frangipani is also known as Plumeria

Last but not least is our local Plumeria Obtusa or Frangipani which has smaller, white and highly fragrant flowers that appear in clusters at the end of the branch. Usually the frangipani grows to the hight of a small tree or shrub reaching about 4 meters.

Local Frangipani or Plumeria grows wild with beautiful clusters of white flowers

Local Frangipani or Plumeria grows wild with beautiful clusters of white flowers

We have several wild Frangipanis growing at Harbour Club Villas. They are drought resistant and have large seed pods which burst open releasing winged seeds.

Seed pod on a wild Frangipani

Seed pod on a wild Frangipani

Wild Frangipani flowers have oblong petals that are five lobed and with yellow centres

Wild Frangipani flowers have oblong petals that are five lobed and with yellow centres

Frangipanis bloom in the spring and summer and as you drive around our island be sure to look in the bush. You’ll surely sight numerous trees covered with white blooms. Be sure to stop and smell these fragrant flowers.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Rain clouds over the ocean

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And finally the rains came..............over 5 inches recorded
And finally the rains came…………..over 5 inches recorded

Today, we woke up to overcast skies and RAIN. We’ve had no rain for so long that even the local bushes and shrubs had withered up leaves. Our large mahogany tree dropped all its leaves and had just started to produce new ones. First time this has happened ever since we’ve been here. We received over 5 inches of rain and unfortunately many places were flooded.

Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sandbar at Bonefish Point

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As the tide flows out, the sandbar at Bonefish Point is in just inches of water.

As the tide flows out, the sandbar at Bonefish Point is in just inches of water.

It doesn’t get any better than this……a beautiful afternoon and the boat is anchored out off the sand bar and a beautiful beach. Time for some great photos as low tide means just inches of water over the sands of the sandbar that has been built up out at Bonefish Point.

Soft sand and cool clear water ....... that's what the Turks and Caicos is all about.

Soft sand and cool clear water ....... that's what the Turks and Caicos is all about.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Opuntia Cactus

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Beautiful yellow blooms on an Opuntia Cactus at Harbour Club Villas

Beautiful yellow blooms on an Opuntia Cactus at Harbour Club Villas

All this dry weather and no rain has been ideal for our large Opuntia Cactus also known as Prickly Pear Cactus. It is blooming to beat the band with large bright yellow flowers.

A dried Almond leaf reveals two lizard or anole eggs.

A dried Almond leaf reveals two lizard or anole eggs.

A dried almond leaf was caught up in the spikes by the flower I wanted to take a picture of.  I gently pulled it out of the way and discovered two eggs hidden inside the curled up leaf. I can’t tell whether they are anole eggs or those of the curly tailed lizard.

Close up of the centre of the Opuntia Cactus flower

Close up of the centre of the Opuntia Cactus flower

Take time out during your day to see some of the natural beauty around you!

 

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Marina Sunset

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Another one of our glorious sunsets at Harbour Club Villas. Cocktail hour or two sitting on the benches over looking the Marina.

Another one of our glorious sunsets at Harbour Club Villas. Cocktail hour or two sitting on the benches over looking the Marina.

A wonderful way to relax after a busy day. We go up on the hill and just sit enjoying the view as we watch the sun set. I sure missed this while in Miami for all those weeks.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Desert Rose

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To all you beautiful and special Moms out there.......HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
To all you beautiful and special Moms out there…….HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Wishing Moms everywhere a sun shiny day filled with love and laughter and a rose or two. Our Desert Roses here at Harbour Club Villas seem to be thriving in the dry weather we’ve had of late. They are loaded with beautiful pink and deep pink blooms.

Happy Mother’s Day!
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com