Author Archives: marta

Sailing on Provo

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Here's the Beluga moored off shore at Half Moon Bay last weekend

Here's the Beluga moored off shore at Half Moon Bay last weekend

Captain Tim Ainley and the Beluga were moored off shore at Half Moon Bay. The Beluga is a 36 foot (10.97) catamaran sailing boat,  very unique and distinctive looking and built in 1980 in Canada. It now does sailing charters out of Provo.  As I took photos I saw Capt. Tim’s trusty companion Schooner taking a swim for shore.

Schooner swims for shore...........you can just make him out. He's the black speck close to the rocl.

Schooner swims for shore...........you can just make him out. He's the black speck close to the rock.

Evidently, Schooner had had enough of being on board and wanted to cool off while the others snorkeled………….yes, apparently they sighted JoJo. How lucky can you be???

Sailing at Half Moon Bay in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Schooner takes a rest on the rocks after his long swim.

I’m not sure if you can see but there’s a speck off to the right of the Beluga and I think that’s JoJo. I zoomed in and cropped  the photo and it does look like a dolphin.

Here's a close up of the Beluga and just to the right of the person in the water is Jo-Jo.

Here's a close up of the Beluga and to the right of the person in the water almost at the edge of the photo is JoJo.

 

Schooner gets ready to swim back to the Beluga

Schooner gets ready to swim back to the Beluga

There are several sailing charters available from Providenciales so just let me know and I’ll point you in the right direction.

Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

The Bight Reef

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Wow........flat calm at the Bight Reef also known as the White House Reef.

Wow........flat calm at the Bight Reef also known as the White House Reef.

Provo has two great snorkel areas close to the shore line……….The Bight Reef or the White House Reef at Coral Gardens and Smith’s Reef just outside the entrance to Turtle Cove Marina. Usually you’ll see turtles, lots of fish such as parrot fish, angel fish, blue tangs and sometimes spotted eagle rays along with beautiful coral formations.

Look at the clarity of the water as Alexis prepares to head out snorkeling

Look at the clarity of the water as Alexis prepares to head out snorkeling

We have some of the best snorkeling ever here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Come and see us soon and enjoy snorkeling on our reefs.

Happy snorkeling,

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Half Moon Bay

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Two pelicans were on the sand bar in Leeward Channel as we motored past.

Two pelicans were on the sand bar in Leeward Channel as we motored past.

We were invited out on a friend’s boat but this time on the north side. It was the first time in quite a while and an opportunity to see the huge changes……….empty docks at Leeward Marina, Nikki Beach resort (recently closed) from the water, the remnants of Star Island and the build up of sand at Emerald Point. We were lucky to see two pelicans on the sand bar on our way through the channel and then on to Half Moon Bay.

Local boats were out in full force as the Minx pulled in and thunderclouds rolled in.

Local boats were out in full force as the Minx pulled in and thunderclouds rolled in.

Half Moon Bay is a heavenly spot with its distinctive out cropping of rocks with tall Silver Palms. It’s a favourite place to sail to for weddings and fun gatherings for locals and visitors alike. I spotted a couple of Caicos Sloops out for a sail and the Beluga anchored off the beach as they snorkeled with JoJo the dolphin. I missed seeing JoJo but some of our friends saw him. The Minx was there too and even the dogs had fun today.

Silver Palms on top of the rocks made for a great photo taken from the water.

Silver Palms on top of the rocks made for a great photo taken from the water.

As the clouds rolled in, we heard thunder and saw lightning………..rain too. The Minx and Beluga sailed off before the rain but we stayed and sure enough it cleared off a little.

It was so beautiful in this spot amongst the rocks.

It was so beautiful in this spot amongst the rocks.

This is a great spot for a barbeque, lots of swimming and snorkeling too.

This is a great place for a barbeque, lots of swimming and snorkeling too.

 

You can see why this is such a favourite beach to sail to.

You can see why this is such a favourite beach to sail to.

If you’re looking to have a wedding here in the Turks and Caicos Islands, keep this jewel of a beach in mind. There are boat charters that can sail right up to the beach for a special wedding ceremony.

 

We had such a lovely day and hope that you too will be able to enjoy Half Moon Bay and beach on your visit to Providenciales.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Blind Eye Bush

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One of the most unique looking flowers that I've seen here in the Turks and Caicos

One of the most unique looking flowers that I've seen here in the Turks and Caicos

Yesterday was a rainy and over cast day and in the late afternoon the skies cleared a little. I took my camera and headed out into the bush to see what I could find. The rains had made all the difference and wildflowers were blooming all over. I found this strange looking bush with the most unique flowers and seed pods and with an even more curious name………… Blind Eye Bush.

The creamy flower of the Blind Eye Bush has a long, elongated column that curls back up into the flower.

The creamy flower of the Blind Eye Bush has a long, elongated column that curls back up into the flower.

This bush had flowers in different stages of development along with unusual screw like seed pods a little like cones.

Here are the brown twisted seed pods.

Here are the brown twisted seed pods.

This was a shrub about 5 foot tall and it grows throughout the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands in coastal and marshy areas. The leaves are in an elongated  heart shape often with jagged edges. The reproductive parts of the flowers are at the end of the elongated column.

The long column coming from the centre of the flower, carries the reproductive parts.

The long column coming from the centre of the flower, carries the reproductive parts.

I must say that this Blind Eye Bush is one of the most unusual plants I’ve seen. I also saw some beautiful flowering vines…..Jaquemontia, Cynanchum, Wild Alamanda, Milk Pea and Urechites or Devil’s Potato along with Jamaican Trash, Jack Switch, Mosquito Bush, Wild Senna and I also managed to get some close up photos of a Gulf Fritillary butterfly.

Blind Eye Bush with it's showy flowers.

Blind Eye Bush with it's showy flowers.

How lucky we are to be surrounded with all this natural beauty. Everywhere I go there’s a photo just waiting to be taken or in my case, hundreds of  potential shots!

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Land Crab

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Barry found this night visitor down by one of our villas

Barry found this night visitor down by one of our villas

As Barry was making the rounds this evening, he heard a loud noise and couldn’t imagine what it could be until he spotted this huge land crab.

This one was super aggressive as he waved his formidable claw at the camera

This one was super aggressive as he waved his formidable claw at the camera

Barry yelled at me to bring my camera…………I was in the shower and didn’t even have time to rinse off.

Close up of one impressively lethal looking claw.

Close up of one impressively lethal looking claw.

It moved really fast and we were nervous about getting too close but of course, the photo opportunity was too hard to pass up.

This Land Crab brings up his massive claw ready to attack.

This Land Crab brings up his massive claw ready to attack.

We quite often see these large crabs here at Harbour Club Villas. This one gave me lots of great photos for my collection.

 

Hope you enjoy seeing them!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Taylor Bay beach afternoon

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Here we are once again floating around at Taylor Bay........those noodles are quite the invention.

Here we are once again floating around at Taylor Bay........those noodles are quite the invention.

We got a little later start than usual today and it was just perfect. The water was calm and made for a smooth ride as we pulled into Taylor Bay. The baby just loves being in the water here as it’s so warm. We introduced her to the soft sand and she just couldn’t get enough!
Sand and more sand everywhere as munchkin plays at the water's edge.

Sand and more sand everywhere as munchkin plays at the water's edge.

The sand was so soft that she just couldn’t get enough of it and as you can see, it almost covered all of her. So much sand all over and then it was time to rinse off and cool off in the late afternoon.

Rinsing off all that sand.

Rinsing off all that sand.

 

Yes, this was the last beer as the sun started getting lower in the sky.

Yes, this was the last beer as the sun started getting lower in the sky.

 

We were treated to a spectacular sunset off Osprey Rock in the distance.
We were treated to a spectacular sunset off Osprey Rock in the distance.

Time to get onboard and head for home before dusk. We just made it in time, pulling into Harbour Club Marina just as it was getting quite dark.

Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Tiny shells

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A south side beach offers thousands of tiny little shells lying on the sand in a large pile.

A south side beach offers thousands of tiny little shells lying on the sand in a large pile.

A beach walk on one of the south side beaches and a beautiful discovery………….thousands of tiny shells deposited in a large pile on the sand by the ocean. 

Here's a closeup of the shells that were different colours and shapes and sizes.

Here's a closeup of the shells that were different colours and shapes and sizes.

Loads of shells washed up in a large pile on the beach.

Loads of shells washed up in a large pile on the beach.

 

Happy shelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Leeward Beach

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Early afternoon and the unbelieveable turquoise colours of our waters fringed with white, lacey sea foam.

Early afternoon and the unbelieveable turquoise colours of our waters fringed with white, lacey sea foam.

I simply love Leeward beach. It is always a postcard of stunning shades of blue and turquoise and always makes for a picture perfect photo. You’ll never be disappointed as the colours are breathtaking, always vivid and contrasting with the white powdery sand and sea foam.

 

Visit the beaches at Leeward on your next vacation to Providenciales.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sword Bush

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I found many beautiful flowering Sword Bush shrubs all over the property at Harbour Club Villas

I found many beautiful flowering Sword Bush shrubs all over the property at Harbour Club Villas

This is an amazing looking shrub when you get up close to it. The leaf like branches are elongated and flattened but what’s interesting is that there are ridges or toothed areas along the leafs edge. From these toothed areas, minute little clusters of flowers appear.

Toothed ridges burst out in clusters of red miniature flowers

Toothed ridges burst out in clusters of red miniature flowers

The Sword Bush is fairly common in our area and I found both pink and red clustered flowers as I wandered around the bush here at the villas.

This Sword Bush was loaded with clusters of pink flowers.

This Sword Bush was loaded with clusters of pink flowers.

The bright red flowers make for quite a showy sight on this Sword Bush.

The bright red flowers make for quite a showy sight on this Sword Bush.

 In bush medicine, the Sword Bush can be used for coughs and colds………….I’m not quite brave enough to try this but I am fighting through a sore throat, cough and cold as I write this! The leaf like branches can be chewed and then spat out. The bitter tasting leaves can be boiled into a pretty bad tasting tea which supposedly stops vomiting.

The flowers develop into seeds and it really does look quite spectacular

The flowers develop into seeds and it really does look quite spectacular

I’ll let you know if I do decide to chew on some leaves.
Oct 3………..I did chew on some leaves for a couple of days. They were very bitter but I can’t tell you honestly if my cold got better because of this or because it had run its cycle.  Next time though, I’ll try chewing on the leaves right away!
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com