Author Archives: marta

Conch World

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View of the Subsea Pasture where the conch grow from about 6 cm to adult conch

View of the Subsea Pasture where the conch grow from about 6 cm to adult conch

Today we headed out to see the Conch Farm…….the only one of its kind in the world. I’d heard that they had suffered quite some damage from Hurricanes Hanna and Ike. I have been through the farm several times over the years and today was an  opportunity to go again. The old dock was gone and lots of damage sustained by Ike’s 140 mph winds as well as an 8 foot storm surge during Hanna.

Here's our friendly and informative guide Danver who told us everything you ever wanted to know about conch and more!

Here's our friendly and informative guide Danver who told us everything you ever wanted to know about conch and more!

Provo Conch World has been in existence since 1984 with 12 million dollars invested to develop conch farming to the commercial scale it operates at today. Currently they have about 500,000 conch!

On shore nursery ponds containing small conch from 2 to 6 cm

On shore nursery ponds containing small conch from 2 to 6 cm

Baby conchs grow in these nursery ponds for about a year until ready to be put out in the sub-sea pasture

Baby conchs grow in these nursery ponds for about a year until ready to be put out in the sub-sea pasture

I have lots more photos and will continue tomorrow
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Turtles

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My tucked away little beach found by a few lucky visitors

My tucked away little beach found by a few lucky visitors

Late yesterday afternoon, we went down to a lovely beach not far from Harbour Club Villas. We were there with only one other couple…………..they must have been honeymooners as they had carved a heart in the sand.

Honeymooners leave a heart with their names and footprints in the sand

Honeymooners leave a heart with their names and footprints in the sand

There was great excitement as Marilyn saw something in the water…………I knew immediately that the turtles were out! Previous guests at our villas had sighted dozens….yes dozens of turtles here. I had even taken a trip out to see for myself but hadn’t sighted any. There was at least three turtles this time and their heads popped up over and over again as we sat enthralled watching them. I waded out into the water and managed to get these photos of them.
I managed to catch this photo of one of the turtles as I waited patiently in the water for them to come up for air.

I managed to catch this photo of one of the turtles as I waited patiently in the water for them to come up for air.

Another turtle pops his head up, saw me and went back under.

Another turtle pops his head up, saw me and went back under.

There has been numerous sightings of turtles here at this beach during the last month. I’m not sure why there would be so many of them and in the shallow waters of the south side of Provo close by our villas. I’ve mentioned it to a few people but no one seems to know.
I love seeing turtles and hope you do too on your next trip to our “beautiful by nature” Turks and Caicos Islands
Marta
http://www.diving.tc

Blue Hills

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I love Blue Hills and these colourful kiosks right on the water.

I love Blue Hills and these colourful kiosks right on the water.

Friends from Banff arrived yesterday and today I took them into my favourite area of Blue Hills. We stopped for a drink at Sailing Paradise which is located in these brightly coloured kiosks on the water. What a feast for the eyes……….colours of pink, aqua, blue and orange plus the sunshine cutouts with a turquoise ocean backdrop.
Great deck overlooking the water out at Blue Hills.

Great deck overlooking the water out at Blue Hills.

Visit Precious Barber Shop or stop for a bite to eat at Sailing Paradise in Blue Hills

Visit Precious Barber Shop or stop for a bite to eat at Sailing Paradise in Blue Hills

Spring Storm at sea

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A spring storm out over the banks creates unbelievable colours as we watched from the Marina at Harbour Club

A spring storm out over the banks creates unbelievable colours as we watched from the Marina at Harbour Club

The days of late have been unsettled with sporadic showers. I glanced out to sea from our villas at Harbour Club and saw a vivid streak of turquoise. I rushed to get my camera and went up to our look out on the hill overlooking our marina. Wow, what a sight…………. storm clouds were gathering out at sea and had turned the waters of Discovery Bay into the most glorious turquoise, green and aqua colours.

Fisherman Stanley's boat out in the Marina Channel at Harbour Club Villas

Fisherman Stanley's boat out in the Marina Channel at Harbour Club Villas

The colours of the ocean today were breathtaking as we watched the storm move over the water.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Conch Shell

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These two young local boys in Blue Hills were showing off a beautiful conch shell that they wanted to sell.

These two young local boys in Blue Hills were showing off a beautiful conch shell that they wanted to sell.

Blue Hills is another of my favourite areas where there’s always something great to photograph. These guys were on the beach by Da Conch Shack selling conch shells that they had cleaned.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sapodilla

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Sapodilla fruit and flowers locally known as the "dilly" tree

Sapodilla fruit and flowers locally known as the "dilly" tree

I just thought you might like to know what a Sapodilla is…………this tropical tree is called a “dilly” locally and grows here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.  The fruits are favoured by our island iguanas and the taste is sweet and pleasant, ranging from a pear flavor to crunchy brown sugar.

The flowers of the Sapodilla are quite beautiful and I hadn't noticed this until I went out to take photos.

The flowers of the Sapodilla are quite beautiful and I hadn't noticed this until I went out to take photos.

The bark of the Sapodilla tree produces Chicle which is a latex that has been used for many years as a chewing gum base .
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sapodilla rock carvings #2

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View of boats at anchor at Sapodilla Bay from the top of the hill

View of boats at anchor at Sapodilla Bay from the top of the hill

A great view point to watch the sun go down and look for the Green Flash…………the top of the hill has scattered rock carvings with names and dates. They say these carvings were left by sailors on watch.

This carving bears the name S Thompson and shows the Masonic symbol

This carving bears the name S Thompson 1874 and shows the Masonic symbol

This is quite an elaborate carving with Palestine at the top and the name R N Bacon and dated

This is quite an elaborate carving with Palestine at the top and the name R N Bacon.

Inscription dated 1812 and 1821

Inscription dated 1812 and 1821

This one's from 1832

This one's from 1832

Here's what Sapodilla Bay looks llike from where the carvings are

Here's what Sapodilla Bay looks like from where the carvings are

Be sure to visit Sapodilla Hill to see these carvings and enjoy the view when you visit us on Providenciales.

See you up there!
Cheers,
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sapodilla Hill Rock Carvings

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Here's the trail leading up Signal Hill to where the carvings are found

Here's the trail leading up Signal Hill to where the carvings are found

On the way out to South Dock and just past the Chalk Sound turn off, you’ll find a rough dirt road that ends at the old Mariner Hotel. Park beside the link fence at about a third of the way to the old hotel and look to the right…..you should see the trail head.

At the top of Signal Hill look down in the rocks and you'll find the carvings

At the top of Signal Hill look down in the rocks and you'll find the carvings

There are many names and dates carved into the rocks supposedly by shipwrecked sailors in days gone by. The inscriptions are quite old and you can clearly make out names such as Balfour and  Harriott along with dates.

This appears to be the earliest date 1767

This appears to be the earliest date 1767

One of the inscriptions could be attributed to a 19th-century official: W.R. Inglis, second President of the Turks & Caicos (1854-1862).

Inscription by W.R. Inglis around 1854-1862

Inscription by W.R. Inglis around 1854-1862

I want to post more photos of the inscriptions and will do that tomorrow. The view is magnificent from the top of Sapodilla and well worth a trip to see these old carvings.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Old Tiki Huts at Malcolm Roads

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boattikiview

Old photo taken in 2002 of the tiki huts and dive boat out at Malcolm Roads beach

Years ago, Malcolm Roads was only accessible with a 4×4 jeep type vehicle and the hill was soooooo intimidating, pitted and huge ruts towards the bottom. It was always worth it as at the end of the road was a simply breathtaking stretch of beach with the tiki huts. We used to do our ladies beach day down there with not another soul around. I thought some of you might like to see my old photos of the tiki huts and beach.

White, powdery sand beach and always the amazing colours of blue and turquoise

White, powdery sand beach and always the amazing colours of blue and turquoise

 When we first came to Providenciales, the tiki huts were still useable for some shade but began to drastically deteriorate. They were originally built for a French game show that took place on that beach around 1992.

It's a real shame that this beautiful area was not protected for future generations. It is now the site of an exclusive hotel.

It's a real shame that this beautiful area was not protected for future generations. It is now the site of an exclusive hotel.

 

Dive boats would spend their intervals pulled up fairly close to shore

Dive boats would spend their intervals pulled up fairly close to shore

 

Those were the days.......exotic, remote......a piece of paradise.

Those were the days.......exotic, remote......a piece of paradise.

Hope you enjoyed my old photos of the tiki huts at Malcolm Roads. A bit of history that many of us fondly remember.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com