Category Archives: Turks and Caicos History

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

Potcakes

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How could you ever hope to resist loving a sweet potcake puppy with a face like this?????

How could you ever hope to resist loving a sweet potcake puppy with a face like this?????

Recent guests of Harbour Club Villas adopted this sweet little potcake puppy from our Turks and Caicos SPCA. Steve and Andres fell in love with this little one and have named her Tromba which is Spanish for “waterspout”. Potcakes are named after the congealed food that remained in the bottom of the cooking pot after reheating usually peas and rice several times. The scrapings or potcakes were fed to the dogs and hence the dogs have become known as Potcakes. Many of these dogs and puppies are found around the island and the spaying and neutering programs are not keeping up. Many are taken to the TCSPCA and Potcake Place where they are hopefully adopted. They are loving and loyal and perhaps when you visit our islands you might consider adopting one.

Potcakes are loveable and make a great family pet

Potcakes are loveable and make a great family pet

If you are heading our way and would like more info or would like to adopt a Potcake, just let me know. I’ll put you in touch with all the right people.

See you soon,

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Shells

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Zebra Nerites are beautiful snails that you can find in rocky tidepools under full sun in the in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Zebra Nerites are beautiful snails that you can find in rocky tidepools under full sun in the Turks and Caicos Islands

When you are out exploring the North West Point area of Providenciales, look for these neat snails in the rock pools along the shoreline. They are found among intertidal rocks and are a small white shell with black zebra-like stripes.

Close up of these zebra striped shells

Close up of these zebra striped shells

 

Marta
http://www.diving.tc

Wild Cotton

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The Sea Island Cotton flower is a beautiful pale yellow at first and grows wild on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Wild Cotton flower is a beautiful pale yellow or white at first and grows wild on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

From a very pale yellow, the cotton flower turns into a pretty pink

From a very pale yellow, the cotton flower turns into a pretty pink

 

British Loyalists who were taking refuge from the American revolution set up Cotton and Sisal Plantations in the Turks and Caicos Islands. These were worked by imported slaves with the Cotton and Sisal being sold in London and New York. The cotton plantations were doomed as the competition was fierce and the soil was thin and not very fertile. After a hurricane in 1813, the cotton plantations were to perish. 

After the blossom falls the Sea Island Cotton forms a tiny fruit called a boll.

After the blossom falls the Wild Cotton forms a tiny fruit called a boll.

The cotton boll bursts open when ripe to expose the packed seeds that are surrounded by the cotton fiber.

The cotton boll bursts open when ripe to expose the packed seeds that are surrounded by the cotton fiber.

 

The dominant plantations in the Caicos Islands were those growing Cotton and apparently, cotton needed one slave for every 5 acres compared to one slave per acre on sugar plantations.  Many of the plantation owners left the Islands because of the hurricane of 1813 and also the pest infestations. Many of the slaves were left behind.  Apparently by 1820 many of the plantations had been abandoned but we do know that Wade’s Green (North Caicos) was still in use. It is also likely that Wade Stubb’s other interests at Cheshire Hall and Haulover were still in operation. The Turks and Caicos Islands have a short and limited History in the cotton industry.

All the cotton photos are taken of the plants growing at Harbour Club Villas ……… Yes, you too can grow them or come and see us in the islands as it grows wild here in different spots.  

Cotton flowers and pods ready to burst forth with cotton fibres

Cotton flowers and pods ready to burst forth with cotton fibres

 

My cotton plants are loaded with cotton bolls right now and I'm sure to see more cotton plants sprouting up all over Harbour Club Villas
My cotton plants are loaded with cotton bolls right now and I’m sure to see more cotton plants sprouting up all over Harbour Club Villas

Enjoy the photos as this plant is quite showy when flowering as well as when full of cotton. The local birds here use this cotton when making their nests.

Cheers,
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Turks and Caicos flora

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Shak Shak Tree

Shak Shak Tree

 Here’s a photo of the Flamboyant tree or Royal Poinciana ablaze with colourful flowers on Provo.  I mentioned in a previous post that the Junkanoo band often has many percussion instruments that include the shak-shak.  This instrument is like a maracas and at one time, the seed pods of the Royal Poinciana or Flamboyant tree were used as a shak-shak in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I thought this was interesting as I didn’t know what a shak-shak was.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Turks and Caicos Junkanoo

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Junkanoo festivities on Provo

Junkanoo parade in the Turks and Caicos Islands

We made it to midnight and watched the fireworks from our deck. We had to get up at five to take guests to the airport for the early Miami flight. The downtown traffic circle was blocked off by police as the New Year’s festivities and junkanoo on Provo were just winding down. At the same time that we are going to bed, our island friends are heading out in the wee hours of New Year’s Day to celebrate and party till the morning. The junkanoo parade is the highlight of the festivities… full of people in colourful costumes dancing to up tempo combinations of goatskin drums, cowbells, horns, shak shak (see post) and other instruments. You can’t help but join in as the performers go through some wild, uninhibited and hypnotic dancing as they bang on drums and move to the island rhythms. The term “rush” is given to this all-out, no holds barred form of dancing in the streets and everyone joins in (“jump up”). We wish everyone all the best in 2009.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com