Middle Caicos Part 1

Ahhhhhh........what a heavenly piece of paradise on Middle Caicos

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Turks and Caicos Islands National Dress

Sweet smiling island girls in their national dress

Sweet smiling island girls in their national dress

I love this photo………the girls are soooo cute with such beautiful smiles and dressed in their national costume. Up until 2002, we did not have a national dress representative of all the islands of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Our island ancestors wore basic and practical clothing reflecting a simple and humble lifestyle. An idea was born and developed by David Bowen with tremendous help from a group of dedicated people.

These handsome young boys were eager to smile for the camera

These handsome young boys were eager to smile for the camera

Colours were selected for each island: Red for Grand Turk representing the red/pink  fruit of the national plant, the Turks Head Cactus; White for Salt Cay and the colour of salt; Orange for South and East Caicos showing off the colours of the spiny lobster and fish as well as the fishing industry in South Caicos; Tan for Middle Caicos and the natural colour of the island’s thatch that covered most of the early homes and roofs and today the colour represents the crafts of basket weaving, straw hats and brooms; Green for North Caicos and Parrot Cay where fruit trees and others flourish in the fertile soil along with Wades Green Plantation where cotton grew and flourished in days gone by; Turquoise for Providenciales, Pine Cay and West Caicos where the turquoise water surrounds us and contributes to bringing us our newest resource of tourism.

These young people perform folk songs in their national dress of white cotton with coloured bands representing each island.

These young people perform folk songs in their national dress of white cotton with coloured bands representing each island.

Six colours were chosen for the main islands of the Turks and Caicos and two more for symbols of our national pride.  Pink for the conch shell and our flamingos and Yellow, the colour of the sun shining down on our beautiful islands and cays and also the sun is a major factor in bringing us all our tourist visitors.

These girls and boys performed in their national dress at the Carifta Games held in Provo in 2007.

These girls and boys performed in their national dress at the Carifta Games held in Provo in 2007.

Each person proudly displays and wears their individual island colour …..the girls wear scarves and sashes in their islands’ corresponding colour and the boys have hat bands in the colour of their island home .

I found this information so very interesting and I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed looking everything up.

When you are here in Provo make sure to find out if there are any cultural events or performances taking place.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Flamingos on Flamingo Lake

I glanced off our deck and spotted three specks in the lake and when I grabbed the binoculars.......sure enough there were three flamingos.

I glanced off our deck and spotted three specks in the lake and when I grabbed the binoculars.......sure enough there were three flamingos.

Today there were three West Indian or Greater Flamingos out in the lake and that’s something we don’t often see. Usually they are further down and more in Juba Salina. I grabbed my camera and ran down to take some photos. It was interesting watching the flamingos feed as they would do a little stomping dance and then put their heads in the water. Apparently they feed on small organisms which they strain out of the mud by filtering it through their unusual, upside-down beaks.

One flamingo was quite a bright pink and the other much paler.

One flamingo was quite a bright pink and the other much paler.

North Caicos has a large flock of flamingos with as many as 1000 birds inhabiting Pumpkin Bluff Pond better known as Flamingo Pond.

The last time I took photos of Flamingos near our villas was just after Hurricane Ike

The last time I took photos of Flamingos near our villas was just after Hurricane Ike

If you’re a bird watcher or birder, come and see the large variety of birds in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Hopefully you’ll catch a glimpse of these beautiful flamingos.

See you soon on Provo,

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com