Tag Archives: donkeys

Salt Cay As Beautiful As Ever

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Blackbeard’s our favourite home away from home

Two trips to Salt Cay recently, one in January for birthday celebrations with my sisters and the second, just to get away and enjoy a slower pace. The hurricanes greatly impacted this little island and the destruction caused was beyond belief.

I don’t want to dwell on the many issues the island is facing or the negatives. My aim in this blog is to show you the charm and beauty of Salt Cay today. In a later blog, I will show you and cover the historical side.

The donkeys were wandering in small groups and posed picturesquely in front of this house.

The White House, a beautiful Bermudian house with stone roof that sustained damages from Hurricane Irma.

The White House, built in the Bermudian style has a limestone roof and overlooks the salt ponds. Salt storage was at ground level and the family lived on the top level. The owner – a 4th generation Harriott, is repairing the building; mostly water damage from leaking roof. He said that experts from Bermuda were coming to help repair the roof.

The Coral Reef Bar and Grill is a real meeting spot for everyone.

We used to be able to walk along the side sea wall but no longer as it collapsed during the strong seas and pounding of the waves. The sand is now filling in the harbour so that where there once used to be water, it’s now all silted in. Debbie had to watch the front of Coral Reef Bar and Grill be washed away from the horrific storm. She has lost part of her restaurant …. the deck is gone and the erosion has been very extensive.

Salt Cay Divers boat ready to take us out whale watching and YES, we saw a mother and her calf.

Pristine North Beach with view towards Grand Turk and cruise ship.

Footprints in the sand and not another soul in sight.

Love the sea glass and so many shells.

Early morning coming up over the salt pans as I walk with my camera. A donkey walks past me along Victoria Street.

North Creek in the early morning

Bermudian kitchen at Government House

Walking along the Folly as the sun rises creating reflections of the White House in the salt ponds

I spotted a lone flamingo in the salt pond

View from the Folly across the salt ponds towards Victoria Street

Here’s the White House from Dunscombe Point and what used to be the island’s swimming hole

An endangered iguana suns himself on the walls of the old cemetary

Field of ancient Turks Head cactus on Cotton Cay just off Salt Cay Turks and Caicos Islands

A great way to get around by bicycle.

So tough to get up on those gangly legs!

What a beautiful morning on Salt Cay

The church is gone, crumbled by the hurricanes but the view still takes my breath away

Can’t get enough of those donkeys!

Some wonderful snorkeling just off the beach.

My trips to Salt Cay have been many over the years. These two trips will stand out in my memory. The first trip in January was filled with nostalgia as I remembered the way Salt Cay was pre Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The second trip in April was all and more than I expected…….the resilience of the people as they picked up the pieces and got on with what life had dealt them.

Still a long ways to go but I’LL BE BACK for your special brand of sunshine.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Salt Cay Weekend

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Flying in to Salt Cay with Caicos Express on a clear day just great for photos.

I just love Salt Cay and returning there after 10 years made me wonder what took me so long!  It is truly a stunningly beautiful, friendly and charming gem of a place. A girl friend’s birthday celebration and three whole days of golf buggying around this little island was a perfect getaway.

Deane's Dock as our pilot brings us in for a smooth landing.

Closer view of the repaired break water at Deane's Dock

 

Salt Cay's little airport has remained the same for all these years.

 

Pirate's Hideaway was our home away from home

A replica of the donkey drawn carts that hauled the salt, stand in front of Candy Herwin’s treasure of a cottage called Pirate’s Hideaway where we stayed for the three nights. Candy is a wealth of knowledge on Salt Cay but unfortunately she wasn’t going to be on island during our stay. Nonetheless we met, she told me everything I needed to know along with giving me her wonderful map of Salt Cay. She’s currently on Provo where she had lined up meetings with two elderly ladies to record their stories. She uses a video recorder and has been helping the residents of the islands to preserve their culture and heritage so that these stories can be enjoyed by generations to come.

Candy Herwin's map "A History Tour of Salt Cay".

The only way to see Salt Cay..........our little golf cart took us all over the island

Our first donkeys...we were a bit leery of them but realised quickly that all they wanted was food or water.

 

This lovely mansion was being worked on. A new front patio overlooking the ocean and repairs to the seawall

Colourful gates and charming houses, old stone walls and even a stop sign or two.

I just love these old walls and sandy lanes.

This little baby donkey was adorable as he stood outside the gate to our place.

Looking across the salt pans towards the Brown House and St. John's Church.

Sunrise through the gates of St. John's church

 

North Creek in the early morning had such muted colours.

 

We found so much sea glass as we walked the beaches of Salt Cay.

 

We visited with sweet Miss Amie over her garden fence.

 

This beautiful little cove was our first late lunch stop, beer, snacks and a snorkel.

We stopped for a few provisions.

Dinners were at Pat's Place........stew peas to die for and Pat explains twice fried plantains. Delicious fry fish and chicken curry.

Pa Poley (Mr. Holton Dickenson) was the best tour guide ever! Thank you!

 

Captivating North Beach.........not another soul there. Birthday champagne on the beach!

Colourful doorway frames a black cat

Did you know that the donkeys on Salt Cay are good at opening gates?

I simply have to stop for now. Hoping this has given you a taste of Salt Cay and all its’ people (93 I’m told), places, stunning beaches, and history too. Noticeably absent are some of the historical parts of this little island. This I have left for another day. After all I only took some 3400 photos.

 

I love Salt Cay and will return again very soon.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com