I Love Salt Cay

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Morning sunrise over the salt pans on our first day.

Excitement and anticipation on a return weekend trip to Salt Cay. Up early and out the door to catch the sunrise and not wanting to waste a minute of the day. How I love the peaceful tranquility at that time of day.

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The Turks & Caicos heather, Limonium bahamense was blooming this time and I took lots of photos of this pretty plant.

The Turks and Caicos Island heather, thrives in the saline conditions of the salt flats. It is found growing along the retaining walls of Salt Cay’s salt ponds. It is now the islands’ national flower.

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Came across a Snowy Egret dancing in the salt ponds looking for food and managed to catch a great photo with reflections.

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My favourite little lane with charming rock walls runs right past Mt Pleasant guest house where we stayed.

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Through the wood louvers of the White House looking towards Dunscombe Point.

No trip to Salt Cay is complete without seeing the White House and this trip was very special. We met owner Ian Dunn who took time out to show us through this splendid old mansion complete with stories of his ancestors. I’m definitely going to do a separate blog on this magnificent building that’s part of Salt Cay’s history.

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There’s nothing better than having lunch with this view………the gazebo at the Brown House.

The Brown House was built in 1860, fully restored and is now a beautiful waterfront residence for holidaying visitors to Salt Cay. Thanks to Candy Herwin for an island lunch with friends and of course a chance to take more photos of this heritage house.

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Mount Pleasant guest cottage where we stayed with a roof top wooden walkway to the balcony of the main house. Love the blue shutters.

We were fortunate to be able to stay in the fully renovated guest cottage at Mount Pleasant with hosts Jo and George Oates. Salt Cay accommodation with character …… simply perfect for our all too short vacation getaway.

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The north shore beach looking towards Grand Turk……….if you look closely, you can see a cruise ship.

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Ruins of the Windmills Plantation…..love to take photos here.

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Zoomed in shot of Grand Turk and cruise ship.

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Beautiful stretch of beach but a bit too rough for swimming.

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An old salt rakers cottage.

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A visit to Porter’s Island Thyme is a must for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The chicken breast stuffed with bacon, baby spinach and mozzarella cheese was absolutely delicious with home made ice cream to follow.

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Early Sunday morning and my little friends were heading to gran’s house. They were going to help bake cookies they told me!

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Love this red shuttered house next to the church.

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Foot prints in the sand just up from Debbie’s Coral Reef Bar and Grill restaurant.

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Great place for sunsets, drinks and a bite to eat.

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Looking towards Dean’s Dock…….it was pretty rough out there.

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Sheedy’s cannon up on the bluff was a lovely walk early on Sunday morning.

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Falling in love with a donkey that looked ready to have a baby at any time.

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Pirate’s Hideaway……..another great place to stay in Salt Cay.

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Loving the colours…….turquoise dwelling with donkey.

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Newly repaired roof of the Bermudian kitchen at Government House.

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Inside the old Bermudian kitchen with some lovely old antiques.

Inside the Bermudian Kitchen a lot of work has been done since I was last here taking photos. Old antique artifacts and utensils from Salt Cay have been found and or donated. Candy Herwin writes  “…..like Jose Jones old handmade carpenters saw and box of tools…one of the ladies old singer machines with Ms. Mellys measuring tape …remember the old cloth ones….decade old cooking pots from Mary Robinson kitchen….ancient locks and one of my favorites an old steam iron in a homemade stand…Later Ms. Rosie Glinton said it was used for placing on top of frying fish to stop them curling…Well I never.”

 

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Malaika and sea glass gathering.

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Salt Cay is a treasure trove of sea glass lying on the beaches.

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Excitement in the form of water delivery on Salt Cay.

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Our last day and bright sunshine and slightly calmer seas

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Boats and dive boats with the sea wall.

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Walking, bicycles and golf buggies are the main modes of transportation.

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Our last morning and YES…………we saw the humpback whales. What a magnificent sight.

Our last morning and a snap decision made literally in 5 minutes. The seas had died down a bit and we thought we just had to go. Salt Cay Divers and a 100% success rate so far this season. We went for it and WOW, we were so glad we did. Tough with the boat rockin’ and rollin’ to take photos but all worth it as I managed to get two reasonable “tail” shots.

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Leaving Salt Cay and flying over Grand Turk with a cruise ship docked.

And so, another wonderful few days away from the hustle and bustle of Provo. Salt Cay is a treasure of an island full of history, relaxation, love the donkeys wandering along the salt ponds and streets, the stacked rock old walls, the north beach in all its splendor and the many historic buildings.

I can’t wait to come back again and again.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Pirates Hideaway Salt Cay

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Our limousine awaits outside Pirates Hideaway, our island home for a few days.

Our trip to Salt Cay was just simply too short…………I had met with Candy Herwin on Provo and she had given me all the information on this little jewel of an island. I had been there in 2003 and just can’t believe it took me this long to return.  Candy has converted an old salt raker’s house into a charming , four bedroom, two bathroom house called Pirates Hideaway. I loved it and for three days, it was our home. Our limo was a neat little red golf buggy just perfect for beatling around in.

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Replica salt wagon stands outside our home for three nights

Salt Wagons like the replica above were used for loading piles of raked salt and drawn by the donkeys.

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This fella was adept at opening the gate.

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Morning coffee, a quick text and away we go to explore the island.

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Spacious kitchen and living room at Pirates Hideaway

 

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Champagne birthday celebration.

 

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Captain’s Quarters master bedroom where I stayed.

 

A lot of love, care and attention has been put into this quaint salt raker’s house which has a warm, inviting feel to it. Add the history and limitless knowledge of Salt Cay that Candy Herwin has and this makes it a unique home away from home for visitors to experience and enjoy. She has so many stories to tell and is always searching out the history of these islands. She has taken upon herself to interview and talk to the islands old timers to record and preserve their reminiscences and stories of when they were young. Photos too……….she has such a collection.

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Loved the breezes flowing through and billowing the curtains.

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Love the shark bathroom and the wooden slat windows.

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Great pirate murals throughout Pirates Hideaway.

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I’m not sure why I love these wooden slats so much……reminds me of a bygone time when things were much simpler.

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Love this shot of the old wooden gate and Pirates Hideaway

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On one of my walks in the early morning hours

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Good to see that these old stone walls are still standing

 

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Saying goodbye to Salt Cay……..so sad to leave.

 

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A beautiful little island surrounded by a turquoise sea.

All good things must come to an end…….that is until next time. Believe me, there will be a next time and very soon.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

Salt Cay Weekend

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