Haiti

Here's the terminal at Cap Haitien Haiti when we were there 6 years ago

Here's the terminal at Cap Haitien Haiti when we were there 6 years ago

  Locally here on Provo there are centres for collection of water and clothing for our friends suffering in Haiti. We heard from our Turtle Tail Neighbourhood watch folks that the Provo Air Centre was needing volunteers and help. The Provo Air Center is now a central staging point for relief workers and pilots and anyone wanting to contribute aid in a direct and personal way was being asked to help by feeding the pilots and aid workers. Many of these wonderful folk are volunteers and all of them are on tight budgets. We were also asked to help by driving them between the Air Center and their hotels.

A unique looking dwelling in Cap Haitien........I can imagine how grand it might have looked in it's hey day.

A unique looking dwelling in Cap Haitien........I can imagine how grand it might have looked in it's hey day.

The lobby of the centre is packed with tired people for a good part of each day and the staff are too busy with assisting pilots to really look after them. Two local ladies have been donating sandwiches and bottled water which is quite costly for 2 people alone to bear. Anyone wanting to help was asked to make and deliver sandwiches.
In many cases these people are unable to get into Haiti for up to several days due to airport crowding and slot restrictions. They need transport to a hotel. The PAC drivers are hard pressed to keep up with demand.
I loved this small stretch of coastline in Cap Haitien....note the clothes laid out to dry on the rooftop.

I loved this small stretch of coastline in Cap Haitien....note the clothes laid out to dry on the rooftop.

Our neighbour was helping out at the Provo Air Center yesterday afternoon and the stories were amazing. Aid workers were enroute in to Haiti and expat survivors coming out. Some hadn’t eaten in 5 days. Our many neighbours on Turtle Tail were helping out down there as well as donating food and services. Barb wants everyone to know that there was overwhelming expressions of gratitude and appreciation from those being helped. Our folks are really making a difference. Thankyou to all! Please contact your local Red Cross , Salvation Army and donate all that you can.

 

Haiti…….you are all in our prayers,

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Leeward Beach Wedding

Faith wore a beautiful elegant gown as she posed in the gardens by the pool at Harbour Club Villas

Faith wore a beautiful elegant gown as she posed in the gardens by the pool at Harbour Club Villas.

 Yesterday was an anxious day as we all prayed for NO RAIN …….. one minute the wind was blowing strongly, dark clouds and thankfully just a sprinkling of rain. Faith and I even drove out to the beach at Leeward to see what it was like.  As soon as we saw that brilliant turquoise coloured ocean which was made all the more intense by the cloudy skies, Faith knew the ceremony was going to be at the right beach.

Dan, the groom didn't seem too nervous........I don't know what Barry was pouring into his drink!!

Dan, the groom didn't seem too nervous........I don't know what Barry was pouring into his drink!!

 

Dan and Faith are all smiles as they exchanged vows on Leeward beach.

Dan and Faith are all smiles as they exchanged vows on Leeward beach.

The beach was deserted, the clouds threatened rain and made those turquoise ocean colours much more intense. The waves crashed onto the beach with white foaming fury. I don’t think it gets any better than this for an ideal wedding location.

Yeah.........We did it and here we are married at long last!

Yeah.........We did it and here we are married at long last!

Just married!

Just married!

 Faith’s beautiful bouquet of yellow calla lilies added a splash of sunshine. As soon as we saw the fresh flowers that Louise had brought in to the flower shop at the IGA, those yellow lilies stood out. Put together with a white orchid spray, it made for a simple but lovely bridal bouquet.

The bride and groom stand surrounded by the foaming waves at Leeward beach

The bride and groom stand surrounded by the foaming waves at Leeward beach

Congratulations to Faith and Dan.
Marta

Times of the Island

Here we are............my FIRST magazine cover!

Here we are............my FIRST magazine cover!

I’m so thrilled with achieving one of my goals………..to get a cover photo on the Times of the Island magazine. I had to send this photo to Kathy (the editor) as I thought it was pretty good especially with the stunning reflections on the waters of Flamingo Lake right beside our villas. Kathy phoned me to say that they wanted to use my photo in the Winter 2009-2010 edition of the magazine. So pick up your copy of The Times of the Island while you are here on Provo. The articles are always interesting and I’m sure you will enjoy reading them along with some great photography.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Orchids

Orchids blooming with the marina entrance in the background.

Orchids blooming with the marina entrance in the background.

This Tall Encyclia orchid was growing on the rock ridge overlooking the entrance to our marina. The days have been so gloomy and so I decided to see if the rain had made our local plants bloom. The Encyclia Altissima orchids are growing all over and flowering at this time of year. This one was quite showy with vivid purple striped lines on its petals.

The Marina channel and Cooper Jack Bight were perfectly calm creating a pastel backdrop of colours as the sun tried to break through the clouds.

The Marina channel and Cooper Jack Bight were perfectly calm creating a pastel backdrop of colours as the sun tried to break through the clouds.

We have been waiting for days to see the sunshine and today was the day……….and it lasted all day!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Leeward Beach on a cloudy day

Sea oats and weathered deck chairs with a backdrop of soft pastel shades on a cloudy day out at Leeward beach.

Sea oats and weathered deck chairs with a backdrop of soft pastel shades on a cloudy day out at Leeward beach.

We haven’t seen much sunshine here in the Turks and Caicos Islands this week but photos such as this one will show you that no matter what the weather, the water and the beaches are always spectacular.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Wild Potato Vine

Every year before Christmas, I watch for the Ipomoea vine growing in the bush.

Every year before Christmas, I watch for the Ipomoea vine growing in the bush.

Finally, after weeks of looking I spotted this showy, red flowering vine on my neighbour’s property. I’ve been watching out for the Ipomoea vine also known as the Christmas vine and or Wild Potato. I’m thinking this last week has been rainy and cool and all of a sudden, I’ve noticed bright splashes of red adorning the tree tops and in this case, on a Poisonwood tree. Perhaps the rains coaxed the blossoms to open.

A brilliant red flower and a mass of buds on this Ipomoea vine.

A brilliant red flower and a mass of buds on this Ipomoea vine.

Usually, the Ipomoea blooms for the holiday season starting in October but as I said, I saw my first one only the other day while travelling down Venetian Road.  I wandered over onto my neighbour’s property this afternoon to take pictures of  orchids and found this Wild Potato growing on a tall poison wood……a little difficult to photograph as I didn’t want to touch the poisonwood.

The Ipomoea grows throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands and is one of the prettiest with brilliant red flowers.

The Ipomoea grows throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands and is one of the prettiest with brilliant red flowers.

Watch for these flowering vines as you travel the roads of Provo…….it’s impossible to miss with those bright red flowers that stand out amongst the green foliage.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Ruddy Turnstones at Sharkbite

This little Ruddy Turnstone dropped by for tidbits while we were having lunch at the Sharkbite.

This little Ruddy Turnstone dropped by for tidbits while we were having lunch at the Sharkbite.

Lunch at the Sharkbite in Turtle Cove Marina is always interesting……….the Ruddy Turnstones create quite a show as they vie for the choicest bits from the lunch time crowd and at night, you’ll be lucky to catch sight of the “resident” bull shark that hangs out looking for food.

Lined up all in a row along the ledge of the Sharkbite Restaurant's deck.

Lined up all in a row along the ledge of the Sharkbite Restaurant's deck.

Ruddy Turnstones are a common visitor to our shores and some are even year round residents. They seem to love the Turtle Cove area but then you can hardly blame them especially with such a variety of great restaurants with an easy food supply. They become habituated and really, we shoudn’t be feeding them but it happens everywhere……..ie. the gophers or ground squirrels at the buffalo paddocks in Banff were always such roly poly fat little things from all the visitors feeding them.

Birdwatchers can see the Ruddy Turnstone almost anywhere especially in Turtle Cove.

Birdwatchers can see the Ruddy Turnstone almost anywhere especially in Turtle Cove.

Drop by the restaurants in Turtle Cove on your next holiday on Provo. Lunch was great at the Sharkbite……..some of the best conch chowder I’ve ever tasted!!

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Christmas Beach Baby

Christmas wishes and flowers to Oma and Opa in Germany from their little munchkin

Christmas wishes and flowers to Oma and Opa in Germany from their little munchkin

We took little Malaika down to the beach close to Harbour Club Villas. She loves to play in the sand and even though the weather today was a little overcast, it was Christmas picture perfect! The light was gentle as she crawled all over the sand as we tried to get her to forget the santa hat.

Red hibiscus and a red Santa hat as Malaika enjoyed the sand at the beach

Red hibiscus and a red Santa hat as Malaika enjoyed the sand at the beach

There was no one else on this little beach as we tried to get Malaika to smile and laugh for the photo……she was just too busy with the flowers.

I managed to get a huge smile as she waved the Christmas star back and forth to catch the breeze.

I managed to get a huge smile as she waved the Christmas star back and forth to catch the breeze.

 

Christmas wishes to all.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com