Category Archives: Providenciales

Beaching and Shopping

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Just love the colours on the beach bag and the ocean at Long Bay
Just love the colours on the beach bag and the ocean at Long Bay

My sister Eve found this gem of a beach bag while shopping on Grace Bay. Of course, this shot was just waiting to be snapped………a beautiful blonde, the colourful sea horses and stylized seaweed and our ever graduating turquoise hues of Providenciales ocean out at Long Bay beach. Of course, not only are the beaches spectacular but the shopping is always full of interesting things. Come to the Turks and Caicos Islands and enjoy all we have to offer. See you soon!

Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Injured juvenile heron

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An injured juvenile heron at Harbour Club Villas

An injured juvenile heron at Harbour Club Villas

Barry found this injured juvenile Yellow-crowned night heron wandering around at the back of our villas at Harbour Club. His wing was definitely broken and the poor thing was unable to fly.

Every time we tried to approach it, it would run away.

Every time we tried to approach it, it would run away.

We tried to corner him and catch him but he was too fast and scurried away into the bushes. Nature will take its course I’m sure as it was unable to fly.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Island Coffee

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The best coffee on island is roasted here on Provo by Vicki

The best coffee on island is roasted here on Provo by Victoria

Providenciales has it’s own coffee lady who roasts the coffee beans into delicious blends that are savoured throughout the islands. We met Victoria Turner when we first came to Provo about ten years ago and at the time a delicious, good cup of freshly roasted coffee was hard to come by.

Vicki pours the green coffee beans into the roaster

Victoria pours the green coffee beans into the roaster

Victoria started her company Turks and Caicos Coffee Roasters and came to me asking for a photo she could use for her speciality coffee bags.  A beautiful beach, turquoise water, blue skies photo was chosen and is now her trademark for good island coffee.

Vicki checks to make sure the coffee beans are perfectly roasted

Victoria checks to make sure the coffee beans are perfectly roasted

The aroma when Vicki is roasting is indescribably good!!!!

The aroma when Victoria is roasting is indescribably good!!!!

Victoria’s coffee is available in our local gift shops, Graceway IGA and many of the island resorts and restaurants carry their own special blends. It makes for a perfect gift for friends and family back home.

Vicki with Tina and Sheldon at their wedding...........coffee for all their guests

Victoria with Tina and Sheldon at their wedding...........coffee for all their guests

Tina and Sheldon gave all their wedding guests a gift of island coffee blended for this special occasion. Look for Turks and Caicos Islands roasted coffee or email me and I’ll put you in contact with Victoria.

Fresh coffee roasted right here on Provo is the only way to go!!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Ghost Crab at Malcolm Roads Beach

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This little Ghost Crab put on quite an aggressive display as I photographed him

This little Ghost Crab put on quite an aggressive display as I photographed him

Malcolm Roads beach and little Ghost Crab. I photographed it for at least twenty minutes. I wanted to capture the ocean turquoise background and the beach.

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Chalk Sound

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My favourite photo of Chalk Sound taken from the road infront of this private home with its' own Juliet balcony

My favourite photo of Chalk Sound taken from the road infront of this private home with its' own Juliet balcony

Many peoples introduction to Chalk Sound is from the air coming into the airport. It has the most spectacular turquoise colourations dotted with mini cays or islands. For those of you familiar with our second home in Banff, Alberta, Canada…..we have Peyto Lake which has similar turquoise colour that is due to glacial rock particles that are suspended in the water.

We were lunching at Las Brisas Restaurant one day and I happened to catch some photos of this gentleman going for a swim

We were lunching at Las Brisas Restaurant one day and I happened to catch some photos of this gentleman going for a swim

Chalk Sound is variously referred to as a large lake, a land locked lagoon, a large natural creek , a bay or sound as well as an inland waterway. Take your pick. It is shallow and silty and you can see the clouds of fine sand particles kicked up by the above swimmer. That’s what gives the water its stunning turquoise colour.

View of the water looking towards Silly Creek and the residential area of beautiful private homes

View of the water looking towards Silly Creek and the residential area of beautiful private homes

Chalk Sound is a national park and is approximately three miles long (5 km) and lies in the south west part of Providenciales. At one time in the early 1900’s it was leased for raising and canning turtles, lobster and shellfish. Mr George Silly ( a part of Chalk Sound called Silly Creek still retains his name ) lived on a barren bluff between the two entrances to Chalk Sound in a thatched roofed cottage and he had a small shop and a cannery there.

Clouds reflecting in the turquoise waters of Chalk Sound

Clouds reflecting in the turquoise waters of Chalk Sound

The history of Chalk Sound revolves around various commercial enterprises such as mentioned above. George Silly also leased Chalk Sound and tried to rejuvenate the sponge industry. He had 250,000 cuttings of reef sponges sown. He continued this experiment of planting sponge beds but the operation died out after his death in 1917 and was abandonned after the war.

Chalk Sound private home with a million dollar view

Chalk Sound private home with a million dollar view

Today Chalk Sound is lined with spectacular homes but you can rent kayaks from Las Brisas Restaurant or perhaps be lucky enough to see the kids learning how to sail a Caicos Sloop. Stop in at Las Brisas Restaurant for a delicious lunch or dinner with one of the best views on Provo. Their Paella is really good………Pina Coladas too!!

An Old Man Cactus stands tall against the panoramic blue turquoise background of Chalk Sound

An Old Man Cactus stands tall against the panoramic blue turquoise background of Chalk Sound

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Snuba with Jodi

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Jodi adjusts Barry's weight belt before taking them on their first underwater experience

Jodi adjusts Barry's weight belt before taking them on their first underwater experience

Tina finally persuaded Barry and husband Sheldon to do a Snuba dive with Jodi.  Barry was a little nervous and apprehensive about going down under!! Sheldon was cool and calm and ready for an adventure.

Sheldon holds onto the raft that carries the air tanks and floats above the divers

Sheldon holds onto the raft that carries the air tanks and floats above the divers

The snuba raft floats above the divers who breathe with a regulator attached to a long hose. Jodi has full scuba gear and takes you through the preparation and then leads the dive on the Bight Reef (also known locally as the White House Reef or Coral Gardens Reef.)

Ready to go under just to the right of the reef markers

Ready to go under just to the right of the reef markers

Jodi gives the last few words of encouragement and a run through of signals before going down.

Here's Sheldon and Tina's underwater photo taken by Jodi.

Here's Sheldon and Tina's underwater photo taken by Jodi.

No turtles today but the guys saw Atlantic Spade Fish, Grouper and Lionfish along with lots of other fish and corals.

Here's Barry having a great time and first experience with underwater......... close up and personal

Here's Barry having a great time and first experience with underwater......... close up and personal

Jodi takes a photo of each Snuba diver that they can keep as a lasting memory. Thanks for the photos Jodi!

Everyone comes up smiling after a great Snuba experience

Everyone comes up smiling after a great Snuba experience

Remember to phone Jodi to book a time to go out and Snuba. She’ll show you around the reef and point out so many great things as she knows this reef like the back of her hand. Come Snuba with Jodi in the Turks and Caicos Islands on your next vacation.

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

A lazy Leeward Sunday

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Lazing in the water on a Sunday afternoon

Lazing in the water on a Sunday afternoon

I just can’t describe the colour of the water at Leeward on Sunday………the photo will give you an idea of just how the turquoise mixes into the dark blue at the reef line. Leeward beach is a special place as usually the beach is pretty much deserted and that’s how it was yesterday. I must say that there are two beaches Leeward and Malcolm Roads where the colours are always vivid and spectacular for ideal picture taking.
Railroad Vines were flowering and creeping along the sand and sand dunes

Railroad Vines were flowering and creeping along the sand and sand dunes

The Railroad Vine or Beach Morning Glory flowers here in the summer time. It was used for medicinal purposes in days gone by. The sap of the vine and leaves can be used for jellyfish stings and the root and leaves when made into a tea can be used as a diuretic effective in treating kidney and bladder disorders as well as gout and rheumatism.
The Railroad Vine trails along the beaches at Leeward and can grow to lengths of 10 meters (30 feet or so)

The Railroad Vine trails along the beaches at Leeward and can grow to lengths of 10 meters (30 feet or so)

Sea Purslane

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A grasshopper sits posing on a pretty, pale pink Sea Purslane flower

A grasshopper sits posing on a pretty, pale pink Sea Purslane flower

Sea Purslane grows abundantly in salty and dry habitats such as on the tiny cays just out from Harbour Club Villas and Marina. We decided to explore one day and stopped on a little cay with a spectacular view of the Five Cays shoreline.

View of Five Cays shoreline from one of the tiny cays where Rock Iguanas have been introduced

View of Five Cays shoreline from one of the tiny cays where Rock Iguanas have been introduced

We spotted some Rock Iguanas but they scurried away quickly as we approached. I did manage to get a photos of one though!

This rock iguana was very wary and was ready to take flight if I came any closer

This rock iguana was very wary and was ready to take flight if I came any closer

On one of the slopes of this little cay, a carpet of sea purslane cascaded over the rocks. Some had star shaped pink flowers that bloom throughout the year.

Sea Purslane carpets the rocks on this little cay

Sea Purslane carpets the rocks on this little cay

Sea Purslane is a succulent herb that makes for a great ground cover. It grows along beaches and along the edges of salinas and has smooth, fleshy leaves. The leaves are edible and have a salty taste. I’ll have to find out if iguanas eat the leaves as this island seemed pretty limited in the way of food. 

Sea Purslane is also know as Sea Pickle and can be used medicinally for treatment of scurvy and kidney disorders

Sea Purslane is also know as Sea Pickle and can be used medicinally for treatment of scurvy and kidney disorders

What a great plant and useful for so many things!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Bonefish Point Sandbar

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A perfect afternoon on and in the water with the boys pulling us up to the sandbar..........it simply was the best

A perfect afternoon on and in the water with the boys pulling us up to the sandbar..........it simply was the best

We both had family visiting so it was an opportunity to take a leisurely run out to the sand bar at Bonefish Point. We took off from our marina at Harbour Club Villas. There’s a deep water channel ( 12 feet deep or so ) to the right of the sandbar and all of a sudden you’re in a foot of water. The guys put the anchor out and then decided to walk it into the shallows.

Barry floats along in the clear water and enjoys the best view in the world

Barry floats along in the clear water and enjoys the best view in the world

We saw some beautiful sea cushions ( see my previous post) and some smaller white starfish. Laura explored some rocks in the shallows and found numerous hermit crabs.

Laura shows me her find.............tiny little shells with crabs in them

Laura shows me her find.............tiny little shells with crabs in them

Here's a small hermit crab just walking along the edge of the water

Here's a small hermit crab just walking along the edge of the water

 

Barry, Tina and Sheldon stayed in the water pretty much all afternoon.

Barry, Tina and Sheldon stayed in the water pretty much all afternoon.

We all cooled off by staying in the water beer in hand. The Bonefish Point sandbar is on the south west tip of the island and accessible by road now. It never used to be……….the only way of getting here a few years ago was by boat or doing an excursion with Capt. Bill of Ocean Outback. This trip by the way is a great way of seeing the south shoreline. Hope you get to see this part of our island too.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com