Monthly Archives: January 2009

Long Bay beach

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Long Bay.......great for those long walks, beach combing, horse back riding and the best beach for kite boarding.

Long Bay.......great for those long walks, beach combing, horse back riding and the best beach for kite boarding.

How the weather changes here on Provo……………flat calm without a breath of wind early this morning then the wind picked up and really started to blow by the afternoon. A perfect day for walking the beach at Long Bay and I would imagine with the wind being up, that the kiteboarders would have been out taking advantage of the winds. We’ve had guests at Harbour Club that have come here specifically to kiteboard. I’ve watched them on numerous occasions out at the Bight beach which is a favourite as well as at Sapodilla Bay.

But back to Long Bay. It is what I call a wild beach, wind swept and strewn with conch shells as there are many conch out in the waters off the beach. There’s even a Haitien sloop (boat) up on the shore. Albert shows us how to find conch at Long Bay and then to crack the conch.

Finding conch in the waters at Long Bay.

Finding conch in the waters at Long Bay.

There’s lots of conch in the water out at Long Bay. We were shown all the ins and outs of crackin’ conch and how to serve up ” a fresh from the ocean” feast!

 

We didn't forget the limes....conch, fresh from the sea.

We didn't forget the limes....conch, fresh from the sea.

Albert used to do lots of fishing and knows exactly where to find conch. He showed us how to prepare the conch meat and served it to us out on the Long Bay beach.
Yum.....that conch with a squirt of lime is as fresh as it gets!
Yum…..that conch with a squirt of lime is as fresh as it gets!

Join us for a taste of Conch on your visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Hope to see you soon.

Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Wild Cotton

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The Sea Island Cotton flower is a beautiful pale yellow at first and grows wild on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Wild Cotton flower is a beautiful pale yellow or white at first and grows wild on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

From a very pale yellow, the cotton flower turns into a pretty pink

From a very pale yellow, the cotton flower turns into a pretty pink

 

British Loyalists who were taking refuge from the American revolution set up Cotton and Sisal Plantations in the Turks and Caicos Islands. These were worked by imported slaves with the Cotton and Sisal being sold in London and New York. The cotton plantations were doomed as the competition was fierce and the soil was thin and not very fertile. After a hurricane in 1813, the cotton plantations were to perish. 

After the blossom falls the Sea Island Cotton forms a tiny fruit called a boll.

After the blossom falls the Wild Cotton forms a tiny fruit called a boll.

The cotton boll bursts open when ripe to expose the packed seeds that are surrounded by the cotton fiber.

The cotton boll bursts open when ripe to expose the packed seeds that are surrounded by the cotton fiber.

 

The dominant plantations in the Caicos Islands were those growing Cotton and apparently, cotton needed one slave for every 5 acres compared to one slave per acre on sugar plantations.  Many of the plantation owners left the Islands because of the hurricane of 1813 and also the pest infestations. Many of the slaves were left behind.  Apparently by 1820 many of the plantations had been abandoned but we do know that Wade’s Green (North Caicos) was still in use. It is also likely that Wade Stubb’s other interests at Cheshire Hall and Haulover were still in operation. The Turks and Caicos Islands have a short and limited History in the cotton industry.

All the cotton photos are taken of the plants growing at Harbour Club Villas ……… Yes, you too can grow them or come and see us in the islands as it grows wild here in different spots.  

Cotton flowers and pods ready to burst forth with cotton fibres

Cotton flowers and pods ready to burst forth with cotton fibres

 

My cotton plants are loaded with cotton bolls right now and I'm sure to see more cotton plants sprouting up all over Harbour Club Villas
My cotton plants are loaded with cotton bolls right now and I’m sure to see more cotton plants sprouting up all over Harbour Club Villas

Enjoy the photos as this plant is quite showy when flowering as well as when full of cotton. The local birds here use this cotton when making their nests.

Cheers,
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Snuba

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Snuba with Jodi as she takes our guests for a closer look at the reef and this wonderful turtle.

Snuba with Jodi as she takes our guests for a closer look at the reef and this wonderful turtle.

Not quite ready to scuba dive………..well try some Snuba with Jodi who will guide you along the White House Reef at Coral Gardens on Grace Bay.  Snuba divers breathe under water through a 20 foot air line which is connected to a scuba tank mounted on a raft. The raft floats above on the surface and follows the snuba divers where ever they go. What a great way to experience being under water and to see our coral reefs right up close.

Grace Bay beach

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Grace Bay beach at Coral Gardens is great for snorkeling with the turtles.

Grace Bay beach at Coral Gardens is great for snorkeling with the turtles.

Here’s my favourite photo of Grace Bay beach taken at the White House Reef by Coral Gardens. The reef comes up very close to the shore and is protected by a circle of buoys. Snorkelers are asked to stay outside the circle of markers to protect parts of the reef that come up close to the surface at low tide. Recent sightings have included turtles, eagle rays and all kinds of colourful fish.

Flat calm and the clearest water you will ever see greets the snorkeler at the White House Reef on Grace Bay beach

Flat calm and the clearest water you will ever see greets the snorkeler at the White House Reef on Grace Bay beach

Snorkeler Mike heads out to check out the reef. You can see the circle clearly in the photo so remember to stay outside and there’s lots to see as you make your way around the buoys.

Wow.....what amazing colours the parrotfish have.

Wow.....what amazing colours the parrotfish have as they swim through the coral reef.

The Turks and Caicos Islands have some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world with incredible visibility. Visit the White House Reef at Coral Gardens on Grace Bay beach when you head to our beautiful islands for your next vacation. The water’s great!!!!

See you soon,

Marta

http://www.diving.tc

Curly Tailed Lizard

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A Curly Tailed Lizard eyes me from his perch on top of an old anchor

A Curly Tailed Lizard eyes me from his perch on top of an old anchor

 This Curly Tailed Lizard is only found in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Although it is fairly common in the islands, this particular species is found nowhere else in the world.

This little Turks and Caicos Curly Tailed Lizard species is only found here.

This little Turks and Caicos Curly Tailed Lizard species is only found here.

It is identified by yellow and black stripes along his back and is the second largest lizard after the Rock Iguana.  Each major island has a Curly Tailed lizard that has slightly different colouration and or patterns. Leiocephalus psammodromusa is its proper name and it is a ground dweller.

Keep your eyes open for these lizards on your next trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

More Hermit crabs

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More Hermit Crabs? But this one today was soooooo neat!

More Hermit Crabs? But this one today was soooooo neat!

You may think that I’ve gone crazy for crabs but I couldn’t resist taking photos of this hermit crab. Barry found this little guy on his way to the pool. I got him to pose for the camera because as hermit crabs go…….this one was really colourful with his great shell.

Hermit Crab up close and personal!

Hermit Crab up close and personal!

 For all you crab lovers out there………..enjoy these photos.

Cheers,

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

One more photo of this Hermit Crab

One more photo of this Hermit Crab

Thirsty work!

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Relaxing in the water is such hard thirsty work as this gentleman discovered.

Relaxing in the water is such hard thirsty work as this gentleman discovered.

What can I say………..this is the life. Floating along in our sparkling clear ocean while sipping on a beer. I hope you’ll come on down to enjoy our white sandy beaches and clear turquoise water. See you soon,

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Crabs

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"Crabby Johnson" visits Harbour Club in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

"Crabby Johnson" visits Harbour Club in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Hi Marta and Barry.  Mike and I got your email message letting us know of your new blog.  It’s quite fun!  I love your pictures.  It brings back such nice memories of the fun we had when we stayed with you.  When I saw the crab pictures it reminded me that we were going to send you a picture of the very large crab that walked from the back of your property down the driveway.    I’m including it with this message. Kevin had heard a sound in the bushes near the veranda and when we went to look we saw him.  He proceeded to “walk” under our rental car and down the driveway.  You can tell how large he is in relation to the size of the tire.  Kevin named him “Crabby Johnson.  I hope you are back to normal after the hurricane scare in September.  Thanks again for letting us know about the blog. Take care, Sandy and Mike Adamson

What a great photo and I’d forgotten that you were going to email me it……………Thanks alot and he is huge judging by the tire!!!  I wished I had seen him too.

Thanks for your email,

Marta 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Rainbow over the Cays

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A rainbow appears over the little cays off the south side of Provo.

A rainbow appears over the little cays off the south side of Provo.

A cloudy day, a sudden rain storm and out came this beautiful rainbow on the south side of Provo and just up the road from Harbour Club Villas. I took the photo from a friend’s house high on a hill ( “high” meaning about 100 feet above sea level which is high for here!!)

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com