Monthly Archives: November 2009

Conch Festival

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The annual Conch Festival was held this afternoon down in Blue Hills

The annual Conch Festival was held this afternoon down in Blue Hills

The Turks and Caicos Conch Festival is held each year in Blue Hills and today was the day for fun and conch tasting. The weather was a little cloudy but nonetheless all kinds of delectable conch dishes were prepared and samples served up by the islands best restaurants.

Delicious servings of conch were tasted by the crowds attending this annual event

Delicious servings of conch were tasted by the crowds attending this annual event

The 6th annual Conch Festival had all kinds of events from marching brass bands, our island queen’s were in attendance, conch blowing, cultural performances, Mojito contest along with my favourite event… the Bamberra Rum Junk A Noo Rush.

Junkanoo is a must to see and enjoy........Blue Hills is the place to be.

Junkanoo is a must to see and enjoy........Blue Hills is the place to be.

You can't help but dance along with the drum beats, whistles and bells.

You can't help but dance along with the drum beats, whistles and bells.

The colourful costumes of the swirling dancers combined with goatskin drums, cowbells, horns and other instruments. Everyone joins in as the performers go through some wild and uninhibited dancing as they bang on drums and move down the Blue Hills road.  The word “rush” is given to this all-out form of dancing in the streets as people “jump up” to the island rhythms.

Mark your calendars.  November is the month for the conch festival so come join us on Provo.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Potcake friends

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Our daughter Tina and potcake friends at Smith's Reef

Our daughter Tina and potcake friends at Smith's Reef

We were out at Smith’s Reef when two potcakes came up to say hello to Tina. I snapped this photo as they sat on the beach on either side of her watching the snorkelers in the water. To the left of the photo, you can see the sandy roadway leading into the water where snorkelers can start exploring the snorkel trail.

Happy snorkeling!

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Beaches and more beaches

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Mike floating about on Grace Bay beach at the Bay Bistro

Mike floating about on Grace Bay beach at the Bay Bistro

I decided to take Mike to one of my favourite spots along the North shore and Grace Bay. It really is interesting how the beach changes from one end at the entrance to Turtle Cove Marina to the other end at Leeward. If you want to snorkel, the best spots are at Smith’s Reef and the Bight Reef at Coral Gardens (White House Reef). Mike took all his great photos of turtles at the Bight Reef. Here’s one from today……..he saw turtles, a sting ray, a huge barracuda, a lionfish (oh no!!!!) and lots of fish.

Mike snapped this photo of a Hawksbill Turtle at the Bight Reef

Mike snapped this photo of a Hawksbill Turtle at the Bight Reef

The best for just enjoying the water and swimming, just lazing around and for the softest sand is just in front of the Bay Bistro ( great food and tell Chef Clive, Marta sent you!) and Sibonne. We used to find all kinds of sand dollars there years ago but when things got built up they all disappeared. We spent hours here today just enjoying the water.

Nothing like having a cold Corona on the beach while enjoying the water

Nothing like having a cold Corona on the beach while enjoying the water

 While Mike was out snorkeling at the Bight Reef, I saw a white eagret swoop over my head and land. He stayed for a while and I managed to get some great shots.

A white eagret stopped by to check things out.

A white eagret stopped by to check things out.

To top off every fantastic day in the Turks and Caicos Islands…….. a sunset that was extraordinary. We were at a friends house overlooking our villas at Harbour Club and Flamingo Lake below us. The colours and the calm waters showed off the Five Cays so clearly.

Harbour Club Villas between Flamingo Lake and the ocean at Cooper Jack Bight

Harbour Club Villas between Flamingo Lake and the ocean at Cooper Jack Bight

On your next visit to Providenciales, explore all our beaches as there’s many of them each one as spectacular as the next. See you there!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

A quiet beach and Flamingos

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Another spectacular day....calm and clear and I dragged Mike along for a photo

Another spectacular day....calm and clear and I dragged Mike along for a photo. Who am I kidding....it was quite a few photos and Mike was very patient.

Our little “no name” beach (I call it My Beach or Dog Beach) is just down the road and tucked away. It’s know to the locals and several dogs who come to cool off in the water with or without owners. This is the favourite beach for our honeymoon couple Tim and Kristi who are staying with us now. Tim loves to bonefish and Kristi loves the beach so they are both happy.

Kristi loves this little beach and reads her book and cools off in the water.

Kristi loves this little beach and reads her book and cools off in the water.

Meanwhile, down the road a short ways, Tim was searching for bonefish. When we saw him, there was a school of bonefish that he had sighted. A flamingo flew right over his head as he was wading and I managed to catch it on camera………it’s a bit blurry but you can make out the flying flamingo. 

Here's Tim bonefishing with a flamingo flying overhead.

Here's Tim bonefishing with a flamingo flying overhead.

The water was so calm and besides Kristi, there were only three other people just strolling along in the shallow waters.

The three dots are people walking out in the shallow water.

The three dots are people walking out in the shallow water.

Today was again, another one of those days where the ocean was like a mirror. It was late afternoon and we had spent an hour taking photos of the flamingos…..at least we tried to get up as close as we could to them. They kept wandering over to the otherside.

Conference call as the flamingos gather together to squawk about the shrimps.

Conference call as the flamingos gather together to squawk about the shrimps.

This is the first year that I’ve seen more than a handful of flamingos. Usually we see no more than five or so but there were alot of them there on the lake and salina today.

The flamingos were different colours some a real vivid pink.

The flamingos were different colours some a real vivid pink.

The flamingos made reflections in the water as they slowly walked along occasionally feeding with heads under the water. If you are a bird watcher and here on vacation, make your way down Venetian Road past our villas at Harbour Club and you’ll see them. I’ll meet you there maybe???

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Bonefish Heaven

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Today I experience a bit of Bonefish Heaven out on the flats by Pine Cay.

Today I experience a bit of Bonefish Heaven out on the flats by Pine Cay.

What an unbelieveable day we had out on the flats with our guide Darin Bain of D and B Tours. He ordered up this spectacular flat calm day with clear see through water and those reflections! We headed off towards Pine Cay and it didn’t take Capt. Darin long to sight the fish.

Joe got busy and caught his first bonefish of the day.........a beauty!

Joe got busy and caught his first bonefish of the day.........a beauty!

We couldn’t have picked a better day and I was just along to take the photographs. I’m not sure how many cards I filled or batteries but I made sure I wouldn’t run out. The colours of the ocean, the flats, the bonefish and the reflections in the water were all breathtaking. I don’t fish but found the whole experience exciting and exhilarating.

Joe releases a good sized bonefish one of many caught this day.

Joe releases a good sized bonefish one of many caught this day.

I think Joe hooked up at least 13 or so and landed some six. At one point when I was shooting from the water, he saw a hundred or so coming towards me from behind. What a sight to see!

Fish On...........Joe catches another one and check out the reflections in the water.

Fish On...........Joe catches another one and check out the reflections in the water.

Capt Darin has been fishing the Caicos Flats for over 10 years and he really knows the area like the back of his hand and will put you on the fish. His eagle eyes can see them when no one else can…..I was hopeless at seeing them but then I was too busy with the camera.

Joe smiles from ear to ear.......another bonefish. They're called "the ghosts of the flats"

Joe smiles from ear to ear.......another bonefish. They're called "the ghosts of the flats"

Joe and Christen are honeymooning at Harbour Club Villas and  Joe is a photo journalist with Field and Stream Magazine. This is his first time fishing for bonefish and I think we have him convinced that the Turks and Caicos Islands is the place for bonefishing.

Bonefishing is GREAT in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Bonefishing is GREAT in the Turks and Caicos Islands

A perfect day!  All you bonefishermen out there just have to head down to Provo and I’ll hook you up with Darin for a trip out onto the flats. Call me and I’ll arrange everything for you.

Tight Lines!

 

Marta

 

http://www.bonefishing.tc

Potcakes

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I have a new Mommy and Daddy!!!!! I'm so excited and so are they.

I have a new Mommy and Daddy!!!!! I'm so excited and so are they.

Today was an exciting day for our honeymoon guests Christen and Joe. They had corresponded with the amazing volunteers at Potcake Place and filled out application forms to adopt one of these precious little potcakes. Jane, the founder of Potcake Place brought the pups over to Harbour Club Villas to introduce them to each other and for a little play/get acquainted session.

Potcakes need your help so that they can be placed in a wonderful "forever home" with a loving family.

Potcakes need your help so that they can be placed in a wonderful "forever home" with a loving family.

I honestly don’t know how it’s possible not to love these little charmers and then to have to choose. Ono will find a loving family to call home too.  

Here's Ono with her sweet little face and crooked ear.

Here's Ono with her sweet little face and crooked ear.

Christen and Joe couldn’t resist the  playful nature of a potcake puppy that they’ve already named Ava………Joe tells us she’s named after an Ava fishing jig. Joe’s passionate about his fishing and what could be better than a honeymoon in the Turks and Caicos, some bonefishing and wading in Turtle and Flamingo Lakes, a new family member called Ava and don’t forget some snorkeling for Christen too!! 

Ava gets a cuddle from Jane.

Ava gets a cuddle from Jane.

There are several ways in which you can help:   Volunteers are needed to carry potcakes to their new owners so if your flying from Provo to Canada or the States, please contact Jane at Potcake Place. Please give what you can as all the donations go towards fostering the puppies. Most importantly, if you can adopt a potcake and give it all the love and attention it deserves, just call me 1 866 456 0210 or email us and I’ll point you in the right direction.

Happiness is a new life full of love, laughter and Ava!!!!

Our wish for you......Happiness is a new life together full of love, laughter, sunshine and a potcake puppy named Ava!!!!

If you can be a courier, adopt or make a donation contact the Potcake Foundation and  PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

 

 

 

Bouganvillea and Praying Mantis

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I'm sure I spent over an hour taking photos of this Praying Mantis on a bouganvillea.

I'm sure I spent over an hour taking photos of this Praying Mantis on a bouganvillea.

Here's a close up of the praying mantis and the white flower of the bouganvillea.

Here's a close up of the praying mantis and the white flower of the bouganvillea.

Bouganvillea comes in such a variety of colours and the deep pink or fushia is one of my favourites.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Flamingo Lake Reflections

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Flamingo Lake was at its stunning best today .... flat calm with a mirror image reflection.

Flamingo Lake was at its stunning best today .... flat calm with a mirror image reflection.

I glanced out at the lake late this afternoon and the reflections in the calm waters took my breath away. I grabbed my camera and didn’t even have a chance to tell Barry where I was going. The ripples and the colours kept changing as the sun started to sink over the hill to the right of our villas at Harbour Club.

The sun started to set and tinged everything with an orangey glow

The sun started to set and tinged everything with an orangey glow

As I walked along the road the water was churning………….”nervous water” as the fishermen call it. The bonefish were tailing and rippling up the calm on Flamingo Lake.

The bonefish were tailing and rippling the surface of Flamingo Lake

The bonefish were tailing and rippling the surface of Flamingo Lake

In the foreground of the photo you can see all the circles and ripples created by tailing bonefish.

I zoomed in on this photo which does show a definite bonefish shape.

I zoomed in on this photo which does show a definite bonefish shape.

For all you bonefishing enthusiasts out there, fishing would have been great this evening. Our guests at Harbour Club Villas can just walk across the road and into the lake. We see bonefish tailing all the time and you can watch from your villa windows.

Bonefishing is great in the lakes by Harbour Club as well as the flats. Come on down and join us.

 

Tight lines!!

 

Marta

 

http://www.bonefishing.tc