Land Crab at the Villas

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Barry was the bravest of us all as he picked up this Blue Crab by our villas.

Barry was the bravest of us all as he picked up this large land crab by our villas.

Guests at Harbour Club Villas were surprised by this rather large land crab they found by their villa. Barry picked it up as it was not moving very fast and was not at all aggressive. We think it might have been injured or sick because it couldn’t even lift up its major claw in order to defend itself.
It sure had a lethal looking claw

It sure had a lethal looking claw

It was raining most of today but during one of the breaks between rains, our guests came across the land crab in one of our planters. We don’t think it’s going to make it. It was a great opportunity to take a real close look at a land crab.
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Passion flowers

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This pale wine coloured passion flower vine was found on Venetian Road not far from Harbour Club Villas.

This pale wine coloured passion flower vine was found on Venetian Road not far from Harbour Club Villas.

I mentioned in a previous post “Passionflowers on the Beach” that I had old photos of a bright red passion flower and the one above which was growing along side Venetian Road and had a paler wine coloured flower. Both were very striking and in colours that I’ve never seen before.

Several varieties and colours of passion flower vines are found on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

Several varieties and colours of passion flower vines are found on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

These flowers are showy and frequently appear after spring and summer rains. The filaments that are around the central column can vary in colour from yellow to orange to red.

Red passionflower vine that I used to have growing along the pool fence in the early days at Harbour Club Villas

Red passionflower vine that I used to have growing along the pool fence in the early days at Harbour Club Villas

This passion vine had flowers that were a bright red and very striking.

Pretty, bright red passionflower vine that used to grow here at Harbour Club.

Pretty, bright red passionflower vine that used to grow here at Harbour Club.

Hope you enjoyed taking a look at these extraordinarily beautiful flowers. I love them!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

King Helmet Shell

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In Blue Hills, a local cleans a King Helmet shell so that it's ready for sale.

In Blue Hills, a local cleans a King Helmet shell so that it's ready for sale.

Piles of conch shells lie in the waters by Da Conch Shack in Blue Hills. In amongst them there were a few King Helmet Shells which seem to be much rarer than the Queen Conchs. I’m noticing more and more of these shells and  Triton shells being harvested and sold in various places on Providenciales.

Low tide had exposed the piles of conch shells lying in the waters

Low tide had exposed the piles of conch shells lying in the waters

It was low tide at the beach in Blue Hills where piles of conch shells lay in the water. I guess they get cleaned and sold by beach vendors. Behind the shells, you can see the pen containing live conch that supplies Da Conch Shack.

Taste some conch while in Blue Hills………right on the water!

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Turtle Cove Marina

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In coming rain clouds created a rainbow over Turtle Cove Marina a few days ago.

In coming rain clouds created a rainbow over Turtle Cove Marina a few days ago.

I love the rosey warmth of the light as the sun goes down made that much better by passing rain clouds that created a beautiful rainbow over Turtle Cove Marina. If you’re looking for some great island food check out the four restaurants located in the marina. Not only will you taste some great dishes but the views out over the water are hard to beat. Say Hi to John at Baci’s and tell him Marta sent you. Mike at Aqua will make sure you enjoy yourselves. Then there’s the Tiki Hut and the Shark Bite too.

See you in Turtle Cove!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Wild Flowers

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Flowering Broom Bush with it's delicate white flowers

Flowering Broom Bush with it's delicate white flowers

On a recent tour of Cheshire Hall on Providenciales, I snapped a photo of this lovely plant. The Broom Bush looks a little like dried twigs but once it gets some rain, it takes on a green tinge and then flowers.  It is endemic to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Endemic means that this species is limited to a geographic area and not found anywhere else.

The Broom Bush thrives in open and rocky areas such as Sapodilla Hill where I found the above growing

The Broom Bush thrives in open and rocky areas such as Sapodilla Hill where I found the above growing

The Turks and Caicos Islands contain a number of endemic species. Look out for our many wild flowers and plants as you wander and visit our beautiful islands.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Shopping Turks and Caicos

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Our shopping trip was pleasantly interrupted by two beautiful little girls who posed for me by the great mural at Ports of Call

Our shopping trip was pleasantly interrupted by two beautiful little girls who posed for me by the great mural at Ports of Call

Today was the day I took Sam and Marilyn shopping as we visited my favourite stores with such a variety of gifts just made for everyone. We stopped at the colourful Haitien market with stalls full of metal painted art. It was a day of turtles as Sam bought a turtle wall piece and then Marilyn found a beautiful turtle box in another shop.

Hard to pass up all the vibrant colours of metal art work......from geckos to fish, turtles to sunmasks

Hard to pass up all the vibrant colours of metal art work......from geckos to fish, turtles to sunmasks

Ports of Call was another stop where we made sure to drop in at Mama’s Gift Shop….Mama wasn’t there today but Chalice as always was full of smiles and happy to see us. On your next Provo visit, tell the ladies Marta at Harbour Club sent you! Sam, whose real name is Sandy bought the new children’s book Where is Simon, Sandy? for her grandkids. It is based on an actual event from the Turks and Caicos Islands and is set on Grand Turk.

Check out the great selection at our shopping areas in The Salt Mills and Ports of Call

Check out the great selection at our shopping areas in The Salt Mills and Ports of Call

The SaltMills is full of quality shops especially Anna’s Gallery which is a must with the most exquisite original paintings on silk. You’ll often find the artist, Anna Bourne painting her latest silk work of tropical fish, turtles, frogs or sea horses. Other artists’ works are also on display.

Happy shopping everyone!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Yellow fin Tuna

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What a catch.......a great fight and Barry landed a 30 lb yellow fin tuna

What a catch.......a great fight and Barry landed a 30 lb yellow fin tuna

Today Barry headed out for a day of deep sea fishing with some friends. He hooked something off Malcolm Roads beach and it put up a great fight for a good 15 minutes. What a beauty! It was a 30 lb yellow fin tuna. We’re going to invite our villa guests to join us for a tuna steak barbecue tomorrow night and what a feast it will be.

Bon appetit!

 

Marta

 

http://www.bonefishing.tc

Beach Barbecue

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Tents are set up and waiting for tonights Full Moon BBQ on the beach infront of the Bay Bistro

Tents are set up and waiting for tonight's Full Moon BBQ on the beach in front of the Bay Bistro

We were down for lunch and pina coladas at the Bay Bistro. We decided that these guys have the BEST pina coladas and yes, lunch was great too.  Chef Clive Whent was busy preparing the prime rib for the “feast on the full moon” barbecue held on the beach by the Bay Bistro.

Did I say Clive was working hard preparing tonight's prime rib?

Did I say Clive was working hard preparing tonight's prime rib?

Well, we  figured it was pretty tiring work watching the prime rib slowly cook on the spit especially when the weather on the beach was just too good to be true. On tonight’s menu will be prime rib and shrimp,  buffet style under the full moon with music and a bonfire…………………$40.00 for adults and $20.00 for kids. Make sure you take in this event if you are here on island for the next full moon. It’s something that shouldn’t be missed!

See you on the beach.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Conch World (Part 2)

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The onshore nursery ponds can hold up to 2,000,000 conchs!!!

The onshore nursery ponds can hold up to 2,000,000 conchs!!!

Some 80 onshore ponds, where aeration systems keep the water oxygenated, are the nursery home of  the baby conchs which are fed a special conch feed by some 20 staff at the farm.

Each pen out in the shallow waters contains 5,000 conch

Each pen out in the shallow waters contains 5,000 conch

Conch World has 200 offshore pens which hold initially the 1 year olds (6 cm size). After 2 1/2 years in the pens or at 3 to 4 years old, the conch can be harvested.

Danver introduces us to Sally the resident female conch

Danver introduces us to Sally the resident female conch

Sally needs little coaxing to come out of her shell. Note the “foot” which is strong and powerful. 

And here's Jerry........the male conch with his male parts that Danver is pointing to.

And here's Jerry........the male conch with his male parts that Danver is pointing to.

Make sure to visit Conch World when you visit our island of Providenciales. Entry fee is only $10.00 per person and I think it is well worth it. You won’t have another opportunity anywhere in the world as this commercial farm is the only one.

See you there!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com