THE TURKS AND CACIO'S ISLANDS
There are 40 Island in this Archipelago. The people speak English. The official Currency is the U.S. Dollar.
It is very warm here all year long. They do get Tornados and tropical Rain Storms from June-November.
The Terrain: There are a few Mountains and the tallest peak is Blue Hills, (49 m). The rest of the land on the Islands is low and the soil is make of Limestone, Mangrove Swamps and Marshes.
Sixteen years ago these Islands, (if you look on a Map they are west of Cuba and about 25 k south east of the Bahamas), wanted to become a Territory of Canada. At that time their was so much Civil unrest that Canada didn't want to get into the middle of a War.
All of the Islands are surround by the Atlantic Ocean.
I just read they have asked to become part of Canada again. Right now they are part of the British Commonwealth, (because they are a Territory of the UK).
INFORMATION
The population is close to 19,000 people and most of the people have their roots going back to the Slave Days.
The Capital City is Cockburn Town, (on the Grand Turk Island). The eight largest Islands are East Caicos, Grand Turk, Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Providenciales, Salt Cay, South Caicos and West Caicos.
It would be so nice if they became a Canadian Territory because we would have a warm place to go to in the Winter.
The official language is English. That's a good thing because their economy is base is Tourism,(they have about 100,000 victors a year). The next two important Industries for the Islanders are International Banking and Fishing, (there are no Industries here). They do grow a few things but not enough for the population and over 75% of their beverages, clothing, construction materials, food and tobacco is imported.
There are a variety of Christian Religions: Baptist,(40%), Methodist, (16%), Anglican, (18%) and the Church of God, (12%). The other people who live here, (14%), didn't tell the survey what Religion they followed.
These Islands follow the UK in Government, Laws, (from Wales and England) and they have their own Constitution.
They are a Democratic Country and have 3 of Political Parties: The People's Democratic Movement, (their Prime Minster, Derek Taylor, is the Leader of this one), Progressive National Party and the United Democratic Party.
They do have an electrical service that provides them with heat, radios and telephones but there are no Televisons Stations on the Islands.
PROVO
We flew here a Charted Fight from Toronto, Ontario. The Provo Airport is 3.2 Km. from Providenciales Town. After we cleared Customs we took a Taxi to reach out Hotel.
Our Hotel was on Providenciales Island. This is the Island that is the closest to Miami.
We stayed at the Allegro Resort & Casino. This Resort is on Grace Bay. We had an Ocean View Room that cost us $100.00 CAD per night. This doesn’t not include the taxes.
What we saw
There are not a lot of Attractions on this Island.
We went to see Club Med and were invited to stay for Lunch.
We walked around the Park and Chalk Sound.
We went to see a Conch Farm, (It cost us each $12.00 with lunch). We saw how they bread these Mollusks from the Egg to a huge Queen Conch. We had Lunch at the Café.
One day I made my Husband go Horseback Riding with me. We went before the Sun set and walk our Horses slowly along the beach. We only went once because his thighs got burnt when they rubbed the Horse's hairs.
WHERE WE ATE
Every morning we had buffet breakfast at the Topas Restaurant. If we were not on a Tour we had lunch by the Pool
Every night we had a cocktail at Anacoana Bar in our Hotel.
One night we went for Sushi at The Terrace Restaurant.
The Bay Bistro served a wonderful Chicken Jerky, (Jerky is a spicy way to prepare the Chicken). It was service with Rice and Black Beans.
We had hot pastrami Sandwich's at Angela's Top Of The Cove Delicatessen. This is a New York Styled Deli, (that means the Deli meats are not as spicy as the one's that are Chicago Deli style).
The most expensive meal we had was at Baci Ristorante. This is an Italian Restaurant that makes home made meals. My Husband had Veal Picasso and I had Osso Bucco. Each meal was $20.00 CAD/
We went to the Turtle Cove Marina to eat at the Banana Boat. My Husband had Shrimps and I had Soft Shelled Crab, ($8.00 each).
Two nights we ate at our Hotel. The Caruso served a nice Pasta and the Papays severed Seafood.
COCKBURN TOWN
We flew here on Turks & Caicos Airways. We had a one day Tour of this Island.
This is the only place to visit when you travel to the Grand Turk Island.
There are only two large Streets and that were covered in sand.
The houses reminded me of the ones I saw in Bermuda, (wooden British Colonial). St. Mary's Anglican Church was charming. It is over 200 years old.
I loved to walk along the pier to see the water the 4 huge Cannons. There are a number of attractions.
There is a small courtyard. In the centre of it is a Christopher Columbus Monument. The Plaza is surrounded by old Government Buildings,
My Husband collects stamps and we went into the Post Office to buy some that were in mint condition. While we were there we saw that they had a show case that has all of their philatelic stamps in it.
The National Museum some interesting beads, tools made from Sea Shells and an exhibit of what is left of the Molasses Reef Sailing Ship. It is the oldest one in North, Central and south America.
We went to see the Columbus National Park. The 4 Cannons are at the entrance to it. In the Park we saw all the Plants, Flowers and Trees that are on the Island, (from Fir to Palm). There were Herons, Opresy, Pelicans and pink Flamingos.
We visited the Fisherman's Villages of Bambarra, Conch Bar and Lombers.
On the way back we took the road that we were on when we arrived. We visited the Villages of Kew to see the Ruins and Bottle Creek.
We visited the Fruit and Vegetable Farms. The Farms are very old and began during the Colonial Era. I had never tasted Sugar Apples or Sea Grapes before. Think about their taste makes my mouth is water!!!
We visited the Wades Green Plantation. This Plantation reminded me of the few I saw near New Orleans, Louisiana.
One day we drove along the water to see the Wall. this is where you can go deep-sea diving. The Wall is a huge Ravine that separates the Grand Turk Island and the Salt Spring Cay, (Bay). We went to see Kelly's Folly's Coral Garden and the HMS Endymion, (a old British War Ship). The Ship was found in the Corals.
We didn't take a tour to see the Whales because I can see them in the Juana Fusca Straight, (across the Street)!
Before we left we went to the Water's Edge to eat a Conch Seafood Chowder. It wasn't a white Chowder but a red one.
MY THOUGHTS
We went here to relax because these Islands aren't for People who want a lot of action. We you want to have a peaceful vacation I do recommend the Turks & Caicos Islands to you.
For more information the Tourist Board Link is:
https://turksandcaicostourism.com
©LL2003
