Turks & Caicos Part 1
A raucous and sometimes contentious backgammon tournament takes up many of our evenings. Also a few mornings. And yes, tequila and cigars are sometimes involved.
We've fallen into a cadence here -- pool time, beach time, punctuated by activities and the occasional lunch or dinner out, though we have been cooking at the house quite a bit. Especially since the guys go deep sea fishing mid-week. They pull in quite a catch. We use Grand Slam Fishing Charters and they do not disappoint. Here is a compilation of the other charters, activities and restaurants we are able to utilize/visit during our stay (please see my previous T & C posts for other restaurant/venue/charter recommendations).
A fine kettle of fish, which lands on our grill the same night. Some of it becomes sashimi. It is all delicious. Bob’s shark is the one that gets away.
The fish are abundant in Turks and Caicos, and the guys' take includes yellowfin tuna, some other kind of tuna, and some long skinny fish that Ron catches - wahoo, maybe? Missing from the photos is Bob's catch - he hooks a tuna, then a 6 foot shark (yes, a shark) eats his tuna! Bob is able to reel it in, which takes some time and energy. Grand Slam does not allow shark on board, so Sharky is set free. Video does exist and one day, when I get a YouTube channel to post my videos and link to them, you just may see it.
Cocktails beachside at the Grace Bay Club’s outdoor restaurant and raw bar. Great food and beautiful views.
While the guys fish, a few of the ladies visit the Anani Spa at the Grace Bay Club. I get some type of massage and then they put sea-stuff on my face. It is excellent. We enjoy the services there, followed by a delicious lunch, and decide we would all stay here in a heartbeat. The grounds and facilities are beautiful, the staff is friendly and they HUSTLE (which does not always happen on island time), and the restaurants on premise are very good! There are beautiful beaches and lots of beach toys for use, including catamarans, my favorite. I will have to go back someday.
Horseback riders pass by our villa several times a day, courtesy of Unique Tours and Rentals.
A small group chooses to ride horseback along the beaches and through the waves of Thompson Cove via Unique Tours and Rentals. We see them pass by our villa several times a day and the horse people among us cannot resist. I miss this tour, as I am on a boat (see next segment), but by all accounts, it is a great way to pass a few hours and get a different perspective on the Grace Bay area. Hi ho Silver!
Bob, Scott and Tony get their surf on, followed up by a grouper sandwich and a little bit of rum. Ahhh, island living!!
I am a boat person. I love the water. Bob and his buddy Scott are avid wake-surfers, and Tony, who comes along for the ride, gamely gets on the board and does a great job! I tend to fall into the "boat candy" category. Basically, I take pictures, cheer people on and try to look good. Wake to Wake Watersports takes us out on a lovely tropical channel and we have a fantastic time! Our captain and first mate are first rate. If you've not heard of wake surfing yet, it's a relatively new sport and it's good for old people like us! One uses the rope to get up on a teeny tiny surfboard, and then, the wake of the boat pushes you forward at about 10mph. It's harder than I make it sound, and a ton of fun!! We usually surf on a lake, so doing it on a glowing Caribbean ocean makes it all that much more special.
Afterwards we grab a late lunch at Ricky's Flamingo Cafe, still in Grace Bay. They serve fresh caught seafood 90 different ways. I choose the grouper sandwich with a rum and pineapple concoction. Tip: try and stay away from rum punch, it is too sweet and usually very weak. Awesome afternoon.
A delicious selection of fresh fish and pastas at Mango Reef at the Turtle Cove Marina, Grace Bay.
For our final dinner on our final evening, the group decides on Mango Reef Restaurant at the Turtle Cove Marina, a full 5 minutes from our house. I like the pictures in the dining guide, and the proximity, while Michelle has heard great things about it. Decision made. We arrive and it is scenic. On the water next to the boats with lots of twinkly lights. We are seated and check out the menu, which is varied and fantastic! The group orders all over the place -- Mediterranean carpaccio, open shrimp and scallop ravioli, simmered black tiger shrimp, seafood pasta, teriyaki tuna, curried shrimp, miguri noodles and more. It is all delicious!! A proper ending to an incredible trip.
All nine of us have decided we would go back to Turks and Caicos, though the Seattle contingent experiences delays in getting back to the west coast in excess of 24 hours or more, due to turbulent weather in the mid-west. Bob and I flew home to the east coast in 3.5 hours. For all my east coast people who do tropical vacations, I highly recommend Turks and Caicos. West coast people should go too! BEAUTIFUL water due to the reef system, tons of water sports, many restaurant and housing options that are affordable (unless you have cash to burn, then there are options for that too!), and activities galore. Bring a snorkel, mask and fins and you can keep yourself busy all week. It is an amazing destination and I plan to return. Thanks for following Ann.