Turks & Caicos Part 2
Got a boat, gonna have some fun! Snorkeling, beach barbecue and sightseeing by boat are all in our future!
In honor of Mother's Day, the women in our group fled the United States, leaving our children thousands of miles away in order to relax and have some fun. To be honest, when we booked the trip, Mother's Day was not on our radar, but hey, it's a good strategy when you think about it! Our plan for the day is to chill on the beach and by the pool, followed by dinner at Coco Bistro. It is a beautiful day in Paradise and we plan to make the most of it while exerting the least amount of effort.
It’s Mother’s Day and not a child in sight. Nobody here is relaxing. And don’t judge our hair, we’ve been swimming in the pool AND the ocean!!
After eating breakfast and paddling in the pool, it is time to head down to the beautiful white sand beach that stretches some 5 miles to our left and a few miles to our right (I don't know, but it's pretty!). The beach chairs are arranged in a row and cocktails are served. Actually, I think they were served in the pool, but whatever. We hang on the beach until the sun gets high and then head back to the pool. I remind everyone to call their moms, because I am annoying that way.
After a long and lazy day, it is time to get ready for dinner. Coco Bistro comes highly recommended and we are all looking forward to it!
Coco Bistro in Grace Bay is set amongst the palm trees and glowing lights, serving wonderful food. Go there. Photo courtesy of Coco Bistro web site.
Coco Bistro's web site says the restaurant is set inside the largest palm grove on the island, which almost makes me feel bad, but it's already there, so hey, I'm going to enjoy it! We walk in and it is magical. They seat us at a large table and we get busy on the cocktail menu and wine list. The dinner menu features some of the usual suspects (conch) plus a few surprises. There is something for everyone. We eventually place our orders and the food eventually comes. It is quite delicious. By all accounts, this is one of the top restaurants on the island, and I believe it. All of the food photos below come from the Coco Bistro web site except for the glowing cosmo because I forgot my camera and my phone battery died.
A variety of appetizers, entrees, desserts and a glowing cocktail from Coco Bistro. The also have a food truck, CocoVan, which serves more casual food in a more casual atmosphere. Totally worth checking out!!
The next day we have booked a boat tour through Island Vibes Tours which takes us to the world's third largest reef for a snorkeling adventure, a national park for a beach barbecue and then a leisurely cruise to explore the island. It lasts all day, and we are pretty excited! We meet Captain John and his sidekick Jovan at the marina and quickly embark on our journey. Jovan is our host and describes what we are seeing along the coast as we head to the reef. I told him he reminds me of my oldest son as he has a beautiful smile and is a wealth of knowledge. He calls me "Mama" for the rest of the day.
Once we arrive at the reef we anchor amongst several other tour boats, grab our gear and head out into the water. It is clear, beautiful and the fish are plentiful and varied. They include lionfish, yellowtail snapper, parrotfish, angelfish and so many more. There are reportedly over 100 species of reef fish to observe, and they are beautiful. While we have no underwater pictures to share, there are plenty of the day. Just amazing.
An amazing day on the water with Island Vibes Tours. I know I keep using the word “amazing”, I will try and find more superlatives. This place is gorgeous!
After a full day on the water, we are hot and sandy. Time to head home, shower off and of course, get back in the pool for sunset. Tomorrow is a down day and Captain John is coming over to cook a nice dinner for us. Wednesday is deep sea fishing for some, spa day for others. Check in for more details, and thanks for following Ann!