Grand Turk

Monday – Grand Turk

 

Warm white sand between your toes, crystal clear green-blue water, palm trees, a sprinkle of rain and breezy …. Ahhhh! We are in Grand Turk. I had been here before, so I opted out of shore excursions and decided instead to wander the shops in their pretty multi-coloured buildings, and spend some time on the gorgeous beach. I held my shoes and walked along the sand, in the gentle waves and realized that this very well could be paradise (except during hurricane season!) It's a tiny island, only 7 sq miles, but it's so distinct from the islands around it. It's not a lush island paradise, but rather an arid place with scrub palms, wild donkeys, horses and dogs, and a strong history of a determined and hardy people. The main export here is not rum, or molasses, or coconuts, but salt from their salt plains. They are still recovering from Hurricane Ike, which devastated the island, but their attitude is stronger than ever. 

Because the ship docks along a pier that annexes the shopping area, it's very easy to wander on and off the ship at will (no doubt annoying security as you do so). I had attended a shopping seminar the day before, so I knew where to buy duty free Rolexes, the best quality Tanzanite and who sold the finest, purest diamonds. That was quite helpful since it meant I knew exactly which shops to avoid. (I did use a coupon given at the seminar to pick up a free mystic topaz pendant, so that was lovely.) I wandered in and out of Piranha Joe's and other more affordable places before finally flopping on a chaise longue, under a palm tree, breeze in my hair, and coconuts hanging precariously over my head. (Anyone know the stats on tourist head trauma induced by falling coconuts?) 

 

Remember Johnny Appleseed? Well, the Carnival Freedom is like that... sailing the Caribbean, bringing rain to desert islands. Arid, dry, parched Grand Turk was sprinkled by rain today, thanks to our visit. It truly was just a sprinkle – I didn't even stir out of my chair under those coconuts- but I was amused at the people who scrambled out of the water to run along the beach to “shelter”. They were swimming! Did they think a sprinkle of rain would make them more wet? Odd creatures.

Eventually, I had to make my way back to the ship for a light lunch, and then my obligatory nap. (This is becoming quite a habit!)

Supper tonight was... well, a whole blog entry needs to be devoted to just supper. In short, we ate at the Chef's Table, an 8-course gastronomic event that seats only 14 people, and lasts 3+ hours. My taste buds are still doing the dance of joy! It did mean that we missed the after dinner show, and no one was interested in heading off to listen to live music with me (and I really didn't want to go alone), so it was an early night … which is just as well since my shore excursion tomorrow in La Romana, Dominican Republic, starts just after we dock at 8am.

Foodie friends:

Breakfast : scrambled eggs, bacon, grapefruit, fresh fruit, OJ

Lunch theme was Caribbean Day : Greek salad, pasta salad, grilledcorn/peppers/mushrooms, calamari fritters, fried dumplings, jerk chicken, Jamaican pepper stew, and red beans and rice.

Supper : Chef's table. More to follow …. someday soon.

Kitty friends :

Astrophe is “an angel” to pill, and Dexter has not acted up once since I left. Suuuuuure... :) But it sounds like all is well.

Tomorrow.... La Romana.