Providenciales, Turks & Caicos

There is only one word for Providenciales.... incredible.

I have been to many beautiful islands, but Turks & Caicos takes the cake, hands down. It is by far the most gorgeous place I have ever been. My family and I traveled to this wonderful island in the summer of 2008. We left from The Philadelphia International Airport, a very large and very busy airport. We landed in the Providenciales International Airport, a tiny little piece of black top, with a stairwell that pulled up to the plane. Wow!

We were picked up by my Aunt Karen and Uncle Ron, who live and work in Providenciales. My Uncle Ron is an architect and designs million dollar villas. He is know throughout Turks and Caicos for designing some of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced luxury homes in the Caribbean. His work is incredible! The ten family members I traveled with, and myself, were fortunate enough to stay in a villa he designed named The Avalon. It was breathtaking! Throughout our trip we also had the chance to visit some of the homes he has designed, including Emerald Cay, a 27,000 sq. ft. single family residnece on their own private island. The mansion includes a movie theater made for up to 10 people, two guest houses, and a three story library, along with a 60,000 gallon pool that looks out into the ocean.

Being in Turks and Caicos was such an amazing experience and I got to do alot of fun activities while there. My cousins, my aunt, my dad, and I all went scuba diving with Dive . We did a two tank dive and visited places such as the Amphitheater. The Ampitheater is a a wall that drops straight down 85 ft. It was so fun to scale the ocean wall and see so many wonderful creatures such as eel and turles. Another site we visited include The Crack which is a deep crevice that cuts down the wall from a depth of 50 to about 100ft. Other marine life we saw included shark, stiny ray, turtles, octopus, barracudas, and lobsters!

Another fun place to visit when in Provo is Da Conch Shack! If you like shellfish you will love Conch! It is out of this world. Da Conch Shack is a small outdoor restaurant located on the beach for a wonderful view. Da Conch Shack is famously known for their fresh Conch (picked right out of the ocean when you order) and Alicias Infamous Rum Punch.

The shopping in Provo is great and you can find alot of unique items along the beach. Mama's Gift Shop is a wonderful stop for souvenirs and Mama is always there to welcome you!! She is so nice and down to earth. An important thing to remember when in Turks is that all shopping is Duty Free! Gotta love that!

All in all I had a blast in Turks and Caicos and really wish I could go back... The downside to the island is that it is incredibly expensive. When you foodshop, since everything is imported, you have to pay triple the price of the U.S. and if you don't go to the supermarket the day it comes off the ship, you may not even get it. Also, there is very little security and the police department was just started a few years ago. There are no drinking and driving laws and there is no drinking age.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my trip to Providenciales. All of the pictures in this blog were from my personal trip.

The Island of Pink Sand...

When people refer to Bermuda as the island of pink sand, they're not kidding.

It was a brisk day in October of 1998 when I walked out of my front door to see a white stretch limo parked in front of my house. I said quietly to myself, "is THAT how we are getting to the ship?" It was the morning of our 7-day cruise to Bermuda and I was so excited to step aboard the Zenith, a 682 foot Celebrity Cruise Line ship.

Bermuda, a territory of the UK, is located in the Atlantic Ocean just about 650 miles east of North Carolina. A passport is now required of all travelers. Between the months of May and November, Bermuda sees its warmest temperatures which range between 75 and 85 degrees. However, even in its coldest months the temperature usually does not fall below 70 degrees. Talk about all around beautiful weather!!

Bermuda is a beautiful place for relaxing on the beach or exploring the old-fashioned cities.

If you are looking for a great tan, pink sand, and crystal clear water, then I recommend visiting Horseshoe Bay and Tobacco Bay. Other beaches of interest include Astwood Cove, Chaplin Bay, Church Bay, Clearwater Beach, Elbow Beach, Jobson's Cove, John Smith's Bay, Shelly Bay, Stonehole Bay, and Warwick Long Bay. While all water sports are encouraged in Bermuda, snorkling is absolutely out of this world along the pink beaches. Speechless!

If shopping is your passion, Hamilton is the place for you! And guess what... it's duty free! A shopper's two favorite words. Front Street is bright and colorful, picture perfect, shopping strip located in the heart of Hamilton. From clothing to perfume, as well as hand made arts and crafts, you will surely find beautiful treasures.

For the adventurous sight-seers, Bermuda is the home of the breathtaking Crystal Caves. Also located in Hamilton, the Crystal Caves are filled with magnificent stalagmite and stalactite formations. A bridge located within the cave was created so that tours may cross over the infinite crystal clear waters that cover the floor of the caves.

St. George is a quaint little historic town. While there is not much to do there, the town hall is gorgeous and normally there is a little reinactment that takes place right outside by the Town Crier.

I had a fabulous time on my cruise and was fortunate enough to return to Bermuda on a second cruise a few years later. I revisited the island in August of 2007 on Royal Carribean's ship, The Enchantment of the Seas. While Bermuda itself has remained the same, I think I enjoyed my second trip there more than the first due to the ship. I highly recommend Royal Carribean Cruise Lines. They are wonderful!

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

Through this blog I hope to focus on the places I have been and encourage you to visit them as well. I am fortunate enough to have a family who loves to travel and has given me the opportunity to not only travel across the U.S., but travel out of the country, as well.

Traveling is such a rewarding activity! Not only do you have the chance to get a great tan, swim in crystal blue water, or see the Grand Canyon, you are given the chance to learn about different cultures and how other people live.

I will continue to update, with each post focusing on a new destination. I will include lists of places to go, things to do, and pictures from my experiences.