Where When How Summer 2012 : Page 146

V ISIT O UR O THER I SLANDS Beyond Providenciales... ISLAND HOPPING MADE EASY.... Now that you’ve made it as far as Providenciales, it’s time to step off the rock and explore some of our other amazing islands! Provo is beautiful but it’s certainly not all we have to offer; here paradise comes in many flavours. Travel throughout the Turks and Caicos used to be difficult and time consuming, but it’s now possible to take a day or two and see first-hand how vastly different each island is. Though many remain largely untouched by progress, the restaurants, accommodations and conveniences you’ll find on each island are sure to delight you. Whatever your destination, use our handy guide to “Beyond Providenciales” and prepare for what will be a memorable journey. 146 • • • • • SUMMER 2012 “Where When How -Turks & Caicos Islands”

Grand Turk Feature

A Day Trip To Grand Turk

Kathryn Fox

VISIT OUR OTHER ISLANDS Beyond Providenciales... ISLAND HOPPING MADE EASY.... Now that you’ve made it as far as Providenciales, it’s time to step off the rock and explore some of our other amazing islands! Provo is beautiful but it’s certainly not all we have to offer; here paradise comes in many flavours. Travel throughout the Turks and Caicos used to be difficult and time consuming, but it’s now possible to take a day or two and see firsthand how vastly different each island is. Though many remain largely untouched by progress, the restaurants, accommodations and conveniences you’ll find on each island are sure to delight you. Whatever your destination, use our handy guide to “Beyond Providenciales” and prepare for what will be a memorable journey. The Turks & Caicos Islands TOURIST BOARD Invites You to Explore GRAND TURK THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS are made up of around 40 islands and cays, eight of which are inhabited year round. Each of our islands is unique, and all possess charm, beauty and a distinctive Caribbean flavour our visitors can’t seem to get enough of. Many of holidaymakers arrive in the Turks and Caicos Islands via cruise ship to Grand Turk, while stay-over guests usually land on Providenciales via one of several major airlines. But no matter from what point of entry tourists first discover our islands, it’s becoming increasingly popular for stay-over guests to take a few days of their holiday to explore Other Islands. It seems, no matter what your personal vacation style might be, we’ve got at least one island you’ll fall in love with! Whether you’ve had a taste of Grand Turk and are looking for a longer stay, or you’ve never explored the islands Beyond Providenciales, a trip to Grand Turk is a snap! A brief 25-minute flight from Providenciales, you’ll only just be settling in when the flight attendant will announce you’ve begun your descent! Once you’ve collected your luggage, you’ll cruise through the efficient and comfortable airport, out into the welcoming sunshine. As if by magic a taxi will arrive, and within moments, you’ll be headed toward your destination of choice. When there are Cruise Ships in port, there are a variety of shops and tour operators open to amuse and delight the multitudes. Although many tourists visit Grand Turk via cruise ship, you will not find a throng of cruise shippers wandering around the island. It’s very likely, in fact, you won’t even know they’re there! The cruise ship terminal is a self-contained area to cater to these guests, most of whom take advantage of the amenities on site and don’t venture out onto the island, those who do, are generally booked onto an excursion provided in conjunction with their cruise line. The island benefits greatly from these visitors, fortunately without losing any of the unspoiled charm that makes Grand Turk so special. Although the Turks & Caicos Islands currently enjoy a reputation as a tourist destination, in the 17th and 18th century Grand Turk, along with Salt Cay and South Caicos, was world-famous. Salt that formed naturally in the salinas attracted salt-rakers from Bermuda who established the first permanent settlement on Grand Turk since the Lucayans. These low lying ponds can be seen in the centre of town; when salt production was ongoing, sea water was pumped into the salinas using windmills, and the dykes you see were used to maintain different levels of evaporation in the various ponds. One of the advantages Grand Turk has over Providenciales is a sense of historical significance. Traditional Bermudan architecture, heritage buildings, the low white stone walls lining narrow streets leading you to the treed courtyards of businesses and residences via brightly painted gates, wild donkeys and horses ambling along island roads. . . All of that ambience combines and you really feel as though you’ve travelled somewhere off the beaten track. To help you learn the history of the island, many noteworthy dwellings are outfitted with signs detailing their inhabitants or original purpose. The Turks and Caicos National Museum is another reason you should visit. Collections include artefacts dating from the time the Taino people first began to visit the islands to their establishment of a permanent settlement, when those who settled became knows as Lucayans or ‘Island People,’ around 900 A.D. Sadly, the last of the Lucayan people died around 1520, leaving only archaeological evidence of their culture. The exhibit includes items from the museum’s collection as well as items on loan from The Smithsonian. GRAND TURK MUST SEE & DO Governors Beach - Located within the Columbus Landfall National Park, beautiful white sand beach at the edge of town. The Cruise Ship Terminal - When a cruise ship is in port this is a whirlwind of activity. Many shops, including duty-free, are located at the terminal, and it is home to the Caribbean’s largest Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, complete with enormous swimming pool, waterslides, cabanas and more. Open on cruise ship days. The Lighthouse - Though currently undergoing restoration, the bluff the lighthouse is perched on provides one of the most beautiful views on the island. In addition to great views of the sea, the bluff also overlooks North Creek, the inland body of water some believe matches Columbus’ description of the area where he first made landfall in 1492. The Turks & Caicos National Museum - Various tours ranging from $15-$35 per person. The museum is open Tuesday to Friday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and on cruise ship days. Duke Street - A stroll along this historic street is a must. Take your time and stop at the various historic points of interest, businesses, restaurants, and colourful bars. Conch World - Located on a hill overlooking the sea, learn about cultivation of the Queen Conch and the importance of Conch in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Open on cruise-ship days. Adults $15, Children $7.50. .. Horseback Riding on the Beach - A great way to pass a couple of hours, ride along the beach and into the sea! Dive the Wrecks, Reef and The Wall - Schedule a one or two dive day, with a convenient dry land surface interval. Dives start at approximately $55 for a single tank, and dive/accommodation packages are available. Gibbs Cay - Get up close and personal with graceful and gentle Southern Stingrays. RIPSAW: Music is alive and well on Grand Turk, and there’s a very good possibility you’ll have a chance to hear some authentic Ripsaw music. If you’re not able to find the music by following your ears, just ask someone where you can hear Zeus play the saw! Ripsaw is the national music of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and is called Ripsaw because it features a handsaw, played by running another piece of metal (a knife blade or something similar) along the teeth of the saw. The player of the saw can elicit different sounds and pitches by bending and bowing the saw while he (or she) plays it. Using a handsaw to create music is likely a practical matter, with musicians finding ways to make the sounds of the instruments they no longer have access to. Whether the origins of the ripsaw are in Africa or in the Dominican Republic and Haiti is a matter of debate. Some believe the saw was used to replicate the sound of the African Shekere, which the freed slaves who made their home in the Turks and Caicos Islands would have been familiar with. Others believe trade between Hispaniola and the Turks and Caicos would have exposed islanders to the Guido, an instrument used in music from the Dominican Republic and Haiti, inspiring musicians to recreate the Guido’s sound using what they had available to them. GRAND TURK INFO You can reach Grand Turk on Air Turks & Caicos for $180 round-trip. Www.airturksandcaicos.com Rooms at The Osprey Beach Hotel start at $90 per night and at The Bohio Dive Resort they start at $165 You can rent a car, navigating the island is a breeze, or taxis are available for hire. Most rides are between $8 and $10 dollars, your driver will also act as a tour guide for $25 per hour -- worth the price. Dinner for two with drinks at The Osprey Beach Hotel about $150. Drinks at The Salt Raker Inn, around $5 each. Watching Zeus keep all his fingers intact while wailing on a saw? Priceless.

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