Turks and Caicos

To celebrate my sister's birthday she wanted the whole family to take a cruise. This was one of our stops. While we dont normally spend the day at port we did on this occassion because we wanted to stay together as a family and this was what they chose.

 

Courtesy of Princess

"Grand Turk, the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands, is a small island bursting with turn-of-the-century Caribbean charm, retaining the look and feel of the Caribbean 40 years ago. Grand Turk was founded by Bermudan salt rakers some three centuries ago and its Bermudan-British-colonial architecture surrounded by colorful local dwellings make the island a treasure to visit. It is recognized as being one of the first places in the New World where Christopher Columbus landed and also gained worldwide attention when John Glenn splashed down near Grand Turk on his historic first mission to space. Grand Turk is six miles long and just over a mile wide with a population of only 6,000. It is blessed with miles of uncrowded, beautiful beaches and is close to several uninhabited cays such as Gibb's Cay, home of the stingray encounter. While there are many landside attractions to explore such as the Old Prison, Lighthouse Park, and the re-created salt salina, the real beauty of the island lies underwater. Grand Turk is world-famous for its healthy and beautiful coral reefs that surround the island, stretching almost from the coastline to the 7,000-foot vertical wall just offshore."

 

I was excited for my first trip to Grand Turk as it has always been my sister's favorite island.  That said, I didnt see much of it because we spent the day "at the beach next to the cruise port" on loungers.  I wasnt really fond of the set-up as there was a bar or restaurant or snackstand of some sort with loud music playing so if you wanted any solitude you had to walk way down to the far side of things.  Plus the chairs were packed in pretty tightly and there wasnt enough shade to go around.

I am taking a cruise with my mom and sister next month that stops here again. We decided this time to go to Governor's Beach for some snorkeling and r&r after careful contemplation of all the highlights Grand Turk has to offer such as Margaritaville, the space capsule, the lighthouse, and the....and the...