GRAND TURK - THE LAST STOP ON OUR 8 DAY CRUISE

 

Grand Turk - 4 x7 miles. 4700 people
Capital of Turks and Caicos

Grand Turk is one of many islands in Turks and Caicos. Only 4700 people live on this 4 x 7 miles island. Since it is the capital - the average income is high - like $80,000 a year for a family. Also houses average $450,000 - again overweighed by second homes from outsiders. These islands are still owned by the United Kingdom - although their currency is the US dollar. There is a much larger island called Provo which is much more upscale and touristy. It was 70 miles away. 

This was my favorite stop. Mainly because we rented a golf cart and could go anywhere we wanted. The roads were empty. We went to stores - museums - lighthouses - beaches - the Capitol. It was easy to get around. Lulu loved the roaming donkeys left over from the salt mining era. They were always pesting for food and Lulu bought a bag of carrots at the market. 

Since we had good phone service and internet - I could easily live here for a month or so in the winter. Lulu loves the clear blue water - I love the breezes. Having only 4700 on the island reminds me of my old town Tamaqua PA. 

If I came back to this country - I would explore Provo. It seems to be more upscale - more shopping - more resorts - and a real international airport. It would probably be busier. 

Even though it was hot on Grand Turk - our golf cart had a nice shady roof - and at 15 mph it created a nice breeze. I think I paid $80 a day for a golf cart. It was for all day - but our ship left at 4 pm. 

The Caribbean Princess is a very comfortable ship

The water was clear right off the ship

This was a typical market. Prices were high -
because everything is imported except for salt

I liked this beat up Nissan Cube

This was the lighthouse keeper's house

On the northern tip was an old British military base

They claim Columbus landed here

Spiral steps to the top of the light

I had the light to myself

That is the old military base

Modern electric lamp

From the lighthouse

Pretty sky

Lulu was followed by donkeys

This was the Supreme Court

This was Parliament. They opened it just for us. 

The Capitol

Parking for about 20 cars

John Glenn's capsule - he landed near here.

Gate to the airport

My golf cart ran by gasoline. 

The main beach at Grand Turk

Many people went no farther than this

THURSDAY ON OUR CRUISE WAS THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

This was the second time in 10 months that we visited the Dominican Republic. Last Thanksgiving we stopped at Porta Plata - a city of about 150,000 people. This time we stopped at Amber Cove - a resort about 7 miles west of the city. 

We had a choice to just visit the beach and pools at Amber Cove or take a bus 7 miles into the city. Lulu loves water parks - palm trees - warm breezes - beach towels - umbrellas - so we spent the day here.  We rented a square beach umbrella and the sun drew a perfect square on the ground for us - because it was directly overhead. From 9 to 12 - the park was pretty busy with swimmers and sunners - you could also ride the zip lines - or even rent cabana cabins right out over the ocean. 

The Dominican Republic is an independent country that share the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. Haiti is famous for poverty - political unrest - and depleted land. We visited Haiti on one of our earlier cruises - but it was a fenced off enclave called Labadie. I don't hear much about it anymore. The people on these islands are mostly descendants of the African slaves that were brought here to harvest sugar. 

The average income in the Dominican Republic is $7200 a year. Surprisingly - the average home sale is $329,000. That is because many foreigners have second homes here. You can't beat the tropical weather. 

 

Amber Cove

Our ship from high on the hill

This was from the zip line tower

Water slides

This is the start of thewater slide

In the morning the pools were crowded

You could rent a private cabana - sit on the porch - drink.

Lulu would buy one and move there. 

Reminds me of Disney at the Polynesian Village

This is close to the spot where my grandfather - Roy Shartle Everhart - got killed by the Nazis during World War II. He was a Merchant Marine working in the engine room of the USS Norlandia. On July 4 - 1942 - they took a torpedo in the  engine room - from U-575 - a German submarine. The survivors came ashore in Samana - Dominican Republic. Not Everhart. 

CRUISE TO PUERTO RICO ON THE CARIBBEAN PRINCESS LAST WEEK

Last week Lulu and I took a Caribbean Cruise to Puerto Rico - Dominican Republic - and Grand Turk. We sailed aboard the Caribbean Princess for a beautiful 8 day cruise on this 950 foot long ship. The Princess Line is a British company. It has excellent food - service - and milder entertainment. There were some kids on it - but a majority of the passengers were old like us. It is a typical British middle class vacation. 

Puerto Rico is a territory of the USA. The people do not pay federal income tax. They do have Social Security and Medicare. The average household income is $26000. 37% of the people live below the poverty line. A US citizen can jump ship and live there forever. They have problems with water supply and their electric grid. They have about 3 million people. Population has declined in the last 5 years by 100,000. They can move to the USA as they are citizens. 

Our ship - the Caribbean Princess - was not full. It made it very nice for attending shows and meals. There are 3 pools on the top deck. We would sail with them again. 

Caribbean Princess

Grand Plaza inside ship

It was hot and humid in Puerto Rico - 90 degrees and 90% humidity 

Water fountains were turned off because of drought

Garden in Old San Juan

St John the Baptist Cathedral

Body of Christ

Tomb of Ponce de Leon - Governor 

This bar claimed the Pina Colada

National Hero Roberto Clemente

Colorful hotels

La Perla is the ghetto outside the city wall
where Despacito was filmed - the music video

La Perla - they said don't go there at night

La Perla - the Pearl

Fort Wall overlooking La Perla

On top of city wall

Top of wall by La Perla

National Museum inside wall

Blue Stone Streets - they are made of slag - a waste of 
iron smelting in Europe. They would fill the ships
with this ballast to keep it stable. Then unload it here. 
They would load local goods to go back. 

Statue of Christopher Columbus - he visited here
on his second trip

More blue slag streets

We left Sunday - sailed Monday and Tuesday - spent Wednesday in Puerto Rico - Thursday in the Dominican Republic - Friday on Grand Turk Island - sailing back Saturday - Arriving back Sunday. 

It was hot and humid and we expected that. As we get older - the hot Florida weather in July and August can wear you out. The ship sails at about 20 mph - providing a wonderful breeze. But you are in the tropics - so the sun's directly overhead. You look for shade and a good hat.