Day Three

After sailing all night our third day brought us to Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos in the Bahamas. We safely docked in Grand Turk at approximately 11:00 AM on Nov. 4, 2009

The small commonwealth of Turks and Caicos, a British Crown Colony, includes eight main islands and about 40 small low-lying cays. The beach paradise has been blessed with crystal clear turquoise waters and smooth powder white beaches. Seven miles long and 1.5 miles wide, Grand Turk has served as the government seat for the colony and the British Governor since 1766.

Grand Turk has a sparkling new Cruise Ship Complex to welcome shipboard visitors. We opted to take a private taxi to a small village area about 5 miles from the Cruise Ship Terminal. There were lots of colorful buildings and people,


Whether Christopher Columbus or Ponce de Leon was the first European to sight the islands is the subject of continued dispute (Columbus did land in the islands, but the exact site is uncertain). Columbus landed on Grand Turk on Oct 12, 1492.



Here's a view of one of the beautiful beaches from the ship.




I was told that the name Turk came from the Turk's Head Cactus which used to be abundant on the islands.


Boy, I sure am little!!


There's Brother-in-law Phil and Sister Sue.




This guy told me his name is Dan.


The beautiful, empty beach at Margaritaville, right at the Cruise Ship Terminal area.


Here's some of the small, colorful shops we visited. In Sept. 2008 Grand Turk was hit by two hurricanes, Ike and Gustav, just 10 days apart. 80-90% of the houses on the island were damaged. Much of it still hasn't been repaird.




I liked the name of this street.


I don't remember exactly what this building with the American, and many other flags flying was, but some sort of government building.


Heading back to the Oosterdam........



for lunch..... what a big burger!!

I didn't get a picture of Phil with his mouth open, but he really did get it.


The ship set sail at 6:00 PM and started it's voyage towards Oranjestad, Aruba.
Later that evening we went to the Screening Room and saw the movie ""The Taking of Pelham 123." It starred John Tavolta as the bad guy. It was very suspenseful!!