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Published: March 17th 2010
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I'll start by stating that I've adjusted my entry dates based on my actual visits to these locales... so my apologies for a bit of backtracking. In future, I hope to be more current with my postings now that I've discovered this site!
The first time I had the pleasure of visiting this lovely island was in November/December 2001. I was searching for an all-inclusive vacation with lovely water and unlimited windsurfing that catered to adults only (my age at the time... 28). The travel agent (yes, still frequently used in 2001) was very kind and helpful and assured me it would be a terrific fit. Wow, did she ever set the bar for making me a happy camper!
As you can see from the pictures, this location is exquisite. Let me briefly backtrack a bit to say that my first visit was so amazing not only because of a great club med experience that first time, but also due to the 3 mile stretch of talcum powder-like sand that was soft and rarely got too hot to stand on while the heat was incredibly warm and welcome with cool clear waters that beckoned.
That first visit, my first steps into the ocean were pure bliss (as soon as I was checked in - I tore up the sand to go windsurfing... of course, I had to be "rescued" as I had drifted from one end of the bay to the other)! The water was perfect and I had the pleasure of meeting their local friend, JoJo the dolphin.
Incredibly, the whole club "bed" myth is not a far stretch from the truth, but you can enjoy yourself and be a good girl too - especially if your ulterior motive is the beach and a relaxing vacation of ocean fun. The nearly constant warm breeze allows for virtually nonstop windsurfing at some point throughout the day, so I was able to enjoy that nearly every day of my first week there! Although I would have loved it, I did not venture past Grace Bay Beach (where Club Med is located). But, back in 2001, it was one of two resorts that existed in my memory. You could walk for nearly two miles before even seeing a shack or luxury house (albeit partially destroyed by the ocean) on the beach in either direction.
Now (2010) there is very little property that hasn't been developed along the beach. Land is not cheap, though. From a development perspective, there could still be some great opportunity, but it is more dependent upon the political environment. To put it into perspective, while there is no tax on owned property, there is limited financing for land, while you can purchase condo arrangements at a better deal than in Bermuda, although the pricing is incredibly expensive - on par with New York City. This is not from a squarefoot perspective so much as the viewpoint that if one wanted a vacation home from the east coast, it is not a clear alternative when you pay as much or more than the locale where you'd be living 60-90% of the year (depending on how much you travel). This is back to the original point of the political climate.
I have continued to return to Provo (Providenciales) on nearly an annual basis - mainly for their conch fest! It is an amazing day of indulgence. I am fortunate to be catered to by my friend who ensures my bevy is never empty, while sampling the best the island has to offer in the way of conch (local delicacy - seafood chock full of nutrients and protein). Everything you can imagine is here. One thing you should know about me is that I am not a seafood lover. I don't do sushi and it is only in recent years that I have attempted to become more seafood friendly. I am born and raised in the great northwest (Vancouver, BC CANADA, for those who don't know where the reference is) and I never developed a penchant for seafood (ach - black sheep! lol). Therefore, the fact that I eat conch salad (raw conch - straight from the ocean with the basis being raw conch chopped with peppers, onion, and lemon juice), conch chowder, conch ravioli, conch fritters (think calimari)... and the list goes on. It is a delicious festival right by the sea, in Blue Hills - the heart of the local culture and just down the road from the famous Conch Shack.
In addition to the conch, recent trips have allowed me to enjoy the beauty of Long Bay Beach (the other side of Provo), which is less crowded for sunrise runs (Grace Bay is for sunset walks), although it has grown steadily busy over the years with Kite surfing since LBB is so shallow that when the horses come through on their jaunts, they can be nearly a mile out and still their riders only have their feet or up to their knees wet!
There are so many more things to say about this lovely place, and perhaps I will update this locale at some later date, but I hope that I have provided some information that is helpful to travelers.
Parting Notes:
Weather - think... another day of paradise. It rarely rains and even when it does, it lasts maybe 14 days per year. There are some cloudy days (mainly in the winters), but you CAN burn (or tan) those days too - so always use your sunscreen!
People - It is not that safe to be away from the resorts at night. There is still the potential for a lot of violence and/or theft if you leave the resort strip - best to hire a taxi if you are trying to go elsewhere. Most of the resorts have decent nightlife, but Turks and Caicos is not a party place (i.e. there isn't a party every night) and once the main tourist season is over, there is no nightlife.
The people are very religious (check out the number of churches per capita) and quite friendly and very nice, although the men on the beaches are very pushy and want your number and email - and they WILL call you incessently if you should think of being friendly too.
Traffic - I don't recommend walking, running, or cycling along here unless you are very aware of your surroundings - but that said, it's pretty safe. My concern is with regards to potcakes (local packs of wild dogs which Provo is attempting to control with adoption), and very bad drivers (Haitians and other locals and workers that don't know how to drive properly as well as renters who don't understand that you drive on the left side (this is the British West Indies after all) and the traffic circles are only entered into if available... i.e.. those already in the circle have the right of way). Sports - Due to a reef that surrounds most of Provo (not West Caicos, where the deep water is where the sharks reside!), it is a fairly safe place to play. So, if you love to swim in the ocean or try various watersports, it is not cheap (I've been offered kitesurfing lessons for $800, which includes first lesson all dry, second lesson, learning about the sails, third lesson on your own), scuba diving (only snorkled off of turtle cove and seen sting rays and all sorts of fish - sorry, not very good at names, yet), and snorkling is virtually all along Grace Bay - the Alexandria is the name of one of the newer hotels here, as well as public (water-reef) marine park which is alive with sealife!
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