November 5, 2009: At Sea
	November 3, 2009: Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
	Return to the Index for Our Panama Canal Cruise

History of the Turks and Caicos

The first inhabitants of the islands were the Arawak people; they were gradually replaced by the Caribs. The first documented European to sight the islands was Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León, who did so in 1512. During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, the islands passed from Spanish, to French, to British control, but none of the three powers ever established any settlements.

For several decades around the turn of the 18th century the islands became popular pirate hideouts. Bermudian salt collectors settled the Turk Islands around 1680. In 1765–1783 they were under French occupation. After the American Revolution (1775–1783) many loyalists fled to Caribbean colonies, including (in 1783) the first settlers on the Caicos Islands; cotton became an important crop briefly. In 1799, both the Turks and the Caicos island groups were annexed by Britain as part of the Bahamas.

In 1841 the Trouvadore, a Spanish ship engaged in the slave trade, wrecked off the coast of East Caicos, one of the larger Caicos Islands. One hundred and ninety-two captive Africans survived the sinking and made it to shore where, under British rule, the slave trade was illegal. These survivors were apprenticed to trades for one year then settled mostly on Grand Turk Island. An 1878 letter documents the "Trouvadore Africans" and their descendants as constituting an essential part of the "labouring population" on the islands. In 2004 marine archaeologists discovered the wreck of what is generally thought to be the Trouvadore.

In 1848, the Turks and Caicos were declared a separate British colony, but were made part of Jamaica colony in 1894. When Jamaica was granted independence from Britain in August 1962, the Turks & Caicos Islands became a crown colony. From 1965, the governor of the Bahamas was also governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands and oversaw affairs for the islands. When the Bahamas gained independence in 1973, the Turks and Caicos received their own governor. In 1979, a move towards independence was agreed upon in principle for 1982, but a change in government caused a policy reversal. The islands' political troubles in recent years have resulted in a rewritten constitution promulgated in 2006 and a reintroduction of direct UK Government rule in 2009.

The British Crown Colony is comprised of 40 islands and cays. This 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. the island is located approximately 575 miles southeast of Miami, and 30 miles south of the Bahamas, and is renowned for its inspiring and colorful Bermudian British colonial architecture.

Getting to Grand Turk

We sailed from Half Moon Cay about 4PM on Tuesday afternoon. The ship sailed through the night following a course generally southeastward through the Bahamas.

There were certainly a lot of islands in view for the remainder of the afternoon, and we could see lights in the distance pretty continually until we went to bed. We traveled about 370 miles and found ourselves still at sea when we awoke at 8. By 10 or so we were in sight of Grand Turk.

We were docked at the Cruise Ship Terminal on Grand Turk just after 11AM, and we got off the ship about an hour after that. We had read the ship materials on Grand Turk, and we would have liked to make it into Cockburn Town to see some of the architecture and some other sights, but this turned out to be a day of clouds and rain, and so we, like many tourists, never left the port area.

Walking Around on Grand Turk

We didn't dock at Grand Turk until about 11AM, so until then we could just see the island going by as the ship neared the dock. We decided not to get off the ship until the crowds wanting to get ashore for their excursions had thinned out; just before we left our stateroom, Fred got a shot of the entry pier from our balcony. We stopped by the Lido Restaurant to have a bit of lunch before heading down to the gangway.

You could see from the aerial view above about where the Oosterdam was docked; and in the pictures we took from the pier, you can see the same thing- except this time the ship is there. If you want to see some pictures that we took when we got off the ship and as we walked down the pier to shore, just click on the thumbnail images below:

Since this is the first time we've come off the ship onto a pier where we've docked, I thought I would make a movie of the gangway process, as well as take a look at the ship and the pier. You can watch this movie with the player at left.

We walked off the pier into the shopping area here at the port facility. As I said earlier, had the weather been nicer, we would have grabbed a cab and taken the ride into Cockburn Town to have a look around. But it was already beginning to sprinkle a bit. We walked to the north side of the area to what appeared to be the real "happening" place here- Margaritaville. The restaurant/bar had some colorful decorations out front, including a couple of rows of brightly-colored old wooden beach chairs. (Take a look at them here and here.) Inside, it was an open area with a couple of swimming pools, a thatched‑roof bar and what appeared to be a whole resort. There were some other ponds with walkways and bridges. It started to rain heavily just as we were finishing a walk through the resort area, so we hotfooted it back to the covered restaurant and bar. We watched the rain fall on the beach, looking out at our ship. When the rain slowed down, we walked out onto the beach for a bit, and came across a tongue-in-cheek Turks and Caicos weather station.

Come along with us as we take a look at the colorful chairs out front, pan across the port facility and shopping area, and then head on into Margaritaville.

 

Back to the Oosterdam

When the rain stopped (only temporarily), we decided just head on back aboard the Oosterdam. The weather just wasn't cooperating today, and we thought we might find some of the other guys to play cards with or something like that. As we walked back down the huge concrete pier out to the ship, we both took some more pictures of the ship and shore. If you will click on the thumbnail images below, you can have a look at some of them:

It wasn't until about four o'clock that the last passengers started down the pier to re-board the ship.

And it was about this time that the sun started to peek out again, and this gave Fred the opportunity to take some more good pictures of Grand Turk from the Observation Deck above the Lido Pool. You can have a look at some of these pictures if you will click on the thumbnail images at right.

At about 5:45, the Oosterdam began to edge away from the pier on its way to our next port of call in Aruba- more than a day away. So tomorrow will be our first sea day (no port).

Evening Activities

Back on board and back in our stateroom, it was about 5PM, so we went on to the fitness center to be done in time to meet up with the guys for the 7PM show in the Vista Lounge. This evening it was a comedian/juggler named Micky O'Connor who was pretty entertaining.

Here is the Daily Program billing for Mickey O'Connor:

"Mickey O'Connor is a guaranteed any age, any language, audience hit! He creates suspense and drama with thrilling feats of juggling and acrobatics. His act is a visual explosion of pure, clean, comedy entertainment. Mickey's abilities are comparable to Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton. Because Mickey's presentation is visual and is not dependent upon verbal communication, his appeal is universal and transcends all language barriers."

It was true that O'Connor's comedy was very visual. It reminded me of some of the stuff that Red Skelton used to do on television, or on some of the roles that Jackie Gleason played. Mickey was a good juggler and acrobat, and he was enjoyable to watch. If you will click on the thumbnail images below, you can see some of the pictures that Fred took of tonight's performance:

Here is a movie of Mickey juggling flaming torches.

Juggling three balls isn't difficult (for a juggler), but Mickey made it a bit more fun to watch.

This time, Mickey juggles some items thrown up to him by audience members- all while balancing on a unicycle.

After his show was over, we met the other guys for our reservation in the Italian restaurant Canaletto. The dinner was really good and the special dessert served only there was awesome. Have a look at the other five guys at our table after the meal by clicking here.

After dinner, we trouped over to the Piano Bar where Randall was doing another Name That Tune. Fred and I walked around the ship for a while, and then went back to our stateroom to review the day's pictures.

You can use the links below to continue to the album page for different day.

	November 5, 2009: At Sea
	November 3, 2009: Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
	Return to the Index for Our Panama Canal Cruise