after the storm

28 October 2012

this week felt totally different from a typical island life one. we had tropical storm sandy coming, but so happy that it’s gone and there weren’t any damages. the sun is out and shining, but the sea is still a bit rough. just hoping everyone is safe up north.

we have a friends visiting over from paris, so we’ll spend the rest of the weekend eating out and showing them around. last night we hosted an outside dinner party, which couldn’t have been more fun. we love having company and it gives us the chance of enjoying the island from a different angle!

ps – did you hear caicos cafe reopened last week? can’t wait to go back for that lobster linguini i’ve been dreaming of…

picture by my friend – thanks monica!

mercearia da vila / ponte de lima

25 October 2012

1 Comment

during one of my quick trips to ponte de lima with my mum, we decided to stay at a new small boutique hotel in town. it would be a fun thing to do, since it is right in the center of town and we always stay at home, in the village.

mercearia da vila, means “the village’s grocery shop” in portuguese, and that’s what the hotel used to be. i remember visiting all the time, because it was such a unique grocery store, it was always so neat and tidy and it looked just like a shop from the old days.

well, the nice old man who used to be at the counter – until he was 92!! – retired and it is his son who decided to convert the shop in a new business.

the rooms have so much light and some have great views too. the place has been modernized but using the grocery store theme and there are plenty of little details, like the toys my mum would play with when she was little.

the owner is an excellent host, the location is perfect, right in the centre of town, and the prices are pretty good too!

ps – (we paid Eur 80 per night – that’s about US$100) book through booking, it might be easier since their website is still under construction.

his dive story / 38

24 October 2012

3 Comments

Hi all, it’s great to be back on island again and dive in the warm sea. When we were in Napoli last month, I managed to do 1 dive in plain view of Mt. Vesuvius and I tell ya, I could have used my dry suit! It was like 21c!

Anyway, in my first dive last Sunday, I caught sight of a fish that I had never seen before. We were at Northwest Point and our guide pointed it out for us. There were only three of us and we all had cameras. The fish is called a burrfish. I think my pic is better than the one in Wikipedia! Anyway, the fish was not at all shy and posed for us as we were taking turns snapping away!

Another fish that I saw was a flounder and it is fairly indigenous to the Caribbean. It was pretty well camouflaged on the white sand bottom but once you know what to look for, you can see it easily during your dives. Enjoy.

See my previous diving posts! – James

cycling in ponte de lima

22 October 2012

3 Comments

i have recently become addicted to spinning here in provo, so when i was away in the north of portugal, i made sure i went for a few cycling tours.

some say ponte de lima has one of the best cycling routes of portugal – i went a few last times before the wedding, it was perfect to relax. and since we had a few friends who stayed over for the weekend, we also went on the day after the wedding!

we rent the bicycles at the nautical club of ponte de lima and we cycle through the path alongside the lima river towards ponte da barca. the scenery is beautiful, green everywhere, you really feel in contact with nature. it’s a pretty big contrast with the one i’m used to in turks and caicos, maybe that’s why i appreciate it so much.

i like passing through little water falls and seeing people’s orchards and vineyards along the way. had it been warmer we would’ve stopped for a dip!

can you notice that one of my friends was 7 month pregnant? very brave of her for sure!

first picture by me, other’s by anh-tuan’s instagram, thanks anh-tuan!

it’s good to be back

22 October 2012

1 Comment

hey friends, i came back to turks and caicos last week and let me tell you… it feels good!! i had two amazing months off island, in new york, portugal, italy and london. it was great having quality time with friends and family and celebrating our wedding. but after so much catching up, i missed our home in provo, coming back to our little routine, our island friends, and of course the weather and the beach!