Christopher Columbus

Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. Here is a little bit of island info for you history buffs. Local legend believes that Grand Turk Island was the first place that Chris landed on his way to America. I think there is some speculation as to the validity of this statement although the locals do have some signs that say “this is the place.” Who knows, but all I know is why make a stop here? This place is pretty desolate and really not that fantastic of an island. The beaches are beautiful, but go about 50 feet inland on any side and welcome to ugly town. Okay it isn’t that bad, but it is definitely not worth staying here for very long. I can’t imagine what food he was able to find on the island or how anyone was able to survive that lived here before they started bringing shipments in from America. There are a few things they are able to produce here and those are fish and salt. Many, many years ago the Turks and Caicos government decided to harvest salt on Grand Turk and sell it to the United States. The business ended up not faring too well so about 20 years ago they abandoned the idea. Now there are huge pools of stagnant salt water called Salinas all over the island which are used only for breeding mosquitoes, to collect garbage, and a place for some birds to take refuge. They smell kind of sewery and are really an eyesore for the island. I don’t think any sort of actual food, grain, meat, or produce is grown here. Maybe some people raise chickens in their houses? Above is a picture of the best looking salina on the island, in the back is our stompin’ grounds; the house behind the tree in the middle of the picture is our place.