Turks and Caicos

By Mark Hoiland | Turks & Cacios If you’ve ever tried to go hunting for lobsters, you’ll quickly find that it isn’t as easy as reaching down and scooping them up. On my last trip to the Turks and Caicos, I was out snorkeling in the water behind our villa, and had discovered that there were tail lobsters hanging out after low tide. A number of years prior, on a trip to the Bahamas, I had learned from a local gentleman that the only way to catch lobsters was to hook them. If you aren’t careful, they will quickly bury themselves into whatever rock they were hanging out on, deep into a hole that may not be the smartest to stick your hand into. I decided that I would quickly run into the house and make a hook from a coat hanger, some tape and a stick. When I got back, my hook (quickly made and poorly constructed) promptly fell apart in my effort to hook the lobsters. During all the commotion, I managed to disturb an octopus that had been lolling about near the lobster’s rock. Curious, I hooked the octopus and brought him in to take a better [...]

By Mark Stevens | Turks and Caicos In my first career I was blessed with the opportunity to travel all over the world and work with people from very different cultures. There simply aren’t words to describe how different the Monday event in Italy was to the Wednesday event in Tokyo. I have since left the life of a “Road Warrior” to the next generation of folks that measure their successes with mileage and yet my passion for travel has never been stronger. These days I prefer places with a very different pace. The Turks and Caicos has become a fast favorite of mine. There is nothing like the calm blue waters off Taylor Bay. I am convinced that there are few beaches in the world that rival the powder white sand, the calm shoulder-deep water and most importantly the lack of people in this protected cove. One could literally take a nap in the 80-degree shallows and not hear another person for hours – perfection! The island is also home to one of my favorite restaurant experiences in the world – Coco Bistro. The restaurant features really tasty and fresh Caribbean inspired food. It is served outdoors under the [...]