Grace Bay Beach: Bucket List Birthday on Turks and Caicos
I entered this decade of my life with a firm conviction to make this my bucket list decade. I spent the last few years devoted to cranking out poetry and publishing my first books, and as any writer knows writing can be an awfully solitary vocation – hours on end of sitting in a room eking out word by word and the relentless process of submitting and resubmitting your work for publication. It all left little time for me to travel. My nomadic dreams were fading, and my must-see destinations were getting backlogged.
Believe it or not, I had yet to set my sights on the infamous turquoise water of the Caribbean. I admit there are so many lovely Caribbean destinations to consider that I had a difficult time narrowing it down. But the deciding factor hinged on the beach. A quick online search brought me to Grace Bay on Turks & Caicos. It is, in fact, listed by multiple sources as one of the best beaches in the world.
Where to stay? I fell in love with Grace Bay Club, but was disheartened to find it was way out of my budget. West Bay Club, a sister property to Grace Bay Club, was much closer to my price point. And it was all it claimed to be with a pristine stretch of beach right on Grace Bay that provided suites with kitchenettes and a handful of studios. The rooms are spacious, modern and clean, with large tiled showers offering Elemis toiletries that transform your shower into a spa-like experience. A complimentary breakfast buffet is offered daily, with a generous selection that ranges from egg casseroles to muffins and fresh fruits. Everything is al fresco – from poolside breakfast to beachfront dinners. And the service was always friendly and attentive.
One evening, the resort hosted a barbeque on the beach. Tables were set out with linens and sconced candles. Strung lights gleamed magically overhead. There was an impressive array of fish and meats, as well as a spread of desserts. I couldn’t get enough of the coconut rice and blackened grouper. There was live Caribbean music and even a limbo contest. (Which I’m proud to say I won!)
Probably the highlight of my trip, though, was a beach horseback ride with Provo Ponies. Having grown up on a horse farm, I seek out opportunities to ride any chance I get. This was a particularly standout ride, because I got to spend half the ride in the ocean. Yes, you get to ride through that gorgeous water. And we’re not talking hoof deep – we’re talking horses chest deep in the surf. It’s a truly unique and memorable experience, one that transcended my simple desire to see the water to one of actually being part of the water for a couple hours.
I have to say, though, one of the most memorable moments of my stay came in the simplest form. I was feeling just slightly bummed that I was room-bound with a pretty bad sunburn on my birthday and last full day there. And then a blessing by the name of Julia came by to tidy up the room. When she saw I was sunburned, she ducked outside to hand cut fresh aloe, brought it inside, cleaned it, and pared it into slices for me to keep in the refrigerator to cool the burn. It was a special moment that really put some perspective into my day. Years from now I will have photos of the lovely water, but the most indelible impression will be the way Julia skillfully pared the tough-skinned leaves. In her deft working of the knife, I could see these were hands accustomed to loving gestures, those of maybe a mother or grandmother or wife. I felt very cared for in that moment, and I realized real gifts come in the most unexpected forms.
