One of my favorite parts of traveling is learning something new about the place I am visiting. To my enjoyment, I learned a few interested facts about Turks and Caicos during my visit that I thought I would share with you.
Turks and Caicos has a Mascot Dolphin
While most dolphins travel in pods, some are known to venture away from the group and find peace with their own company. Turks and Caicos is home to JoJo, the Atlantic Bottlenose who has called the island home for about 30 years.
Turks and Caicos is not Caribbean
I, and apparently most people, assume Turks and Caicos is in the Caribbean. Alas, it is not. Turks and Caicos is technically located in the Atlantic Ocean, northeast of the Caribbean Sea.
Turks and Caicos is Larger Than You Think
Turks and Caicos isn’t just one island. It’s actually made of more than 40 small islands and cays, with only eight of them being inhabited. On the Turks side you have Grand Turk and Salt Cay, while the Caicos side includes South Caicos, Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Providenciales, Pine Cay and Parrot Cay.
It’s a British Territory Without all the Traits
One of the most interesting things about Turks and Caicos is it’s under British rule, yet does not follow typical British characteristics. For example, people drive on the left side of the road, but they use American currency and measure gas by the gallon! That’s probably due to all the American tourism, though.
There are No Traffic Lights
One thing we didn’t notice until a local told us is that there are no traffic lights on the island. There is just a system of stop signs and roundabouts used to control the flow of traffic.
I think I enjoyed learning about this island because some of the information was so surprising to me, like JoJo and the use of the American dollar. Have you ever learned something unexpected about a place you were visiting? Comment below!
sarawhitmanythoughts 
A trip last year to Peru and Ecuador was filled with wonders. When visiting the beautiful city of Cusco, Peru, I was surprised to learn that a very small force of Spanish conquistadors was able to defeat the Incas and occupy and control this important seat of Inca power. I believe that the invaders numbered less than 100! An enormous factor, of course was the superior weaponry available to the Spanish.
Another interesting fact was that the Spanish never found Machu Picchu, a city built in the mountains not far from Cusco, to serve as the home of the retiring leader of the Incas who had been so successful in expanding the Inca Empire throughout a large part of South America. Apparently he moved for various reasons, including a desire to have his people look to his son, whom he had designated as his successor, as their leader. He felt that this would be accomplished more rapidly and more effectively if the old leader was no longer present. Out of sight, out of mind? Ironically, the Incas abandoned Machu Picchu in fear of a Spanish invasion which never came!
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I just read that Bruce Willis and wife have a home there which they have put
up for sale and possibly just sold for $27,000.000!!! Darn! We just missed it!
L/Gran
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Wow!
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