Let’s get one thing straight. Grand Turk isn’t part of Grand Cayman nor is it anywhere near Turkey.

Grand Turk is the capital of the Turks and Caicos islands, but there seems to be a lot of misunderstandings about this little island, which measures one and a half by seven miles.

Until 1962, few people had heard of the island. But it gained some prominence after John Glenn’s Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft splashed down near the island following America’s first orbital flight.

The island remained an off-beat destination for many years. Even today, only eight of the 40 islands and cays are inhabited.

But Carnival Cruise Lines recently spearheaded an effort to build a new cruise terminal on the island, allowing larger ships to dock and creating a huge splash for tourism.

If you’re looking for an easy shopping excursion, then the terminal stores…