Would the Real Torguga Please Stand Up?

[Bilgemunky]

My lovely wife (God bless her) was researching a way to suprise me with a sailing trip to Torguga for my birthday. It won't happen this year unfortunately, just couldn't make all the factors work out.

Once she knew for certain it wouldn't happen, she went ahead and told me (I'd known something was up, just didn't know what). While looking at maps and discussion the itinerary she was thinking of, things weren't adding up.

I know of Tortuga as that island just off the north coast of Haiti, but the trip she had in mind was just off the coast of Venezuela - near the island of Margarita. I figured she must have been mistaked, but in looking at a different map - sure enough - there was an island named La Tortuga just off of Venezuela.

Are there two? Which is the impostor?

[imadrunkenpirate]

are u thinking about tortuga from POTC? if u are.. i think i could tell u the real name of it.

[Bilgemunky]

Nope - I'm talking about real world, look on a map and there it is Tortuga. I've seen two of them - maybe I need new glasses?

[JoshuaRed]

The "real" Torguga you're thinking of is that little speck of land just north of Haiti.

[PirateQueen]

Yes, there is a Tortuga island off the Main. But the one famous for being a pirate haven back in the day is L'Ile de la Tortue (or in Spanish, Tortuga), the island north of Haiti.

[Captain Tito]

Don't be havin an Atlas in front of me, but I be guessin that if the one off of Venezuela says "La Tortuga" then its strictly referred to as LaTortuga, and the one off Haiti is just "Tortuga" The presence and absence of the La, makes a big difference in Espanol.

[Bilgemunky]

You're indeed correct - one is "La," the other, nada.

Thanks for the education - I'd no idea one had to be so careful when looking for Tortuga.

[PirateQueen]

I be guessin that if the one off of Venezuela says "La Tortuga" then its strictly referred to as LaTortuga, and the one off Haiti is just "Tortuga"  The presence and absence of the La, makes a big difference in Espanol.

Not really. "Tortuga" is Spanish for "turtle," whether or not there's a "la" (which means "the") in front of it. On maps, you will see the island north of Haiti referred to as either Tortuga or Tortue (French for "turtle").

[Lucky Penny Hawkings]

It's depraved! It's dangerous! It's hostile! It's....Spanish for turtle! ARR!!!!

Yep, those turtles are dangerous they are, they are :)

Now..all the sudden I want some picture of a turtle wearing pirate gear.

[Wartooth]

It's depraved! It's dangerous! It's hostile! It's....Spanish for turtle! ARR!!!!

Yep, those turtles are dangerous they are, they are :)

Now..all the sudden I want some picture of a turtle wearing pirate gear.

Ye ask and ye shall receive !!! Here ye go sweetie.

Wartooth

[Lucky Penny Hawkings]

Wartooth...

That's....

Ohmyword !!

Thank ye, luv!!!!

[Captain Tito]

Ok WHERE CAN I GET ME ONE A THOSE!!

[Captain Tito]

Yah I know about the La meaning and all.

I thought maybe the two islands referred to were different by one being Tortuga and the other strictly LaTortuga. You do see the La and the other forms (El, Las, and Los) used alot for geographical locations.

[Black Deacon]

Ok WHERE CAN I GET ME ONE A THOSE!!

Yeah, Me too. Where can I get one of em!?

[PirateQueen]

I thought maybe the two islands referred to were different by one being Tortuga and the other strictly LaTortuga.

Nope. I've seen both islands referred to as simply "Tortuga." It's not unusual for names to be trimmed.

[Captain Tito]

Nope. I've seen both islands referred to as simply "Tortuga." It's not unusual for names to be trimmed.

Gotcha. So are they (or at least one of them) part of different countries, kinda like how you have two towns of the same nam but they are in 2 different states?

Also - COME ON WARTOOTH SHARE WITH US!! WHERE CAN YE GETTUM??

[Black Deacon]

I found them here

[PirateQueen]

So are they (or at least one of them) part of different countries...? 

Yes, Ile de la Tortue, the island north of Haiti is part of Haiti. Isla la Tortuga off Venezuela is part of Venezuela. It is west of Margarita, which was famous for its pearl beds around the buccaneering era.

The pirate haven of history is Ile de la Tortue, AKA familiarly as Tortuga, so named because from a distance, its shape resembles a turtle. It was to here that the buccaneers were driven from Saint-Domingue, and later from where they were wooed by Port Royal, Jamaica.

[Captain Tito]

Thanks so much M'lovely lass. That clears it all up for me.

(Captain Tito bows to Pirate Queen and gently kisses her hand in gratitude and all due respect)

Thanks also to ye Black Deacon for finding those cool steins.

Unfortunately the doubloons be runnin a bit dry this time of year to do something about em.