The end of Aruba

So here is the end of Aruba. It was a month ago now and it has taken me a month to finish blogging our travels! The last two days of the trip was the most relaxing. We ate tons of ice cream, fish and hit the beach into the late nights and during the early mornings. The pictures above are the views that closed Arubian journey. One photo that we didn't take was our final snorkeling at our beach, eagle beach. Here is the "funny" story. So we were swimming and enjoying the water...happy for the fact that we have made it so far without any cancer causing burns!!! We came white and as Jilly noted, "Came back as white as ever". Well...we did get burned-here is the story. Nick is far out in the water and sudden he yells, "Where is it? Oh no...I lost it. Jenn I lost my wedding ring!" Panic! I have to say I was a bit upset...wedding ring, I bought him his ring and now it is in the ocean! So I run out of the water full speed to get our snorkeling gear back at the hotel. As I am coming back I look at the horizon and out of no where this horrid looking brown bird is circling where Nick is standing. He comes out to meet me and to put the snorkeling gear on. Then we see this horrible brown pelican dive into the water...right where Nick was standing...he comes out with something bright...WHAT!!! The only time we see a bird during the whole week on this beach, this bird is a thief of wedding symbols! I then progress towards anger at this point and all of it was directed towards the bird-which Nick was thankful for. But he was not convinced that the bird eat and run bird actually made off with his ring in his mouth...so we spent hours snorkeling, looking for this ring. No luck, all we got in return is a sunburned back. So for the rest of the trip, as far as anyone could tell I was a married women on a trip to Aruba with my boyfriend...That was a low of the trip. A high of the trip happen at the end. We left Aruba, arrived in Miami and had to sleep there-NOT FUN-we decided to stay up and make a late night-all night-party with tons of junk food and cards. We really couldn't sleep even if we had wanted to because the announcements of "Welcome to Miami-Blah, Blah, Blah" and "Make sure to keep your luggage with you at all time" would come on EVERY 15 minutes-no matter the hour. We get this awesome txt from Jill, "we want to make you dinner" This was the best news! And by the time she and Stanley picked us up the next day, our sleep deprived junk food sick bodies were in need of some wholesome food. They were angels, with shrimp pasta, fruit salad and veggies, it was honestly the perfect ending of a great trip. I think I'll go on more trips if I knew they would end this way!

Our dear friend Bernardo!









So here we come to the fun few days left of our international trip. I want to sum up the last couple of days of the trip because I think that it is about time. We start of the day with a bus ride into town and then a connection to the southern most tip of the island-baby beach. We asked the bus driver if there was a bus that went there-No, he could just take us to San Nicholas and we would have to walk the rest of the way. Then we gave us an odd look-while suggesting we not try to walk there, but stay in the city and enjoy Charley's bar. His comment only increased our determination to not only break the stereotype of the weak drunken tourist, but to challenge ourselves on this several mile journey. Baby Beach or Bust! With snorkeling gear in hand we climbed on the bus to San Nicholas-we could quickly tell we were the only non-native Arubains attempting to do so. We are dropped off after a great half an hour of country side viewing in the middle of NO WHERE. The bus driver did us a favor and passed San Nicholas, dropping us off in the middle of an outside city closer to the beach. He didn't tell us where, but gave some general directions and a wish of good luck. Great...so we headed off in high hopes and humid heat. We walked about 15 minutes when a women came out of her house and seeing we didn't belong, asked if she could help-she was shocked we were going to walk so far...but gave us more detailed directions which was very needed. So we follow them the best we could...but we got lost. After about an hour of walking we thought to ask directions for the third time. Our hopes not as high and the humid heat even higher. We learned we were walking the completely wrong way. We needed to head back to the beginning and start all over! So off we went. As we went back we passed this old man working on cars...we was shocked to see us out and in spanish asked, "Isn't it a hot day" we replied YES! So after a half an hour of more walking we see this car pull up next to us-it was that same man that asked us the question, Bernardo. He told us that if we were heading to baby beach, he would give us a ride-for FREE (rare offer in Aruba). We jumped end. He was such a delightful man, telling us about the area, and what the word bible stood for (basic information before leaving earth). He said to enjoy the beach, name the time we wanted him to pick us up and he would drive us to the bus station. WOW! Talk about the biggest blessing ever! He was good to his word and better. We loved the beach! Another highlight for Nick with awesome snorkeling. Then we were driven to San Nicholas...right when the bus pulled out of the station. The race began...Bernardo raced through the town trying to cut off the bus so that we wouldn't miss it-what a rush! We made it, all because of him and we headed back into town-so very thankful for our new friend. We ate more ice cream and great food. The next night we hung out at the tourist mall, where there was a fun water light show and more food and ice cream. Everywhere we went the world cup was watched-behind the water show was no different. We had a blast and the natural water falls, and man made fountain, not to mention the food was amazing- we are food people for sure! We had a blast!

Aruba- DAY 5

Me dancing...followed by the dancers and our adventures in the capital Orangstad










So we hit the capital of Aruba-the whole day. Which according to the book we had purchased about Aruba, we would just about fit everything in. Well this book was wrong on two accounts; one, the museums (all three of them)were not actually free-which we were planning on, two, because they were not free we didn't end up seeing them so we were done with the whole city by 3. We had an evening dance performance at 7 in the city so we were stuck there...waiting. Let me describe the town...beautiful dutch buildings everywhere...and the buildings were filled with either three things-clothing,restaurants or jewelry. The most common was jewelry...I have never seen so many jewelry stores in all my life!!!Row after row, street after street-and they were filled. We popped into one to see if it was like china where the jewelry was a bit cheaper than the USA, but that was not the case. We must be so out of place here...I didn't connect Aruba and dropping 10k-I really don't connect anything with that amount of money, but the other tourist seemed to. So we went to make our own adventure. We went to every statue and historical marking in the city, plus the port and beach...it was a beautiful city, right in the beach. So we hung-out and walked in the highest degree weather Aruba has had all year. Nick found a friend in the city-a man that spoke his favorite language-Portuguese. The man was from Portugal, and they talked for a while as we ducked out of a sudden down pour(rare and random-but at least it cooled things off a bit) As they talked I was reintroduced to the best ice-cream...Italian! Love it!!! I think after that first one, we had one or two a night the rest of the trip-I was hooked!!! So then came the dancing-what a blast! We had two great groups of dancers and a wonderful band-the worst part was the singers...I won't go into it but they were worst then drunken karaoke singer that might be considered deaf. They were half the show and there went half the audience as well...but we stuck it through to the end...carnival dancing!! I was brought up on stage and dance the rest of the night. Reminded me of Ecuador where I never slept at night but hit the dance clubs until morn! It was a perfect ending to a fun-though long-day!! I love dancing with my husband to a Latin beat!! This was one of my highlights of the whole trip.

Aruba- Day 4

So here we come to our hiking adventure. We figure that the island is only 70 square miles in its whole area...walking should be no problem...we are both healthy...so bring on the hot, humid, rays of sun against our ivory skins!!! We have hats! So we take the bus as far north as they would take us. Then we got off, asking where north was and headed in that direction. It was not hard to find the way because there were tour buses, and jeeps all heading to the same destination. All of which passed us...as we leaked our final ounces if fluid...seeming to laugh as they passed, moving up dust which mixed well with our sweat. We must have been a sight...a determined sight. Where were we all heading to? Up a steep couple mile long hill to the most northern part of the island...the California light house. It was one of the main sites on the island (as you can guess there is not much to see on land)But in the end we made it!!! The view from the light house has better then the light house itself-we couldn't even go in and check out the lighthouse. You could see for miles!! The whole island and then some. It was a pretty romantic spot being on top of this Caribbean world. It was great to share it with each other...and be the only ones who were crazy enough to walk there. So then we walked back down...the best part was that it was DOWN!!! It went far faster on the way down...and we stopped at a famous beach that was known for snorkeling! We had gotten each other for mother/fathers day snorkeling gear and now came the moment to use it. I was nervous so I made Nick go in first to make sure it was safe...as a loving wife always does. It was a blast!!! I faced my fear and saw a whole new world!! Fish were everywhere, and of all sizes and colors. They swam right by me, as if I was not even there! We spent hours of cooling down free water fun. Nick said that this was one of the high lights of the whole trip. If you have not had the eye opening experience of snorkeling, take the opportunity when it arrives, for it will be moments that you will not soon forget! It was like...I was floating, looking down on a world I hardly understood, but enjoyed its wonder and new discoveries-eating, fighting, traveling-they all had something important to do or to get done-it was amazing! Then we headed back, all wet and sandy, to our hotel for a homemade meal on our balcony. We watched the sunset and were calmed by the day as a whole and the fact we shared it with one another. I really could get use to this. Day four was a success!

Aruba Day 3

Welcome to Aruba! Bon Vini!

Our first sunset on this world famous Beach

I could get use to this!

Our Hotel suite...not five star, but fit us just fine!






Eagle Beach which was a 2 second walk from our room!!


So now it is Sunday. We had planned on waking up early, catching a bus into town and finding the branch building for church at 9:00 a.m., but our bodies seemed to revolt against our plans and we slept through all our alarms. The rest was needed, and felt wonderful in our loft, on our king size bed. Our hotel was perfect for us. It was a split level, with the king bed and bathroom upstairs in a loft that over looked the rest of the place, then there was another bathroom and bedroom down stairs with a kitchen, dinning and living area. We made our breakfasts and lunches (to save money) which was a neat treat to cook together. But we took this day of rest, sitting and walking along the beach. Though it was beautiful and relaxing, it is not much to write about in a post. One thing that was terrific about our beach was the fact that it was a turtle nesting ground. In one of the pictures above you can see red and white boards moved into squares. They are put up around each nest where baby turtles are waiting to hatch! Something only on Eagle Beach. We never woke up early enough to see their hazardous trek towards the ocean, but it was awesome to be so close to nature.