Aruba 2012 Day 7 (page 7 of 10)

Start Slide Show
Page: Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next

Day 7 - that apparently means we've been here for a week so far. It sounds like such a long time, and in a way it is, but really, it seems we just got off the plane.

For today, it was shopping. We headed downtown to Oranjestad, and checked out all the shops. The Iowans went one way, the Minnesotans went the other. Mike/Greta had a goal of finding a great lizard wall-hanger or lizard. We noticed that's the most abundant wildlife on the island, so as with Kauai last year (where we got a chicken), we want a lizard from Aruba. With the exception of a couple food items (hot sauce, rum), we don't really see anything that is "Made on Aruba" so we'll have to go with the "Made in China but a great Aruban memory" item.

We hit a LARGE number of Aruban souvenir stores - and found different lizards everywhere we went. We ended up with TWO items - a wooden lizard just made from a wood with two different colors & then a metal lizard that was painted in bright colors that seem to correctly match what we see on the island. We saw a number of places with the same exact lizard, but both of these could be found in only one shop (different shops that is) - one near the beginning of the search & one at the end - so at least it either is somewhat one-of-a-kind, or else it is "out of fashion" now. :)

Greta also collects carved turtles. It started years ago when her family went to Pipestone, MN and she got a pipestone turtle. Her mom told her that she should collect turtle statues as she got older. She didn't do it for a while, but as it goes, the older she gets, the more her mom's advice sounds like a good idea. So she saw stone turtles in nearly ALL the stores, but waited until she found the right blend of colors in the stone "shell" and bought one there. Once again, it was "made in China" probably, but she will always know it was from Aruba, even though she'll remove the sticker that says "Aruba" on it - because it looks sort of dorky. Mike also got a bright yellow (his favorite color) t-shirt with the locally-made beer on the front. While the shirt is plain-old Hanes, you know you can't buy a "Balashi Beer" t-shirt anywhere else in the world! Then they hit "The Paddock Eet House" for some Dutch treats. It is advertised as having Dutch influence in the food, and Mike/Greta really wanted some kroketten or bitterballen (fried meat paste - it sounds weird, but is OUTSTANDING when dipped in good mustard). It was only listed on the menu as part of the children's menu, but we went to the bar & Mike asked in Dutch, and was assured it could be an appetizer as well. So two kroketten for each, as well as some Heineken, and they were happy campers.

Jim & Trina bought some pretty things as well, including a necklace & matching earrings - jewelry is a big seller in the Carribean Islands. They ended their time at Baskin Robbins, near our agreed-upon meeting place.

We drove the island a bit and then headed for home. After hanging out a bit, we headed out to rent jet skis. Wow- two people to a jet ski but apparently the person on the back gets a lot more salt water in their face/eyes/ears than the driver (which makes sense - if you can't see while driving, you wouldn't buy one). But it was a good time. Each couple fell off the jet ski once, but due ot the key being attached to your wrist, it shuts down immediately, and you just have to swim after it & climb back on. We had water-proof cameras & took a few shots of our entire resort from out on the water & each other, but that was about it. Sunglasses stayed on amazingly, although Jim lost his NOT on the wild 40 minute ride but when getting off the jet ski.

We headed back to the condo, had a couple rum runners & relaxed at the pool while visiting with a couple of ladies from Indiana. It seems like all the midwesterners are trying to get somewhere warm, even if it isn't that cold right now up there. Mike & Greta headed across the street to walk on the beach during sunset with the waves crashing on shore. This is the first time we've seen the big waves crash here at Eagle Beach - we're not sure why, but it's new today. Earlier today, it actually rained a bit, so maybe it has something to do with the weather patterns. That's why we were lucky enough to see a giant rainbow stretching out over the water this morning.

Speaking of weather, every day it is in the 80s, it is humid & it is windy. Oddly enough, you never feel overly hot here - the wind really makes all the difference in the world. MN has definitely felt hotter in the mid-July humidity than it does here. And after the sun goes down, the temp changes a bit, but it's barely noticable - in the 6 nights we've been here, it's never been chilly in the evening.

We then headed out to dinner - always a highlight. Jim had mentioned that finding fish tacos would be great, and since we'd seen a sign very close by advertising "Dos Locos Restaurant", we figured that was a good idea. Great idea, in concept. For the 2nd time in one day, we discovered that even though a temporary sandwich-board sign points the way to a restaurant, it doesn't mean that the said restaurant is open. At lunch a sign pointed towards a place, but it was all boarded/papered over. This time at least, there WAS a restaurant, although no store signs whatsoever. It just happened to be the only thing there, it had an "OPEN" sign lit up, and had the right street addresss. Inside, we found out by the menu that it was named something starting with a "Z" but don't remember the name. There were a couple women at one table when we arrived but they were the only customers during the entire time. They had a TV playing and we watched an entire movie while we ate. We got only one menu for the table, and they ran out of Balashi Beer (the locally brewed beer) after one round. They didn't have one of the things on the menu, and according to our waiter, they'd been open one month, with new managment & menu, but hadn't put up new signage. It's about a block off of the main road, but definitely the ONLY thing out on the street (other than the back of a resort) so really, they HAVE to advertise better or they won't make it. At least one guy came in & asked if it was a Mexican Restaurant & then left when he found out it wasn't. The food was quite good. We started with two appetizers - calamari with some type of dipping sauce, and then a ravioli with chorizo in pesto sauce. For the main course, Trina had fries with a chicken fajita wrap, Jim had the seafood special (which had a LOT of different types of seafood including shrimp & mussels) in a white sauce. Greta & Mike shared a meat plate - chorizo, a pork chop & sirloin, with a side of fries.

After supper, we then drove one entire block over to have dessert at the Screaming Eagle. It had been recommended by the ladies at the pool so we thought we should do more of what we had last time. Trina & Greta just had "dulce de leche" ice cream with toasted coconut sprinkled around it - that is DEFINITELY the way to eat ice cream! Mike had a "Tarte Tatin" which is french upsidedown apple dessert with ice cream. Jim had the mousse as well as a chocolate martini. Everything was wonderful! We sat at the bar and ran into some Wisconsinites, based on the fact that Mike (and Jim, oddly enough as well, though they didn't notice) was wearing a shirt with the state of WI on the back! Ray was our bartender/server & did an awesome job. After chatting with Mike in Dutch, we found out he'd been in Aruba for 2 months, and is never planning on moving back to Holland. He likes living on the "Happy Island" (as stated on their license plates) and as a bartender, gets to meet people when they are the happiest - on vacation, in a happy place.

Back to the condo - a whole 2-block drive - MAYBE - and after the bit of typing you see above, it's time for all of us to turn in. It's been a "tough" day (hey - whoever thought you'd have to slather down in sun block to go SHOPPING?) and we're tired. Our vacation is almost done, but it's been great!

img_1363.jpg 02/15/12 09:17:00 (large image)	img_1363a.jpg 02/15/12 09:17:00 (large image)	img_1368.jpg 02/15/12 12:35:14 (large image)	img_1373m.jpg 02/15/12 12:36:04 (large image)	img_1369.jpg 02/15/12 12:37:12 (large image)
img_1370.jpg 02/15/12 12:39:40 (large image)	img_1371.jpg 02/15/12 12:45:06 (large image)	img_1372.jpg 02/15/12 13:20:46 (large image)	img_1373.jpg 02/15/12 13:20:54 (large image)	p2150001.jpg 02/15/12 15:54:50 (large image)
p2150002.jpg 02/15/12 15:58:30 (large image)	tosh0006.jpg 02/15/12 16:01:24 (large image)	tosh0007.jpg 02/15/12 16:01:28 (large image)	p2150004.jpg 02/15/12 16:08:42 (large image)	p2150005.jpg 02/15/12 16:14:44 (large image)
tosh0009.jpg 02/15/12 16:24:13 (large image)	p2150007.jpg 02/15/12 16:30:35 (large image)	img_0506.jpg 02/15/12 18:44:04 (large image)	img_0507.jpg 02/15/12 18:44:20 (large image)	img_0514.jpg 02/15/12 18:49:30 (large image)
img_0515.jpg 02/15/12 18:49:42 (large image)	img_0516.jpg 02/15/12 18:49:54 (large image)	img_1375.jpg 02/15/12 19:26:52 (large image)	img_1378.jpg 02/15/12 19:51:26 (large image)	img_1381.jpg 02/15/12 20:18:56 (large image)
img_1382.jpg 02/15/12 20:19:18 (large image)	img_1384.jpg 02/15/12 20:19:48 (large image)	img_0274.jpg 02/15/12 21:18:54 (large image)	img_0275.jpg 02/15/12 21:28:18 (large image)	img_0276.jpg 02/15/12 21:29:18 (large image)
img_0277.jpg 02/15/12 21:36:22 (large image)	img_0278.jpg 02/15/12 21:38:54 (large image)

Page: Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next

Start Slide Show