MARCH 19TH  -  ARUBA

ITS A POOL DAY

Susan started our day with a bacon and egg breakfast.  We needed to go to the store a second time and this time Walt went with us.  We wanted him to see the crazy!  We weren't disappointed.   I really should have taken my camera with me.

Today is a pool day.  On the way to an empty umbrella and chairs we passed this.  This is the biggest one I've seen so far.

THE POOL AREA.

FOUND YA!

Pool time!

Too cold for me.

Every day at 2.30 bingo is played around the pool.  Cards are $2 and three games are played.  Today's games played $34, $56 and $270,  The same woman won all three games between 2 cards.  The last game she did have to split it with another woman.

You can run......

...but you can't hide!

Easing his way in.

Another early night, this sun really takes it out of you.

 MARCH 18TH - ARUBA

Up and out even earlier than yesterday.  We are taking our second tour today.  We are visiting Aruba's  Arikok National Park.  We were outside waiting for the tour trolley at 7:15.  I didn't expect what came.  A two-seater pickup cab and an open back with two bench seats facing each other.  There was also a roof.

I had only ever heard "tour trolley" once and after that it was referred to as "our ride".

We were the first three to board of the seven on this tour.  I was having a "good hair day" until our driver wanted to make up some time on the back roads. I went from good hair day to RAT'S NEST  in two minutes flat!

Fifteen minutes later we arrived at the Gold Mine Ranch.  This ranch belongs to the sons of Rocky, our driver.

Two couples from Michigan joined us. Cathy and Holly are best friends for 57 years, nearly as long as Susan and me. (66 years)  They were with their husbands Mike and Dan. They all were fun to be with.  

The roads in this park are atrocious!  Dirt with tons of rocks,  Rocky flew over those roads!  NOT the greatest of rides but I bet it made all of us appreciate the stops all that much more. I know I did.

Since this park has the sea as a border line, you can expect to see blue water pictures.

On the other side of the truck was a herd of wild goats.

What a difference in scenery from the left side of the truck......

,,,,to the right side of the truck.

I'm sure Rocky had something interesting to say about this stop, but I don't have a clue as to what.  MY attention was totally taken by the sea and how powerful and violent, yet beautiful, it is.  A force I won't reckon with!

Rocky insisted he take a of the three of us.  It was all we could do to stand there against the wind.

I don't think I could ever get tired of this crystal blue water.  I grew up on the east coast, and the Atlantic Ocean played a big part in family vacations as a child just as it did in Walt's family.  Of course the Atlantic isn't anywhere near as clear and blue as this is

Back on the truck, the goats were closer now.

At our next stop, Susan wanted to go down and walk in the water.

It was cold! 

I caught a partial wave curl!

This is how Walt rode most of the way.

The next stop was Quadirikiri Cave.

Rocky led the way.

Inside the cave we found spots of bright sunlight.

Rocky asked for my camera and insisted we stand in a particular spot and for us to kiss.

A heart!

THE NEXT PART OF THIS STOP WAS VERY UNIQUE.  A FISH PEDICURE!!! We walked to this little pond where people were sitting around the edge.  Everyone who had their feet in the water were giggling and exclaiming, "It tickles!"  There are little and not so little (5"  fish in the pond that come and suck your toes and the rest of your feet, taking dead skin cells off.  Susan and I did this and it did     tickle!  I got this picture of someone.

  

Next stop Back on what we now call "that damn truck".  When we got to the natural swimming hole I saw this fellow and got a good chuckle.  I asked him I could take a picture of his shirt.  He smiled and said, "sure".

Here are several pictures of what we saw while deciding if we were going down to the floor or not.

It was a long way down and an even longer walk back up , so we decided to stay topside and just admire the view.  

I was about to take a picture of Walt and this nice lady said, she would like to take a picture of both of us if we wanted her to.  Sure thing!

I will never get tired of this!

My new Facebook page banner picture.

Tour over, we bid farewell to our tour-mates, thanked Rocky for all his knowledge he shared with us and went up to the condo.  Walt forgot to put sunscreen on the top of his feet so he is quite sunburned.  He opted to stay in the condo.  Susan headed to the pool.  I was slightly red and opted to stay out of the sun too.  Walt took a nap and I caught up on computer stuff.

I have a feeling its going to be an early night for all of us.

 MARCH 17TH   -  ARUBA

OUR FIRST ARUBA TOUR

Our day got an early start because we had to meet our tour guide at 8:30.  Skylar got us settled in his oversized 15 passenger van.  A very personable young man, Skylar was an excellent tour guide. Born and raised on the 19 mile long island, he was a wealth of island lore and legends.

Our first stop was the Aloe Factory Tour.  The tour started outdoors next to an aloe field.  This tour guide gave us all the basic aloe facts and a demonstration of stripping the aloe leaves.

After his very informative presentation we moved indoors.

We were taken on the tour in the factory.  There were MAYBE 6 - 8 people that I saw working, but lots of stainless steel machinery.

Tour over, they lt us loose in the store with dozens of sweet smelling soaps, candles and lotion for simply everything.  Since 1890 the aloe has been grown, harvested and processed onsite.  They were having a holiday sale of 40% off so, of course Susan and I had to shop!  We did our part for the local economy.

On to our next stop.  We rode for about 20 minutes on sometime dirt roads and sometime blacktop that hasn't seen a repair crew since the day they were built.  It was obvious that Skylar knew the roads, it was the hundreds of ATV's that worried me,  Between school bus type tour busses, 15 passenger vans,  regular cars and the ATV's...... IT WAS A NIGHTMARE!

Casibari Rock Formations was the tour stop,  This is a cluster of absolutely HUGE rocks, maybe boulders would be a better choice of words.  big enough that one could climb some steps to get to the top for a birds eye view of the city, beaches and the sea.  All three of us opted to see those things up close and personal and kept our feet firmly planted on the ground.

Skylar told us about the owls so we went in search of those birds.  They weren't hard to find in the enclosed area.  Enclosed because of snakes, namely boa constrictors.

Cute little owls. 

shy one???

I always offer to take the picture when I see a couple and one is taking a picture of the other standing near something of interest.  I'm almost always taken up on the offer.  Today I got an offer in return, So the three of us took our place on the swing.

Walt found a seat on a unique rock.

We took a walk through the "retail" section, if you will.

It was time to move on, we had places to go and things to see.  Next stop was the Natural Bridge.  At one time there was two but in the middle of the night, the larger of the two collapsed.  That was a blessing because during daylight many people walked over it.  walking not permitted  on the remaining natural bridge.

i don't know if the rough today were usual for this area but this coastline took a beating today.  The waves were high and they arrived like they had a score to settle.

 Walt and I were witness to something that well made us laugh like hell.  

  We stood mesmerized by what was about to happen.  You see, two pretty young teens were walking back from the water's edge when we saw an enormous wave coming in.   The wave rolled in full force and when it hit the rock wall its "splash" (gosh that sounds so weak and it was anything but!) shot up so high and with so much water that when it came down the wind carried it.  Directly over the teens.  They had no idea it was coming and they got totally drenched!  Walt and I looked at each a split second later and busted out laughing.  We weren't laughing AT the now dripping wet girls, we were laughing WITH the, oh hell, who am I kidding? we were laughing AT them!   But we weren't the only ones. Honest!    

Did you know that Aruba is not in the hurricane alley?  I didn't, but its true!  There has never been a hurricane here.

Did you know that Aruba uses the sea water to desalinate for drinking water?  It is the best water I've ever tasted.  Its crystal clear.  They also bottle it for sale.  Its the same as the islands household water supply.   The sea water is also used to produce the islands electricity.

The next stop on our tour was this little chapel.

  I really don't know why this was on the tour at all.  No guide was there to tell us the significance of it other than its size and location.

I think we spent 10 minutes here.

Our next stop was the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins.  This historic site marks where gold was first found.  This mill was 1872.

Our last stop was this light house.  We could have, but didn't, climb to the top.  Our climbing days are over!

Arriving back at the condo, we decided it was time for the beach.  The condo gives every guest 2 beach towels everyday.  We can also reserve a thatched roof hut on the beach for shade.  Lounge chairs are also provided.  Marriott Ocean Resort is doing a bang up job of taking care of their guests!

It was unusually windy today.  It seems there is always a stiff breeze here and when on the beach it is usually welcomed.  However today, at times, it seemed we were being sandblasted.  We had  had enough after about 90 minutes.  Back to the condo we went to shower and relax.

Dinner time came and I cooked this meal and Susan cleaned up.  Walt just ate.  What's wrong with this picture?

They called it an early night and I stayed up to get this post done.