IntrepidFromDC

Can you spot two lizards?

Next was California Beach and Lighthouse, named after the USS California which hit a reef and sunk offshore.

Next we drove up the western coastal roads to Eagle Beach, then the most touristy part of the island at the northern tip, beautiful Marriott, Ritz Carlton, Hyat Regency, etc. We also drove past Willem Defoe's beachmansion.

After that we visited the factory and saw all the steps in the process being fulfilled, from the conveyor belt where the farmhands load the aloe plants to the boxing of the refined aloe products. I didn't buy anything but the aloe gel with spf30 I sampled worked great.

Our first stop was Royal Aloe farm and factory and although it was a "sales" stop I enjoyed it. Here you see the farm and a demo of how to properly remove all the aloe gel from the plant. It's alot like skinning a fish.

Today is Aruba. I just got back to the ship after a full-day, 8-hour tour of the entire island except the national park with Farley of Aruba Fantasy Tours. We went north on the western roads to the tippy-top and then down the Atlantic Coast to Baby Beach at the very bottom where Atlantic meets Caribbean. Found them on TripAdvisor and after reading the stellar reviews picked them over a lesser excursion in an open air bus (we had AC 😁🏴‍☠️) offered by Carnival. $60 with promo for 8 full hours and Farley really packed it in with enthusiasm and knowledge. And he was funny and an excellent Andretti brother.

Not sure when the towel animal army will appear on Lido deck, but basic training for my guys is going well, and we'll get a new recruit tonight...

Ray is another fun guy, from Virginia. Told me a few stories and said this isn't his first time in a photoshoot for a live review. He also posed for a guy fishing from a dam once. Go Ray!

Sushi tonight, maybe pizza after late NFL game.

Got a free Steakhouse dinner for 2 from casino. Invited Jerry (the previously mentioned character with purple mohawk). It should be fun. Jerry turned me on to 3 great apps that match your Carnival status or casino invitation to competition. I already received a few offers for free cruises from other lines. Urcomped is one of them. Also got invited to a galley tour but skipped it because I did chef's table before.

I don't think I ever noticed "norlander bread" on the breakfast menu before.

I don't think the pics can capture the beauty of ocean swells, gotta see them in person to feel the wildness and beauty of them.

Spirit class atriums are among my favorites.

Abdul has been perfect.

Give them a week and they'll sprout legs and walk away. Quite the science experiment Carnival.

New comedians boarded at St. Martin. This guy was really good. Will C, the other new comedian, ok. Too many jokes about marginalized and handicapped people that didn't sit right with me. And I love Dave Chappelle so that's saying something. Chappelle from my hometown!

Somebody asked who the captain is...

St. Kitts today, I waited too long to book an excursion., all sold out except "shopping excursions". I have a full day excursion booked for Aruba.

"Oh, the places you'll go!" - Dr. Seuss

Steakhouse from outside. I guess it's the entrance and prominence that makes Spirit class Steakhouses my favorite.

I've never seen this game in the casino before.

St. Thomas was pretty at sailaway. Last night was my overdue give-back night in the casino. Dropped $300 but still up for the cruise. Sushi was pretty good but back home it's better. Closed the casino down around 3am after too many Old Fashioneds, so slept too late today to go to the France side of St. Martin.