Solar Eclipse : A pictorial review of the Exotic Southern Caribbean

[scubacruiserx2]

The tree with the spikes/thorns, looks like an acacia of some type or even a firethorn tree.

 

Here's another look at it in the foreground

[vickykay]

WHat is the name of the tour company you are using in Aruba? Thanks.

 

Vicky

[scubacruiserx2]

WHat is the name of the tour company you are using in Aruba? Thanks.

 

Vicky

 

Welcome to the thread Vicky and we're glad that you asked . We used the same company that we used last summer in St. Petersburg when we did a Baltic tour on the Eclipse with our grandson . We have also used them before in St. Petersburg and Moscow when we stayed there in May of 2015 . We had a private driver and a guide/translator for about the same price as being stuck on a large bus . They took us wherever we wanted to go , so it was great .

The name of the company is Tours by Locals and our driver/guide in Aruba was Esther . :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

Our next stop was Aruba Aloe

 

We were given a brief demo of how to skin and filet the plant

Video :

 

 

Inside of the factory it was quite because nobody was working on a Saturday

It reminded me of the place where I worked before becoming a firefighter .

Except we made artificial kidneys !

[vickykay]

THanks!

[nursedibdob]

Gosh. I must have used a version of that when we ran dialysis for patients when I worked in ITU. Big respect to you!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[scubacruiserx2]

THanks!

 

You're welcome .

[scubacruiserx2]

Gosh. I must have used a version of that when we ran dialysis for patients when I worked in ITU. Big respect to you!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

I left Cordis - Dow in late 1976 and Pat stayed until mid 1980 when our son was born . We just made the product but it's people like yourself who deserve our respect by being the hands and heart that deliver it to the people that need it . In a strange twist of fate , Pat's mom need hemodialysis later in life long after we had both left CD .

[scubacruiserx2]

The next stop was a climb up the Casibari Rock formations

if you dare !

A look at Hooiberg

 

A closer look

The trikes have arrived

And to the East , what's this ?

[scubacruiserx2]

It's a steep climb down and we spied a lower vantage point at the red arrow

The views from the lower point

[MicCanberra]

Interesting rock formations in the landscape. It is almost like monoliths.

[scubacruiserx2]

Interesting rock formations in the landscape. It is almost like monoliths.

 

 

It's certainly not Ayers Rock but we enjoyed it ! :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

The sun was quite warm and the shade was a welcome relief

The Aruban Whiptail Lizard displays beautiful color

We had a bit of a ride as we went South and as we passed a number of grocery stores Esther pointed out that they were all being bought and developed by Chinese people . And as we neared Baby Beach we saw a hungry donkey

Frosted Lucky Charms they're magically delicious !

[scubacruiserx2]

Baby Beach is a cove at the South end of Aruba

And just a little further with a beautiful view of the ocean

is a Pet Cemetary !

[MicCanberra]

It's certainly not Ayers Rock but we enjoyed it ! :) :D

Yes, well Uluru (Indigenous name) is something on a much bigger scale.

[MicCanberra]

Nice looking lizard.

Frosted Lucky Charms they're magically delicious !

 

he aw, he aw, he always likes to eat lucky charms;p

[scubacruiserx2]

Yes, well Uluru (Indigenous name) is something on a much bigger scale.

 

Unless and until we get to see Uluru we will have to settle for the ' haystack ' .

[scubacruiserx2]

At the southern tip of Aruba is Seroe Colorado and the red rocks

There's a great view here

of the windmills

and the massive Valero oil refinery .

[upwarduk]

Joe,

Were you told anything about the refinery ( shown in the last picture)

Our son worked there as an oil consultant Oct 2001- July 2002, to update it into the 21 st century. When we were in Aruba in 2013, we were told it was shut the previous year. However I have just found the following:

 

http://www.ogj.com/articles/2016/06/citgo-aruba-ink-deal-to-restart-idled-refinery.html

[scubacruiserx2]

Joe,

Were you told anything about the refinery ( shown in the last picture)

Our son worked there as an oil consultant Oct 2001- July 2002, to update it into the 21 st century. When we were in Aruba in 2013, we were told it was shut the previous year. However I have just found the following:

 

http://www.ogj.com/articles/2016/06/citgo-aruba-ink-deal-to-restart-idled-refinery.html

 

Most of what Esther told us was historical such as how there were cannon at this site to guard the refinery during the war .

A U-boat sank a couple of ships here and tried to attack the refinery in 1942 . And before the US had entered the war , aviation aircraft fuel for England was made here .

She seemed nostalgic when discussing the " golden age " of the adjacent Lago Colony in the 50's and 60's at the peak of it's influence and employment .

We really didn't discuss the future of the refinery .

[scubacruiserx2]

As we returned to the port we ran into roadblocks for Carnival in San Nicolas . A photographer with some nice equipment told Esther how to get back to the port . So it was time to say goodbye to Aruba . There is a sandbar to our left and the shore on the right .

It was time to say goodbye to the Scientology "cathedral"

and the Royal Plaza

 

and finally , to the dive shop .

[Summerlin]

What an awesome tour you are providing for us. When in the synagogue during the Torah reading, was there a minyan? (ten people are supposed to be present when the Torah is being read officially).

[perfect match]

You really got to see a lot of Aruba in the 2 days you spent there, both under the water, and above it!

 

I have to say that my knees hurt at the thought of climbing those rocks. I would be fine going up the rocks, but not so fine coming back down! :eek:

 

Aruba does look beautiful. I can't wait to see it in person. :D

[scubacruiserx2]

What an awesome tour you are providing for us. When in the synagogue during the Torah reading, was there a minyan? (ten people are supposed to be present when the Torah is being read officially).

 

Thank you and we're glad that you joined us . No it wasn't an official reading .

[scubacruiserx2]

As we were leaving the Captain told us that we would be crossing the airport landing area and so we moved very rapidly past it

as soon as we passed it , a plane took off .

We continued to move rapidly out to sea

we had smelled smoke before and at this point we could see it .

In the blinding sunlight we were closer to the offshore ships