Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 27, 2022 Author #176 Share Posted January 27, 2022 Just a little more walking After meeting Esther we drove by the Downtown area Story of the blue horses jumping ship in Aruba They represent the important historical moment where the horses jumped from a ship's deck into the Caribbean Ocean and swim to our Aruban Bay ‘Paardenbaai “. The 8 Sculptures represents "Strength, Nobility, Grace, Beauty and Freedom". It represents Aruba's collaboration with locals and international communities and its business trade with the world; Europe, South America, Caribbean islands, the Mediterranean. Driving by and stopping at Eagle Beach Pat and Esther 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted January 28, 2022 #177 Share Posted January 28, 2022 On 1/26/2022 at 5:21 PM, scubacruiserx2 said: Main course was Broiled Maine Lobster for me and Patty had a little Lamb Persil lade Thanks for your posts and the food porn. If you choose to return to Rudi's during your cruise, the Dover Sole--presentation, service, and taste--is simply wonderful. My experience with this entree on the stand alone Rudi's on Nieuw Statendam as well as the pop-ups on Westerdam and the Eurodam and have been consistently excellent. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 28, 2022 Author #178 Share Posted January 28, 2022 2 hours ago, rkacruiser said: Thanks for your posts and the food porn. If you choose to return to Rudi's during your cruise, the Dover Sole--presentation, service, and taste--is simply wonderful. My experience with this entree on the stand alone Rudi's on Nieuw Statendam as well as the pop-ups on Westerdam and the Eurodam and have been consistently excellent. It sounds great thank you for the recommendation . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 28, 2022 Author #179 Share Posted January 28, 2022 A video clip of Eagle Beach that I forgot to put up . The first time that we visited this now deserted beach was at Carnival . It was packed with many people camping out in tents on the beach . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 28, 2022 Author #180 Share Posted January 28, 2022 (edited) We didn't see much of Palm Beach as it crowded with Hotels and Restaurants . A couple of video clips as we cruised by The Strip. Near here is de Olde Molen a windmill that was made in Holland in1804 and shipped and reassembled here in 1960 . Edited January 28, 2022 by scubacruiserx2 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ski ww Posted January 28, 2022 #181 Share Posted January 28, 2022 Thanks for the great pictures, it brings back memories of our one week vacation on the island. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 28, 2022 Author #182 Share Posted January 28, 2022 1 hour ago, ski ww said: Thanks for the great pictures, it brings back memories of our one week vacation on the island. You're welcome , We have enjoyed many staycations where we found a place that we really like because we cruised there first , liked it and returned for a proper stay . We do love cruising and the ships when we're on them but it was always nice when we were staying in places like Cozumel or Saint Petersburg . When the boat people and the crowds leave you can really experience the people , the pace and the culture of the area and live in real time instead of ships time . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 28, 2022 Author #183 Share Posted January 28, 2022 (edited) Our next stop was Moomba Beach a place that we had been to before But in the parking lot I froze in my tracks Love at first sight and I had to whip out my Canon to shoot this beauty . A 11th generation Thunderbird aka T-Bird My first crush when I was a kid was the Ford Porthole T-Bird which was designed to compete with the Corvette . In a similar vein was my first new car which was a 1970 Opel GT . The Gen 11 was made between 2001-2005 . Meanwhile back at Moomba we walked through the Palapas to the beach which is a staging area for Jolly Pirates good time party boat . Once again we're out on this kind of fun . Edited January 28, 2022 by scubacruiserx2 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ottahand7 Posted January 28, 2022 #184 Share Posted January 28, 2022 14 minutes ago, scubacruiserx2 said: which is a staging area for Jolly Pirates good time party boat . Once again we're out on this kind of fun . We are getting ready to leave on the NS next month and were talking about past experiences. We did the sunset cruise, the sunset was beautiful, we got a great view of the Oosterdam those were the good things. It was cold and windy, the rum punch was poured out of gallon plastic jugs (nothing available sugar free), the cheese and crackers were self serve with one's hands and no beer. HA is so careful about handwashing and food safety then we were offloaded onto this. I partook of nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 28, 2022 Author #185 Share Posted January 28, 2022 5 hours ago, ottahand7 said: We are getting ready to leave on the NS next month and were talking about past experiences. We did the sunset cruise, the sunset was beautiful, we got a great view of the Oosterdam those were the good things. It was cold and windy, the rum punch was poured out of gallon plastic jugs (nothing available sugar free), the cheese and crackers were self serve with one's hands and no beer. HA is so careful about handwashing and food safety then we were offloaded onto this. I partook of nothing. That why we like photos , thy last longer then weather , punch or cheese and crackers .😉 Which itinerary did you choose ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 28, 2022 Author #186 Share Posted January 28, 2022 Our next stop was at the northern point and the California Lighthouse and a beach nearby The beaches were narrow and somewhat crowded in Curacao . Here they were wider and less crowded - the way that we prefer them 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 28, 2022 Author #187 Share Posted January 28, 2022 The Casibari rock formation stands at 140' but it feels taller with the steep climb There is a way up and a way down and you have been warned A nice and a windy view await you at the top The parking area The Hooiberg or Haystack is 564' And to the East the Port A selfie to go If you climb the front way you will have to duck and wiggle thru some rocks . We go up the back way that has a railing to go with the uneven steps 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 29, 2022 Author #188 Share Posted January 29, 2022 A couple of shots of the ships using a telephoto on the Casibari Rock 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 29, 2022 Author #189 Share Posted January 29, 2022 (edited) Also in the Northern part of Aruba near the California Lighthouse is Alto Vista chapel . It's normally a quite and pretty area in a desert environment . The current chapel was built in 1952 and is in the same location as the original one that was built in 1750 . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alto_Vista_Chapel With 3 ships in port there were plenty of 4 wheelers buzzing around And vendors had moved in and it now had a Carnival like atmosphere Edited January 29, 2022 by scubacruiserx2 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 29, 2022 Author #190 Share Posted January 29, 2022 (edited) We next headed to the rough and windy Eastern side of the Island headed toward the Natural Bridge We stopped along the way to watch the surf and saw a snorkeler with a spear gun going fishing It was rough here and not the place I would normally chose to spearfish Edited January 29, 2022 by scubacruiserx2 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ottahand7 Posted January 29, 2022 #191 Share Posted January 29, 2022 We are on a B2B - ABCs, HMC and DR leg one then the Lesser Antilles leg 2. Martinique was switched out to Grenada for now. We will be staying low key leg one doing walking trips in port - we have to pass our covid test last day. Once we reboard for leg 2 we will be more adventurous and do some tours. Thanks again for you photos! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 29, 2022 Author #192 Share Posted January 29, 2022 44 minutes ago, ottahand7 said: We are on a B2B - ABCs, HMC and DR leg one then the Lesser Antilles leg 2. Martinique was switched out to Grenada for now. We will be staying low key leg one doing walking trips in port - we have to pass our covid test last day. Once we reboard for leg 2 we will be more adventurous and do some tours. Thanks again for you photos! Very nice ! Is that 21 days ? We have never been to Martinique but we did visit Grenada once and dove there . We usually have a plan or 2 and sometimes wing it or just take a down day . It's a good idea to play it safe and easy to start . You certainly don't want to risk everything at the beginning and to stay healthy and not wear your self down or out too early . It does get quite warm and we're usually very careful with the sun but we did pick up a burn on the face and arms . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ottahand7 Posted January 29, 2022 #193 Share Posted January 29, 2022 We really are being careful so we pass our test to make onto leg 2. 🙏 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 29, 2022 Author #194 Share Posted January 29, 2022 1 hour ago, ottahand7 said: We really are being careful so we pass our test to make onto leg 2. 🙏 We pray that everything goes as well or better than planned . We were very fortunate that we made all of the ports and that most of our plans went well and some things better than planned . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 29, 2022 Author #195 Share Posted January 29, 2022 The Natural Bridge There was another Natural Bridge not far from here that collapsed in 2005 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aruba_Natural_Bridge With restrooms this is a very busy spot . I think that it is $ 1.00 to use the restrooms 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 30, 2022 Author #196 Share Posted January 30, 2022 (edited) We next drove all the way South where we didn't see busses or 4 wheelers Just to the East of Baby Beach we saw a wildlife encounter And there is a Pet Cemetery - on the beach https://wondersofaruba.com/arubas-pet-cemetery-a-place-of-love-and-honor/ A couple of beaches next with Roger's Beach and it's view of the closed Citco Aruba Oil Refinery And last of all Baby Beach https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Beach,_Aruba Esther is a native of Aruba and has some fond memories of her childhood in this area and of the boom days when there were plenty of jobs and money when the refinery was operating at capacity . Sadly things changed and they are about to change again . Hopefully for the better , but I wouldn't bet on it . We could see the skeleton of the future on a bluff overlooking Baby Beach . It belong to Apple Leisure Group . Apple Leisure Group's AMResorts has signed a new resort brand management deal for Aruba. The agreement will bring the first Secrets Resorts & Spa-branded property to the island. The 600-room Secrets Baby Beach Aruba will open on Baby Beach, close to San Nicolas. https://www.hotelmanagement.net/development/alg-signs-new-secrets-hotel-for-aruba#:~:text=Apple Leisure Group's AMResorts has,Beach%2C close to San Nicolas. The concern is when they move in they will own and control Baby Beach and access to the beach may be a thing of the past to the locals . It's like having Disney buy all of the land next to you . They have bought a large area of South Eleuthera near Princess Cay and some of the best public beaches are being Disneyfied . Edited January 30, 2022 by scubacruiserx2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 30, 2022 Author #197 Share Posted January 30, 2022 (edited) When we booked this cruise we had a different itinerary and we had agreed with Esther of having lunch near port . HAL changed that not long before we sailed . We were not sure which way Esther's tour would run , and we were a long way from the Port but hungry . Thus lunch was a plan B because we were hungry now . We had looked at Trip advisor and we knew of a place that we wanted to try that Esther didn't know about called Kamini's Kitchen . It was highly rated . Esther didn't seem to want to eat lunch and was going to wait in the car . Fortunately we were able to persuade her to join us . As we walked in we were asked by the person seating us to wash up before entering the building . There is a basin outside on the wall at the base of the ramp . We're big on handwashing and especially now because of the Flu . There's no AC here but with the Bahama shutters and the breeze it was comfortable . The crowd seemed to be mostly locals and a few travelers . I already knew that I would be having curry and was thrilled to find out that conch was on the menu and in season . Pat also wanted curry and for a second day in a row had goat . The drink holder would soon be used with a Margarita Aruban style . Curacao Blue was used as the Orange Liqueur component The bath rooms were free here and uncrowded like at the Natural Bridge so I made good use of it . The curry comes with homemade Roti and we had Maduros as a side dish I must say that I found this posted prayer amusing They had homemade Coconut Ice Cream in a Coconut shell that was rich and delicious We really liked this place and would recommend it Edited January 30, 2022 by scubacruiserx2 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryandmarge Posted January 30, 2022 #198 Share Posted January 30, 2022 LOVED the picture with the prayer for tourists on it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 30, 2022 Author #199 Share Posted January 30, 2022 19 minutes ago, maryandmarge said: LOVED the picture with the prayer for tourists on it. I hope that it's an appropriate prayer for Sunday . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare scubacruiserx2 Posted January 30, 2022 Author #200 Share Posted January 30, 2022 We had another nice tour with Esther ( our third ) and would certainly recommend her as a private tour that wasn't much more than a ship's tour . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now