Day 16 - Aruba

Day 15 – Friday 24^th January 2014 – Aruba

Awake for 08.00 and off to the Britannia Restaurant for served breakfast of fruit salad/omelette/ toast prior to our 09.15 arrival in Aruba.

Situated in the southern Caribbean, Aruba is just eighteen miles north of Venezuela and belongs to the Netherlands Antilles.  The island is 19 ½ miles long and 6 miles wide.

Noordam and Queen Elizabeth

We were on the same berth as the Holland America’s cruise liner ‘Noordam’ and were ashore by 10.00

We visited the harbour’s submarine excursion office to see if there were any places available but unfortunately not for the times we required.  Along to Starbucks for iced tea and internet connection, once again let down by their free wi-fi and I will never bother with them again.

We found another bar on the main street and on the upstairs shaded veranda made contact on the internet and while sipping our beer sent as much as we possibly could, before it became something resembling work.

A stroll along to the bus station and boarded bus L10 and for $2.30 we went along to Palm Beach about three miles north of the town.

Colin in relax mode

The bus stop was outside one of the big hotels and a walk through the grounds brought us to the palm lined white sandy beach.  Lots of sun loungers for the many tourists enjoying the surroundings with lots of activity just off the beach with swimmers, snorkling, power boats and paragliding.  Not wanting to be too energetic it could not be missed, a plodge in the Caribbean.  A long time since I have been plodging,(walk barefoot at the water’s edge).  Next time I will remember to bring my bathers.

An hour on the beach was quite sufficient and back to the bus stop, when a mini-bus pulled in and asked us to jump in. All part of the transport system for the same fare $2.30 took us back to Oranjestad, the port capital.

Still relaxing

We arrived back a little early to go back on board and went into the market and bought ourselves hats and proudly wearing these found another veranda bar for our last beer ashore.  Our six hours on the island was a great experience, the locals were very obliging and friendly and you could easily pick out the Dutch influence in its architecture and culture.

Back on board, I retrieved and switched on my mobile phone and found a signal, the Dutch influence.  Prior to sailing, spent the next hour, sending and receiving texts to family and friends.  At 17.00 we left following the other cruise liner out of the port leaving behind fond memoirs of Aruba.

The dress code tonight is casual, which means no jackets are required; are they letting the standards slip, anyway, it is most welcome, as we sipped our Aruba Mojiotos in the Café Carinthia.

For dinner enjoyed sea food salad/pork/crème flambé.

Onto midship’s Deck 9 next to the swimming pool, the band Nexus were belting it out for the Caribbean party.  All were jumping about and thoroughly enjoying it under the warm starlight canopy, this all ended at midnight but not for us; into the Commodore Club and with only us two and the bar staff finished the day in a mood of glowing happiness.