Bon Bini Aruba

[Ben Ruset]

Oh yeah!

Let me tell you, Aruba is everything and more that I thought it would be. We got here last night, and rented a Jeep. (They gave us a Yellow Wrangler!) The island is beautiful. We flew over the island, coming in low over the state park that takes up 40% of the land here. Most of the roads out there are dirt, winding through the desert with just some scrub brush and cactus.

The Radisson is amazing. This simply is the best hotel that I have ever been in. We have a standard room, but we lucked out and it has a view of the Carribean from one direction, and Orangestat (the city) from the other. Laura and I had some drinks and a snack on our terrace last night. One thing that I noticed is that the hotel charges you for everything. We wanted a small mini-fridge in the room, and they charge $10/night for it. Every little thing costs you $$$.

Tonight I arranged dinner on the beach. The Radisson has a 5 star resteraunt (supposedly the best on the island.) They're setting up a special table for us with our own private waitor. It's going to be great.

The weather is wonderful. In the high 80s, and somewhat humid, but not as bad as it gets in NJ. There always is a nice breeze, and the sea is so warm. Last night we took a walk down past the other resorts and saw some creatures around. We saw a stray cat with short hair but a long hair tail. Very friendly. Then later we saw a small crab go by. I poked at it with a blade of grass and it reared up and started trying to pince at it with it's little claws. Then it ran away.

I have taken a ton of pictures. I'll also try to get at the geocaches on the island, and explore some of the ruins that are here. It may not be the pines, but it's paradise!

 

[bach2yoga]

Ben,

That's wonderful! I'm so glad the two of you are having a great time!

I remember the Bahamas (which I didn't particularly like) charging $1.50 just to replace the rice and beans on my plate with a baked potato, and another time, 2 mini danishes, a small coffee, and small OJ at the hotel running almost $20 with taxes--that was 10 years ago! Jamaica wasn't nearly as bad, I enjoyed Jamaica. (this year we're planning a bit different, Mexican Riviera (Sian Ka'an biosphere), and camping in Nova Scotia in the summer.)

What are some of the local culinary specialties?

Maybe Laura will post when she gets back about some of your experiences, that would be nice! She's a brave girl to head out into the unknown looking for geocaches on an unfamiliar island, lol! She must trust your navigating skills

Can't wait to see your pictures when you get back!!!

Renee

 

[Teegate]

Ben,

I am glad you are having a good time. Enjoy yourself!

BTW, how did you connect to the internet? Hotel?

Guy

 

[Ben Ruset]

Renee,

We haven't really found any local dishes yet. Everything is very American or European in the food. Last night's dinner was great - a salad and steamed veggies for her, and a salad and fillet mignon for me. I can't even begin to tell you how cool it is to eat on the beach all alone.

Guy,

The hotel has a business center where you can pay to use one of their terminals. As with everything here, it's damn expensive. $10 for a half hour. But it's cheaper than making phone calls.

Today we're going into town, and then visiting a place called the Butterfly Farm. Tomorrow we're going to do those geocaches and explore the other side of the island which is mostly barren desert.

 

[bach2yoga]

Tell Laura to make sure she is getting some protein...even if it's just in a protein shake, esp. after surgery!!! She should figure .75-1 gram daily per 2.2 kg of her weight depending on her activity level, but especially to help the muscles rebuild right now.
Sounds like a great night. Joe and I had a dinner on the beach all alone in the Bahamas one night, that was probably the best night we had there. We walked along the beach afterward under the moon, it was really beautiful. I love the sea, it is so healing.

 

[Ben Ruset]

She's eating protein bars.

Today we explore the island.

Renee, you'd love it here. We visited a butterfly farm yesterday. It's a huge outdoor screened in area where they breed butterflies. Pretty much everywhere you look there is a butterfly.

We saw some eating some fruit. The guide explains that as the fruit sits there, it rots and the sugars ferment into alcohol. He said that they can become up to 5% alcohol. He then was able to pick up a butterfly who was drunk. It fell over a few times before flying away in a very drunken state.

We got some great pics there. We also may hit the bird sanctuary and the ostrich farm today. The nature here is amazing.

 

[bach2yoga]

She's eating protein bars.

Today we explore the island.

Renee, you'd love it here. We visited a butterfly farm yesterday. It's a huge outdoor screened in area where they breed butterflies. Pretty much everywhere you look there is a butterfly.

We saw some eating some fruit. The guide explains that as the fruit sits there, it rots and the sugars ferment into alcohol. He said that they can become up to 5% alcohol. He then was able to pick up a butterfly who was drunk. It fell over a few times before flying away in a very drunken state.

We got some great pics there. We also may hit the bird sanctuary and the ostrich farm today. The nature here is amazing.

Protein bars will work, good!

It sounds exquisite! I've seen some of the butterfly exhibits in Philly with the plates of rotted fruits, etc, but I had absolutely no idea that butterflies got drunk! That is hysterical!!! Who knew???!

One of these days I'll have to make it a point to get there!

Renee

 

[Ben Ruset]

The following is a post I made on Aruba-bb.com titled: "Econo Ruined my Honeymoon"

What a disaster!

Today Laura and I decided to explore the island. We drove up to the California lighthouse, and then wanted to drive down the dirt road that follows the coast leading down the northern part of the island. We got near where the golf course was, and noticed the temperature gauge skyrocket! We stopped the truck, opened the hood, and found that there was NO WATER in the Jeep!

We waited a few minutes for the engine to cool down, and then poured all of our precious drinking water into the coolantr resivoir. We waited a few minutes more and then started the Jeep. It seemed fine, so we continued back towards our hotel.

When we got near the Hyatt Ocean Club, the truck lost power, and we managed to coast it into the driveway of the Hyatt. We called the Econo emergency number and were told to wait 20 minutes for someone to come get us. They came with a Ford Focus and told us not to worry about a thing.

When we got back to the hotel room we were called by a lady at Econo who told us we'd get a credit for the difference between the Jeep and the Focus for the rest of the trip. (We're here until Sunday.) Shortly after, we got another call from someone who told me that the headgasket had blown on the Jeep, and that we were going to be responsible for paying for it since we were negligent in driving it overheated! When it finally died at the Hyatt, the temperature gauge was normal!

After many fruitless phone calls where they laid all of the blame on us, I told them to come to the hotel and pick up the Focus and that I was going to reverse the CC charges for the Jeep. That sent them in a tizzy and the lady started yelling at me and saying that I would need to pay for the days that we rented the Jeep. I hung up on her and went to dinner.

We took a cab to Texas de Brazil and had what would have been a good dinner, except that neither my wife nor myself felt like eating. We left quickly and got back to the hotel. I'm pissed off, and my wife is in tears. Econo has totally ruined our Aruba experience. The Jeep was in poor shape to begin with, and the fact that they want to stick me with repairs to their POS is unbelievable.

AVOID ECONO AT ALL COSTS!!! (Literally)
Who knows what they will try to do to us.

Quite frankly, today sucked.

 

[BEHR655]

That really sucks!
When Lin and I were on our honeymoon in the Bahamas we rented a VW Beetle for a couple of days. Turns out the gas gauge did not work and we ran out of gas with the gauge showing half full. The renatal agent (Avis?) gave us a VW Thing for the remainder of our stay. That Thing was pretty cool.

Steve

 

[bach2yoga]

I echo Steve's sentiments--that sucks!
I wrote Laura right before you guys left--we spend so much time spending the perfect wedding, the perfect honeymoon, we have such high expectations, we spend so much damn money, and when it doesn't go off perfectly it can really be FRUSTRATING!
You have to handle the situation, obviously, but don't let it ruin all of your trip, ok?
Here's our wedding/honeymoon horror story: We were married in Jamaica. We chose to be married in a tropical garden, and it rained the morning we were to be married. What I didn't realize is that it rains every morning in Jamaica. I cried. But by the time 10 a.m. rolled around it was clear. My hairpiece fell out, no biggie. But while we were there, the next morning we went for an early morning swim in the ocean, and Joe lost his wedding ring. We never found it, and had to buy a new one when we got home.
But when I think about our trip now, I had almost forgotten those things until I read your post--kind of like giving birth--you remember the pain at first, but after a while what you remember is the good--oh hell, that ain't true, it hurt!!! Bring on the epidural!
OK, not the best example....my point is, be MAD, cuz it SUCKS, but enjoy the rest of your honeymoon anyway!!!!

Renee

 

[Teegate]

Ben,


Don't let it get you down and enjoy the rest of your stay.

My or I should say my wife's wedding nightmare was when the photographer placed my wife over a dead squirrel at Haddon Heights park, and hundred's of bugs flew inside of her dress. It isn't easy getting bugs out of a wedding dress, and especially when you can't crush them or it would ruin the dress for the reception.

Guy

 

[JerseyJim]

Is that the secret to a long lasting marriage, a wedding day, or honeymoon disaster? My Wedding went off without a hitch, and our Honeymoon in the Keys went perfect, but the Marriage didn't, gee if I ever get married again, i'll make sure something goes wrong on my Wedding day...LOL
Jersey Jim

 

[bach2yoga]

Ben,


Don't let it get you down and enjoy the rest of your stay.

My or I should say my wife's wedding nightmare was when the photographer placed my wife over a dead squirrel at Haddon Heights park, and hundred's of bugs flew inside of her dress. It isn't easy getting bugs out of a wedding dress, and especially when you can't crush them or it would ruin the dress for the reception.

Guy

Oh, my gosh, I don't know whether to laugh or feel sorry for her! That can't have been fun!!!!

Renee

 

[BEHR655]

That can't have been fun!!!!

Renee

Sounds like it could have been a winner on 'Funniest Home Videos'. :lol:

 

[bach2yoga]

gee if I ever get married again, i'll make sure something goes wrong on my Wedding day...LOL
Jersey Jim

As long as the something that goes wrong isn't being left standing at the altar!!! :lol:
Renee

 

[JerseyJim]

Nahhhhh I wouldn't leave anyone at the Alter, I'm too nice of a guy to do that.
Jersey Jim

 

[bach2yoga]

Nahhhhh I wouldn't leave anyone at the Alter, I'm too nice of a guy to do that.
Jersey Jim

laughs, that's good! I didn't think ya would--and I'd hope it wouldn't happen to you either, tho I would think that even that would be preferable to marrying when you really didn't want to or weren't ready to. Crazy thing, this social institution we call marriage, eh?

To Ben and Laura, raising a champagne glass :friday:

May you be ever in love. :inlove:

Renee

 

[Ben Ruset]

Well, the honeymoon is saved. They came and took the rental car, and people are basing the company now on the Aruba BB that I post on.

Last night we decided to kill some time at the casino. I popped $20 into a slot machine and walked out with $726. Not a bad showing!

 

[bach2yoga]

Well, the honeymoon is saved. They came and took the rental car, and people are basing the company now on the Aruba BB that I post on.

Last night we decided to kill some time at the casino. I popped $20 into a slot machine and walked out with $726. Not a bad showing!

Hurray!!!!!!
I ought to send you to the casino with a 20 spot for me, lol!
Renee

 

[JerseyJim]

gee that $726.00 will help pay for the repairs on the Jeep....LOL just kidding.
Jersey Jim