Port of Call: Aruba

We were traveling on the Coral Princess from Fort 

Lauderdale.  Aruba was our first port and after being

at sea for two and a half days we were ready to get 

off the ship and do some exploring.

On our cruise, we were only in port for a few hours

from about 7am until noon.  We are not big on excursions 

and generally like to explore on our own.  After reading

up on the island we found out that there are tours that take 

you to visit the Natural Bridge and then tell you that the

Natural Bridge was destroyed in a storm in 2005, they do 

show you a smaller version of a natural bridge but we knew

 this sort of tour would not be for us.

The ship docks at the Aruba Cruise Terminal and it is

just a short walk to get outside the terminal to taxis and

the main shopping area.  Aruba is one of the countries of

the Kingdom of the Netherlands and you can see the 

Dutch influence in the facades of the buildings on the

main drag, though with a pastel Caribbean vibe.  There

are casinos, restaurants and bars and the typical 

shopping venues found in most island ports such as

Diamonds International and stores of that type.

We exited the cruise terminal and approached the 

line of taxis.  There are fixed prices in Aruba and we

knew it would be $10 to get to our destination but 

we told the driver where we wanted to go he told us

the was a Sunday surcharge and now the fare would

be $13 each way for a 3 mile trip.  I really hate being

ripped off when I travel and prefer to walk away when

it happens.  I walked onto the main street and just 

behind the stores is the bus station, a few local guys

told me I could get to the beach easily and cheaply.

We could pay with US dollars on the bus since the

ticket booth was closed.  The bus arrived in a few

minutes and we hopped on, for a few dollars each we

rode the local bus and the driver told us when we

had reached our destination.

We chose to visit Eagle Beach during our time in Aruba.

This beach is often rated as one of the best in the islands.

And it is beautiful, a lovely wide beach with turquoise blue

waters.  

We didn't have wifi on the ship so we needed to find a spot

on the beach with wifi so we could check our emails and

get a little work done.  We paid a guy for a few lounge chairs

under a palapa and settled in for what we thought would

be a few hours of rest and relaxation.  Very soon we were

slapping and scratching from some small insects that were

biting us.  We wrapped towels around ourselves and checked

our most important emails and then high tailed it out of 

there before we were devoured by the insects.

We said farewell to the beach and hopped back on

the bus to town.

We strolled over the the Wharfside Flea Market and met

up with a few friends from the ship who told us all the

stuff there were cheap souvenirs or other trinkets that

are brought over from Haiti.  By this point we had seen

enough, we headed back to the ship.  

A Grand Time in Grand Haven

Last weekend we packed the suitcases, packed the

cooler, packed the car and headed north to Michigan.

I think Michigan is one of the nicest places to 

spend the summer.  The days are hot but there

is a breeze from all those lakes and the nights

are cool and great for sleeping.  The landscape 

of western Michigan is filled with fruit orchards.

We stopped at Crane's Pie Pantry for lunch.

I love a business that has been around since 1916.

And if you are eating at the pie pantry ~ well,

you have to have pie!

Finally we made it up to Grand Haven and the 

new summer home of our relatives Pat and Jim.

Grand Haven is a quintessential American small

town.  The downtown is thriving with shops and

restaurants.  This Italian provision store has been

in business since 1907.

We had a great time walking around the neighborhood

looking at all of the beautiful homes.

The homes and gardens are so well kept,

this is an area of many Dutch immigrants

and you can see their roots in how nicely 

they keep their properties.

Of course we went to the Saturday morning

Farmer's Market.

In the morning we could run to the bakery

to get treats for breakfast, there was time

for picnicing, going to the beach, doing some

antiquing, finding some local history and most

importantly time to spend with those we love.

At the end of the day we headed to the beach.

It is so nice to watch the sunset in the 

western sky.

You have to stay to watch the lights come on

on the pier.  They are on a catwalk where the

keeper can walk when the lake gets very rough

and it is impossible to walk on the pier.

A grand time!

Thanks Pat & Jim.