GREETINGS FROM SUNNY ARUBA – ONE HAPPY ISLAND!

In front of our timeshare and all over the island cacti are everywhere. Ara, aka The Shell Lady, vacations here for 12 weeks and keeps busy finding shells and creating these amazing shell designs!

First night in beautiful Aruba.

Sunset from our balcony! Breathtaking! The lens never really captures the scope of the true beauty that the eyes see! Every night there will be another unforgettable and gorgeous sunset.

Weather each day is 85-95 degrees with a chance of rain. They only receive 20″ of rain in a year. The trade winds keep it comfortable and also keep the pesky bugs away!

We arrived after 2:00 pm, grabbed a bite and jumped into the warm waters and finally relaxed. Heavenly! Since we had been up since 4:00 am that morning we called it an early night to get some much needed sleep after a delicious dinner of island fish – red snapper for me and grouper for John.

The next day started off with heavy clouds but they didn’t deter us from a 5-6 mile walk along the shore to stretch the legs and collect some requested “special” shells for the grandkids.

Once back at our timeshare another jump into the ocean for some water therapy. Great for the tired, achy legs and rejuvenating the old muscles! Saw some vacationing friends from last year and spent time in the water catching up with them.

Clouds got heavier and more menacing as the day worn on and suddenly after lunch the sky opened up with a pounding deluge that moved even diehards like us, wrapped in towels and shivering, off the beach.

We did get to see part of the Patriots vs Jets game and much to our delight our beloved Pats had their sixth win! It was not a complete washout!

Rain was still coming down heavily and soon flooding our balcony and dripping into our room from the slider. A call to maintenance did not bring any assistance because the staff were busily sweeping out different areas of the lobby that had flooded. There is nowhere for the water to go when it rains like this here. We just had to wait for the rain to stop and the warm air to help speed up the evaporation of the water which did happen.

The next day started with some clouds but hopefully would clear out soon with the strong trade winds over the island. Time for our daily walk along the shore.

Day four brought warmer weather and sun which warmed both our hearts and bodies that were feeling healthier and looking tanner already.

The pictures above are of the beach and property of our timeshare from our balcony. The photo above right is of the palapas (huts) where we sit and read, nap and veg out! Ahhhh! This is the life!

What’s amazing about Aruba is the changing colors of the water. It goes from green to turquoise to indigo.

More gorgeous sunsets to enjoy!

Our second week we were on the opposite side of the building from the sunset. These pics are of the pools and swim up bar, day and night with the changing colors.

The days flew by as we spent the precious time enjoying swimming in the warm waters, basking in the sun, and eating our fill of delicious fish such as red snapper, yellow snapper, mahi mahi, grouper, wahoo, bronzini, and outstanding steaks that came from, believe it or not, Nebraska!

At this restaurant our food was cooking on a stone as we ate, reason why we wore bibs. It sizzled while it cooked!

Dinner out with good friends!                                  Selfie at night being blown by the wind!

We visited with our yearly friends that we have come to know and love over many years. Dinners out together, beach parties on Wednesday with Mango smoothies, Champagne Thursdays, and just spending time together catching up.

Looking back one more time at this incredible desert island of Aruba with its Divi Divi tree which grows in the direction of the wind.

All too soon it was over and we headed home with wonderful memories that will keep us content until we return next year – to Aruba, our home away from home.

Here is a poem I wrote several years ago about Aruba. I hope you will enjoy it and feel as if you were there too!

Aruba

Warm sandy beaches, water in shades of green to blue, laying on the beach, relaxing and feeling too good to be true.

Winds blowing the sand around,

But I don’t care I have my feet up off the ground.

Soon I will nap after I read and not hear a sound. 

Palm trees swaying with the breeze,

Birds flying by graceful as they please.

Long walks along the peaceful shore

Make me long to do this whole lot more.

Collecting a new stash of beautiful shells,

The beach is replenished with each new wave and swell.

Applying plenty of sunscreen

For this Aruban sun can surely be mean!

Soon it will be Pina Colada or Margherita time!

But you don’t have to hurry to get in line,

Make sure you get an extra lime!

Dinner time is drawing near

And I need to wake up so my head will be clear,

Then I will order some fish which to my heart is so dear.

After dinner sitting on our balcony here

We can hear the sounds of the ocean so near.

There is no other place I would rather be

Than with my husband in our Aruba timeshare by the sea.

Thank you for stopping by!

Blessings to all!

-Janice-