FRIDAY'S FOTO-- BRAVE BAHAMIAN SEAGULLS

TOGETHER WE STAND
 I love taking photos of gulls, and these, and these three, facing a brisk wind in the Bahamas, were definitely stoic.
 

FRIDAY'S FOTO

Bahamas
How would you caption this one?

STROLLING ARUBA'S BEACHWALK--AN EYE-OPENER

We love Aruba.  It IS the “Happy Island” it calls itself, and from what I understand, today’s Aruba does not resemble the tourism in Aruba of even a few years ago.  Certainly since celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor began coming here once Cuba fell to Castro, Aruba has worked very hard at building and promoting its image. The growth is phenomenal, and it is still evolving.  You’ve got plenty of choices, so think about what you are looking for when you’re planning your vacation.

The Riu

Aruba is basically divided into two hotel zones, the high rise and the low rise, descriptive nomenclature based solely on the height of the buildings.  In the high rise section at Palm Beach are the big hotels: Westin, Rui (all inclusive), Marriott, Hyatt Regency, Radisson, Holiday Inn and some others that front on the beach.  Here you’ll also find restaurants, casinos, and plenty of places—many familiar—to shop.  It’s tourist oriented, touristy, and geared to offer the high life in entertainment and in action.

Looking toward the low rise section of hotels

In the low rise section, the hotels and beachfront villas are one and two stories high.  The area is more low-key, and generally there are far fewer people on the beaches. The three Divi all-inclusive resorts are in this area. 

There is a third section of smaller hotels at Eagle Beach. Here you’re somewhere between the flashy high rise and the isolated self-contained low rise.  Eagle Beach hotels are generally located across the street from the beach.  There are nice restaurants within strolling distance, and there are places if you are interested in jet skis, banana boats and other water sports.

It all depends on what you’re looking for in your vacation.  All sections are just a short cab ride from Oranjestad, so you never have a feeling of isolation.

No matter your choice, all the beaches are invitingly tantalizing. In Aruba, you do not have to worry.

A Divi Divi that is not pruned

One very special feature of the high rise section is the beachwalk.  Stretching the entire length is a meandering, paved walkway, and as our hotel, Divi Phoenix, is on the edge of the high rise district, we were at one end.  The beachwalk stretches from our hotel all the way to the Holiday Inn at the other end.

While the paved beachwalk ends at the Divi Phoenix’s border, it continues as a sandy path toward Eagle Beach, and Rob walked this area too.  There in its solitude, he saw beaches as nature intended, lined with waving grasses and other plants.  He enjoyed the quiet naturalness along the Caribbean.

The path cut through the foliage to other beaches

Here was a more quiet atmosphere

a bit as I imagine Paradise

The paved beachwalk, on the other hand, cuts a winding path between the beach and the high rise hotels, and it is a favorite of joggers, walkers, and people with strollers.  It is far more populated than Rob’s sandy route.

pruned Divi Divi

On our walks we pass iconic Divi Divi trees, some pruned neatly and some reaching their branches outward in beautiful disarray.  Divi Divi trees are easily spotted, and they provide a wonderful service by spreading their foliage out to bring shade beneath the tropical sun. 

The beachwalk is also great for people viewing.  Tourists in all their shapes and sizes are fun and interesting to watch.  Everyone has colorful, tropical attire.  Some people are covered to their ankles in flowing fabrics of pastel hues, and some stroll in the skimpiest, tiniest snippets of cloth. It’s a parade of fashion and beach gear. 

Just too beautiful!

It is also fun to get an idea of what’s happening at the huge resorts along the way.  We watched bocci at the Rui and lots of beach volleyball everywhere.  Lounges and hammocks may be occupied, but out on the water there are banana boats, hoby cats, and pirate barks.  In the sky are parasailors.  It’s an atmosphere of vitality, and it’s lovely to be a part of it. 

Many resorts have beach restaurants and bars on the walk, so stopping for a libation or lunch or even Dunkin’ Donuts is always a possibility. 

On the beach side of the walk are the lounges and palapas solely for the hotel guests.  The hotels post signs reminding walkers of that fact. The signs stake out each hotel’s turf.  As the properties are borderless, the differences are really designated by the different styles and colors of the chairs and lounges and the types and shapes of the palapas.  It makes for interesting patterns on the sand and shade as well as for an interesting stroll.

The beaches in Aruba are all open to the public. Regardless of hotel signs, people can make themselves comfortable with their own chairs or blankets.  There are even concessionaires from which you can rent anything you need. There is plenty of room for everyone on these very wide beaches.  Once again, hotel signs “warn” that the concessionaires are not part of the hotel.  The hotels would prefer a bit more exclusion, I’d say, but the concessionaires seem well-established and eager to do business too.

In fact, there are concessions on the beach for just about anything one’s heart desires.  We rented Hoby Cats for sailing.  We could have booked tours right on the beach as well as through our hotel’s concierge: tours of historic, geological, or unique places on the island, boat rides, snorkeling trips or practically anything else including massages.  But to be honest, the beautiful beach and the delightful water keep us close to home most of the day.  Aruba by day is for relaxing and enjoying the warmth on your skin.

ARUBA'S DIVI PHOENIX--CHARM IN A TIMESHARE



The Divi Phoenix from out on the jetty

 Aruba’s charm is irresistible.  For many tourists, the introduction is simply a day stop on a Southern Caribbean cruise—a day of shore excursions to the beaches or a tour around the island, a walk  around historic Oranjestad where homes are painted in soothing pastels, a visit to the vibrant, colorful markets, or a meal in one of the excellent dining establishments the island has to offer.  Almost inevitably, the seed is planted to return to this sliver of paradise tucked warmly in the Caribbean.  And so you do.  So we did.

Rob and I stayed at the Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort, a condominium type hotel and timeshare (I surmise the new term is “vacation ownership”) in the high-rise section of hotels.  More on Aruba’s hotel areas in a later post.

There are five Divi hotels in Aruba: Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort, Divi Village Golf and Beach Resort, Divi Dutch Village Resort, and two all inclusives, Divi and Tamarijn Aruba.  Vacation ownership is available in all, and full ownership is available at the Residences at Divi Village Golf and Beach Resort.  This is just one company.  Think of any major hotel chain, and it is represented in Aruba in a big way.

We also saw building going on for permanent residences intended for foreign retirees.  Perhaps that is the next step for this country.

Terrafuse

You know Rob and I are fans of timeshares, and the Divi Phoenix is a pleasure.  Our suite is big and comfortable and very nicely appointed.  In the living room there hangs a glass sculpture reminiscent of Chihuly, but made in Aruba and called Terrafuse.  The Terrafuse studio, by the way, offers classes and tours if one is here long enough, and the work is quite marvelous.  We met a man who had taken classes there and loved it.

Our one bedroom suite is lovely and painted in the relaxing, happy shades of teals and beige with the same colors incorporated in the artwork on the walls.  It is nicely decorated with comfortable furniture, a sofa, wicker chairs, and a coffee table in the living room, more than ample dresser and closet space in the bedroom and hallway in addition to the comfortable king size bed, a fully stocked kitchen, and two complete bathrooms, one with a whirlpool bath and a separate glass shower, and the other with a glass shower.   A louvered utility closet houses a washer/dryer.  There are televisions in the living room and bedroom.  The living room couch is a convertible should there be up to four in a party. There is a small dining area with room for four, and a kitchen island with bar seating for four. 

What a beautiful way to start an evening.

The balcony overlooks the central part of the resort, the pools toward one side, over palm trees to the ocean in the center, and to the beach and ocean on the other side.  Just sitting on the balcony, cocktail in hand, watching the sun set over the ocean is one of the most wonderful parts of the day.  The sun set around 6:15 PM during our visit, and we make sure to be on the balcony or in some picturesque location each evening so we can savor the beauty. 

from our balcony

At night colored lights fill the pools gently changing hues and creating a delectably romantic atmosphere.

The first night we arrive, we enjoy dinner in the hotel at the Pure Beach restaurant.  It was the finest Mahi Mahi I’d ever eaten, but more specifics on Pure Beach in a later post.

The Divi Phoenix has two freshwater pools, one with a swim up bar (need you ask if we swam up?), but we were not here for swimming pools.  There’s a smaller pool in another section for water games.  Each morning I join a terrific water aerobics class that actually has men attending as well as women!  Most unusual.  I like these and participate each morning while Rob walks.  He’s not into water aerobics.

No problem relaxing here--and plenty of shade. 
Make sure you use a strong sunscreen.

The beach is fantastic.  There are ample palm trees and palapas to provide shade, and though there are the usual idiots who bring some item down before sunrise to “reserve” their space under a palapa, there are ample lounges and space in the shade for everyone.  Hammocks stretch between trees, but Rob and I have no problem snoozing on our lounges.

The sand is cool under foot, the trade winds belie the heat, and the water is a perfect temperature with an easy slope and sand bottom.  People float around on Swimways Spring Floats or rented floats.   It’s heavenly!

One important word of warning.  You need a good sunscreen.  The trade winds may make you feel cool, but you are very close to the equator.  The sun’s rays are very direct here, and I saw several people resembling lobsters.  Don’t be one of them.

If there is one negative aspect to spending a week in this kind of setting is that it has spoiled us for hotels which usually lack enough comfortable seating, and unless it’s a suite hotel, you have only one room. These days, I feel cramped!  I think I am spoiled.

Some people complain that there is the hard sell when you stay at a timeshare.  Sometimes that is true, and you just say no to invitations to tour.  In Aruba it was very different.  It was so low-key even we were surprised.

I think it all fits in with the Happy Island idea.  It works. 

We flew United, and when we boarded the plane, we were handed a big, Oprah-style magazine called Destination Aruba.  It was filled with history, information about transportation, money, post offices, medical facilities, prominent people, restaurants, festivals, duty-free shopping etc.  There were lots of advertisements for just about everything imaginable.  I read it cover to cover on the trip down, learned a lot, and altered some of the plans I already had in my head.  We hit the Aruban ground running.

As we headed to pick up our luggage at the airport, we passed a big Divi table, and people were handing out free Divi bags (similar to but bigger than the recyclable grocery bags) to everyone regardless of their hotel destination.  Inside was a slim brochure on the different Divi resorts, but outside was stamped the Divi logo.  Each tourist became a walking advertisement, but there was no attempt to do anything more.  I saw these bags all over the island.  They were light, folded, and big enough to carry many things.

At the Divi Phoenix we never received the usual “breakfast or lunch invitation plus tour,” but we were invited to meet a hotel concierge.  We did that, and he simply checked that everything in our accommodations were all right, helped us with suggestions for restaurants serving authentic Aruban cuisine, and answered our questions about the supermarket shopping and festivals.  Not once did he suggest a tour of Divi property or anything vaguely resembling a sales pitch.  If we were interested, apparently it was up to us to ask.  We weren’t, so we didn’t.




The welcome party with music, drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and
a lot of friendly folk.



A friendly staff is always
welcomed

  On Monday evening there is a welcome party—drinks, hors d’oeuvres, music.  No sales pitch, but a lot of information about resort activities, getting around the hotel strip, etc.  I had already become acquainted with Balashi Beer, the island brew, so I was quite content and enjoyed meeting some of the other guests.

No pressure—just relaxation, beach, and water.  Aruba is One Happy Island.

FRIDAY'S FOTO

I thought his made for an eerie juxtaposition in the waning light of day in Aruba. 
What a lovely island.

FRIDAY'S FOTO

A romantic stroll along a beautiful beach--a moment to remember.

PANAMA CANAL CRUISE--PORT #1 ARUBA

By the time we reach Aruba, the first port on our Panama Canal cruise aboard Princess’ Coral Princess, we are two days at sea, relaxing and enjoying the out-of-our-ordinary environment. Because we arrived in Florida two days before the cruise’s sailing date, we do feel we’ve been away from home quite a while, and we have shifted easily into cruise mode. Laid back and relaxed.

We are traveling with friends Sue and Marty, and that’s great. On a cruise it’s so easy to be together and also to follow our own whims. All four of us are in cruise mode. We’re using “Anytime Dining” rather than a set dinner hour, and it seems to be working just fine. This is definitely a cruise for Third Agers like us. I am told (by the grandmother of some) that there are only ten kids aboard. Works for us. There also is no trouble finding deck chairs; a lot of Third Agers are in the shadier parts of the deck. The pool is great. People are in and out of it and the three surrounding hot tubs, and there’s always conversation. We haven’t gone to the pool with the retractable roof yet because the weather has been too spectacular.

In the evening, we’ve gone to the 10:15 shows, and we haven’t had trouble finding seats. The ship winds down after that. That’s also Third Age. On the other hand, at the first “formal night,” there were a lot of gowns and tuxedos. That’s also Third Age. I think the formal nights are lovely, and I’m looking forward to the next two formal nights.

Early this morning we docked in Aruba. Sue and Marty are off on a shore tour. Rob and I are heading off to see Oranjestad.

Aruba is an interesting island because it’s only 19.6 miles long and 6 miles wide. That's only about 74 square miles. It boasts a population of 105,600 but 30,600 live in Oranjestad. While it does not have the tropical rain forests found on other Caribbean islands, and really very few places of interest to visit, it is known for its beautiful beaches and its excellent scuba and snorkeling. We have friends who visit every year and love it.

Rob and I spent our time ashore just walking around, popping into a few shops, visiting Queen Wilhelmina Park with its beautiful flowers and palm trees, and then heading to the beach where colorful boats sat lined up in a row in front of a thatched hut for picnickers. There we also photographed iguanas—those big lizards that under normal circumstances would scare me to death. They were all over the rocks near the water’s edge.

Our stroll through Oranjestad took us past colorful homes and government buildings. Greens and oranges dominate, and the colors add a happy tone to the island. We also visited Fort Zoutman, or what remains of it. I did some shopping—not for the diamonds, etc. that are offered, but for a new Del Sol shirt and some Del Sol nail polish. I love those shirts that change color in the sun, and I have something Del Sol from many of the places we visit. They’re pure fun, and frankly I am not the kind of tourist ports of call crave, although I’m sorry I forgot to get some Aruba Aloe (as we passed stands I thought they were selling sunscreen) because aloe is a major industry of the island. I like to have things that reflect what I’ve actually seen. Rob and I would like to come back to stay for a weeks’ beach vacation.

Here's a little of what we saw in Oranjestad.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Back on the ship we have lunch and then to the pool. Life is good.

cruise "Panama+Canal" Aruba Oranjestad iguanas vacation travel photography "travel+photos" Caribbean destinations "Fort+Zoutman" boats shopping ports "third+age" "anytime+dining" "Princess+Cruises" "Coral+Princess"

WEDDING AT BEACHES BOSCOBEL

When Rob and I take road trips, I forget how much I love flying--the exhilarating rush at take off, and, in this case on our way to Jamaica, a rising left turn over the Rockaways and out over the Atlantic, rising through the puffs of clouds to the next layer to cruise at 35,000 feet for the 3 1/2 hour flight to Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport.

Jamaica is the locale of our daughter Allison and Don's wedding on Sunday, and we'll stay from Wednesday to Wednesday soaking in the rays and enjoying whatever the resort has to offer.

It is a two to three hour drive across the island from the airport to Ocho Rios where Beaches Boscobel is located. Our Beaches driver gives us a running commentary as we slowly maneuver around holes and craters in the bumpy road still under construction. He tells us that when the road is finished, the ride will take 45 minutes. The road seems a long way from being finished, but Jamaica is hosting matches in World Cup Cricket beginning in March and the road is supposed to be completed by then. We see building everywhere, and with tourism Jamaica's number one industry, beautiful new hotels and resorts abound. One our driver points out will have 2500 rooms.

As we pull through the gates at Beaches, we're stunned by its beauty. We’re helped from the mini-van and given a welcoming rum punch. They must have the skinny on Rob! Our room is lovely and large, the bedroom area raised two steps above the sitting area. We've a king bed, armoire with TV, stocked refrigerator, and coffee pot. The roomy lower level has a desk, couch, coffee table and chair. We can also watch television from that couch. The sliding doors to the balcony run the full width of the room, and our view is lovely overlooking the resort, gardens, coconut palms, and a partial view of the beautiful teal ocean waters.

Beaches is an all inclusive resort. It is a lovely experience. We are, of course, occupied with wedding thoughts, but Rob and I “force” ourselves to begin the party before anyone else arrives!

First stop is the Bayside bar, one of several on the grounds. We meet a terrific bartender, Shaun, and she is wonderful-learns our names, and whenever we walk by for the rest of the week, we get a big and personal hello! That is exactly how we are treated no matter where we go and what we do. I think one would be hard pressed to find a more responsive and friendly staff.

Dinner that night is in the Bayside Restaurant alongside the pool. This is a buffet, but it is richly arrayed with something for everyone, and everything we taste is delicious. There are linens on the tables, and the servers are excellent, always anticipating our desires. When we ask for coffee, for instance, and we go up to choose our dessert, the coffee is brought just as we return to the table and sit down. That way it is hot no matter how long we are away. Tonight is steak night, and Rob does ask for a small piece, purple and mooing, just as he likes it. And he gets it exactly as he orders. But there is so much else, especially a wide variety of fish choices, and that's where he samples. Everything is wonderful, and we squeeze in a bit of some tempting desserts with nice, strong delicious Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. This is definitely a lovely start to a lovely week.

The Bayside restaurant is the only place where breakfast is served, so we are back in the morning expecting the same old breakfast buffet. NOT! This is by far the most expansive breakfast buffet I've ever seen. We start with the fresh fruits tasting sweet and juicy and ripe and very unlike anything available at home. Papayas, mangoes, kiwis, and starfruit abound, as do oranges, bananas and grapefruit. There's fresh-squeezed juice as well. Then we come to the fishes. Smoked salmon (lox to me), creamed herring, whitefish, and sardines, all beautifully presented and incredibly appetizing. (Did I make a pun, here?) There's an omelet station, but we pass it for Jamaican specialties--callaloo, described for us by our server, Michael, as Jamaican spinach, and other types of vegetables, bammy, a type of fried fruit bread, and many other possibilities including what might be called Jamaica’s national dish, ackee and saltfish (codfish), ackee being Jamaica’s national fruit. Breakfast this and every other morning is an adventure--trying new Jamaican foods, seeing familiar foods prepared in different ways, or enjoying the quality of old standards. No rush; no fuss. Eveything is "No problem," and at Beaches they seem to mean it.

This morning we go exploring. We'd been given a map at check-in, and there are so many places to see. Like many resorts in the Caribbean, Beaches Boscobel is etched into a mountain. The walks and pathways gently curve down the mountain. Nothing steep, and if one doesn't want to walk down to the beach, there is an elevator. The beach is neither wide nor deep, but there are many offerings: Hobie-Cats, hydrobikes, sea kayaks, snorkeling, scuba diving etc. There are sufficient chaises and plenty of shelter from the sun. Want a massage; there's a hut. Want your hair braided; there's someone available. There's plenty of shade and plenty of sun. The rumor is that the sand from this beach was imported from Cuba, just ninety miles away. Our first three days at Beaches, however, is cursed with unusually wet weather. January in Jamaica is supposed to see about 1/2 inch of rain. We see that on the drive from the airport. It rains sufficiently to suspend water sports, and as family begins arriving for the wedding, we do not get a chance to play. Next time!

We spend most of our time on chaise lounges by the pool—and the swim-up pool bar. You know, the one in all the Beaches/Sandals commercials. On a light note, on the last day when we went to the photo shack to view the photos taken during the stay, the staff member looked at our collection and laughingly commented, “You guys spent a lot of time at the pool bar!” Uh huh!

The pool bar is pretty terrific. It’s opposite a huge waterfall. You sit in water up to your waist, and bubbles come out from under the rim of the bar and up under your feet. That’s how we get the tans on our backs! Milton, our bartender is terrific, ready with Bloody Marys when we first swim up.

The pool, by the way, is huge and cool. It is never crowded, and it is always refreshing. We spend a lot of time there, in the water, at the bar, or snoozing or reading on the lounges.

During our stay we sample each of the restaurants. The Venetian is the Italian restaurant serving wonderful Italian food as well as other marvelous meat and delicious fish offerings. There are paintings on the walls and ceilings, linen service and enough atmosphere to differentiate it from any other restaurant at the resort. We dine there twice, and here is a bit of one meal we shared with Robyn and Neal. I begin with fried calamari unlike any I'd ever tasted. The calamari is neither too dry nor too chewy, and the presentation is a painting on the plate. I follow that with a crisp salad of a variety of fresh market greens, polenta croutons--a little something special—and shaved parmesan cheese. I have a lovely rack of lamb, small and meaty, medium rare as I request. The service, too, is excellent. One would think we are in a land where "your wish is our command" is the order of the day. There are no reservations in the restaurant, yet we do not have to wait, and we are not rushed. It is a splendid dinner.

There is a restaurant for adults only. It is Eleanor's, the "fanciest" restaurant at Beaches where Caribbean food is served. As an aside, there is so much Jamaican pride in everyone we meet. I didn't come from Warwick not to learn a bit about Jamaica, and everyone is willing to tell me something. The specialty of the night at Eleanor's is always a Jamaican dish. Rob begins with Middle Quarter Peppered Shrimp served with a cool lime cream. He follows that with a special Jamaican Pepperpot Soup, a stunning combination of callaloo and other Jamaican vegetables, hot and spicy but not overly, and he loves it. For his entrée he orders Jamaican Steamed Fish with okra, carrots, and scallions, garnished with bammy, a deep fried cassava bread. Marvelous. When dessert comes, a “mundane” crème brule; written in chocolate on the rim is "No Problem." What a pleasant evening.

There are other restaurants on the grounds. Near the pool is BBQ Park where there is always spicy Jamaican jerked chicken, pork, hamburgers and ribs with all good things to go with them. Jerk is a marinating technique developed by the Maroons, the offspring of runaway slaves. Nearer to the beach by the gazebo, similar fare is offered during the day at the Arizona, but at night this restaurant becomes Tex-Mex. Robyn and Neal can be caught there in the evening, sipping their drinks and eating nachos under the stars.

Believe it or not, we don’t spend all our time at the restaurants. We enjoy the pool, the pool bar, and the company. We arrive on Wed., more guests arrive on Thurs., and the rest of the guests on Friday. On Sat., Allison planned a treat for me and Leslie.

There is a Red Lane Spa at Beaches, and Sat. we three go to the spa. Leslie and I luxuriate in the enjoyment of a pedicure and manicure while Allison has a "trial" hair styling and make up. It is a lot of fun, just the three of us girls sipping piña coladas and laughing and commenting on each other's progress or on life in general. Good family time. The stylist and beauticians join in some of the conversation, and it is a great time. Of course we three take pictures!

By noon on Sunday we are all getting ready for the MAIN EVENT. Back to the salon Allison and I go to have our hair done, and then, after I dress, her friends and I rendezvous in her room to help her dress, to take photos, and to drink champagne. Michael comes by to pick up the rings he will carry, and Rob meets us there so we can walk our daughter down the aisle to be married on a sparkling Caribbean afternoon in the gazebo extending out over the water by a man whose family came to Jamaica several hundred years ago to escape the Spanish Inquisition.

Family and friends leave Monday and Tues. We leave Wednesday, and wattaya know--we come back to a New York cold winter. I think we need a vacation!

Much as I enjoyed Beaches, it is a family oriented resort. The affiliated resorts, Sandals, is couples only. I think that is really the way to go.