Aruba – day 8

July 12, 2009 There and Back Again

It’s over. I’m sitting at the airport. Some sand may still be in between my toes and almost definitely in my ears. Silly wind. But that’s it.

No more long days in the sun, staring at the sea. Floating in the water or walking through hundreds of little silver fish is over.

I’m looking forward to seeing Eckie, but I don’t want vacation to end. I finally get it, Mom.

Today I slept in a little more than I wanted, but was ensconced in a palapa by 10. Mike brought down our snorkeling gear, but were were all content with sun and books.

Swimming platform on the last day

Aruba – day 7

July 11, 2009 – Last Full Day

It’s been a reading vacation. Knocked out Mystic River, Tell No One and All We Wanted Was Everything. Just got back from the gift shop with book #7 in hand.

The original plan for the day was to rent a jeep and actually get to the Natural Pool and do some snorkeling at beaches at the south end of the island. Alas, no Jeeps were available. Smaller cars were, but no one seemed too excited about the plans and I wasn’t looking forward to being scrunched in the backseat.

Besides, I suspect the three of us had moved firmly into Relaxation.

My typical reading view

Aruba – Day 6

July 10, 2009 – Another day in paradise

It is another delightful beach day. I’m once again under a palapa. Although, unless I want a bizarre tan line from the palapa roof, I’ll have to shift my chair fully into the sun.

This may be all I do today – sit on the beach and read or write or just gaze out at the sea.

Aruba – Day 5

July 9, 2009 – And then there were three (edited to add that no deaths occurred among the happy travelers).

Not many new details on the crime of the century. Mike called the Aruban police because his government clearances require him to  a police report if he’s  involved in a crime in a foreign country. The police said he should have called them before speaking with the hotel, but Mike scored major points at having photos of the money.

The police then yelled at the hotel people who’d accompanied them to the hotel room. Heh. The yelling occurred because the hotel never called the police.

A police report will be waiting for Mike shortly.*

Meanwhile, we hung out by the pool today at a palapa there.

Not a palapa. It's the view looking left from the balcony to the east side of the isalnd.

Aruba – Day 4 (the real version)

July 8, 2009 – The not-so-exciting truth*

I started the day on the beach by 9:30 and finished Revolutionary Road. Penny and Jason joined me while Mike had to be on a conference call for work.

View from the front balcony at sunset

We met back in the room and were out the door by 12:30 for lunch at Iguana Jack’s in Oranjestad. We then split up for some quick shopping. Jason to the souvenir shops. Mike and Penny to buy a watch. Me to prove I, too, could buy an ordinary item for more than I should.