We were up at 6:00a this morning. After getting ready for the day ahead, we
went off to the Terrace Cafe for breakfast. The aft deck was deserted and we
enjoyed our light meal in solitude. By the time we made our way to the bow, our ship
was already docking smack-dab in the middle of downtown
Oranjestad. Not being on this ship before we need to find out how we disembark. Is there a system?
The temperature was 84 degrees and the weather was very windy for this desert island. Because we had been here before, we decided not to take a tour (been there, done that) and like many other passengers on the ship, we opted to take a local bus to nice white sand beach called Nikki Beach and do some snorkeling. We picked up a six-pack of a local brew--Balashi--the official beer of Aruba. Mighty fine! Aruba is quite lovely, but much different than the first time that we visited. For one, the Natural Bridge is no longer. It collapsed in 2005. Now there is a Baby Natural Bridge as a new tourist attraction. With progress has come construction. The area is now all grown up with new motels/hotels, condos and timeshares. While we have visited most of the tourist attractions, if it is your first time in Aruba, you should see the new Baby Natural Bridge, the California Lighthouse, the abandoned gold mines, the historical graves (which are above ground), the Alto Vista Chapel (a small 18th century Pilgrim church), the Santa Anna Church with its hand-carved altar and the shops in downtown Oranjestad. (Hey, it is only a small island, remember?) The major attractions are the beautiful beaches and the casinos. Aruba is known as "One Happy Island." We are not sure if that is because the average temperature year-round is 81 degrees or because the tourists and natives enjoy Balashi beer and tropical drinks 24/7! Bon vini (welcome)! 
Pretty colors
Just beautiful beaches here
Very fine white sand.
Iguanes all over the place
Soaking up the sun.
onto the next port Willemstad Curacao...Tomorrow
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