Trying to Figure It Out: Aruba - Beach Day

Day 2 in Aruba....Monday we decided to have a beach day or in my blonde hair/blue eyed/melanoma survivor/heading to the dermatologist to get more crap burnt off case - beach hut day. Thankfully, the resort allows reserving the beach huts before you come. I was very grateful, without the shade, I have to either not go or be fully clothed. I am thankful the message about sunscreen has gotten through to my girls, relatively speaking. They are much better than I ever was about consistently putting on sunscreen. I did something right with regard to that.

Anyway, so we went to the beach and it is beautiful. White, sandy beaches with very few shells. The water is relatively warm and very calm. Overall, Aruba is very "Americanized". Everyone speaks English very well, the food is all 'normal' and the prices are similar and the American dollar spends everywhere. So far, so good!

Lainey and I got to our hut about 10:30. It was not crowded, yet seated directly in front of us were four people. We could have literally touched two of them. It made no sense and, because of that, I was annoyed. When you are in paradise it is the little things that matter. I know first world problems but it is what it is. They were gone by noon or so, all was right with the world.

We spent the day reading, napping, floating on mats and playing in the ocean. We regularly and pervasively talked about getting eaten by sharks. Over and over each of us trying to be the less desirable meal - Lainey splashes, I lie still; I lay on the side of the float, Lainey swims away, sure an attack is eminent. And so on, and so forth. All day - no kidding

My Little Navigator

After successfully eluding Jaws all day, we headed in to get ready and do a little sight seeing. Getting out our trusty map and channeling our inner Stephie, we set on our way to the California Lighthouse. It was pretty easy to find but soooo windy that we literally jumped out took some pics and left. Remember, we were clean, and sand was blowing everywhere. It was very pretty there and sort of felt “on top of the world”, maybe that is why it was so windy?

The lighthouse was recently restored to allow for visitors. It was originally only in service for two years. It was built because a ship with the name of (you guessed it) “California Lighthouse” wrecked off the rocky shoreline in 1914 (?). You can take tours and go to the top which would have been cool I am sure the views are spectacular but we got there too late. We were were busy fighting off Jaws all day remember? Next time, because I already decided there will definitely be a Next Time for us in Aruba!

It was super windy!

We then set out for “downtown” to score some dinner. If you come to Aruba on a cruise, you will port where the downtown area is. Lots of the usual souvenir shops but also very high end stores like Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, etc.

Downtown - we're bonding

We had dinner at a tourist spot called Iguana Joe’s. It was enjoyable and good people watching. After a walk down the street to see the shops, we hopped back in the car to see if we could get home...which we did, in the dark, barely!

Tomorrow, we have a horseback riding trip planned. Here are some more pictures!