Hi Guys!
My husband and I just returned from a 7 day stay in Aruba. Before we left, I asked this site about metal detecting on the beach. There wasn't much known about it.
I figured that a metal detector would keep my husband's eyes on the ground and not on the 20 year olds on the beach. this is a absolute TRUE story.
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort & Casino. There, you must get up at 5:00 am (before light) to stand in line to reserve a cabanna. The beach is deserted at that time. My husband thought it was the ideal time to comb the beach and asked permission at the desk. He figured it was better than sitting in line for an hour at the towel hut.
I stayed in line and he wandered off with his wandthingee going "beep beep beep"
My husband returned an hour later with a funny look on his face. I thought
"Oh great, I spend $200 on a detector and he got nothing."
As it turned out, he had only 2 pockets on his swimsuit, and they were bulging! That boy dropped $27.75 in coins in my lap!
My husband also pulled out a ring with a stone in it. " I think I have to turn this in at the lost and found."
All those coins (Florins and quarters) paid fof breakfast that day.
The next day, there were 2 men pounding on our hotel door. It was the hotel manager and a older, very suntanned, Italian man.
As it turned out, the older man was on his honeymoon. His bride removed her ring to go swimming and dropped it in the sand somehow.
What my husband found was a 3.85 carrat white diamond in a platinum setting! With the manager as an interputer and amidd all the "Gracie, Gracie" Italian talk, the older man opened his wallet and forced 10 $100 bills into my husband's hands. They apologized for waking us and left.
Were we stupid or not?
I don't know, but the reward will pay for the airfare next year.
I guess the rule is that you can metal detect on the beach as long as you don't bother the bathers and you fill any holes you make. As for the booty you find, well, that's up to you.
Where are we going next year? ARUBA! OH YEAH!!
