Andrea - Maria is Melvin's fiancee (I'm pushing for a wedding in Aruba!
) I like the horses at Gold Mine Ranch - they seem to take very good care of them (the owners are nice as well.)
Sunworshipper - we have a friend we meet up with every year in Aruba (who has been going to Aruba since the 70's with her parents when she was about 12) and El Gaucho is her all-time favorite restaurant in Aruba...so we are forced to go there with her - LOL!! Actually, we really do like it and it's a fun place to go with a group of friends (but not a good place for a romantic dinner for two.) We also went to MJ's and Chalet Suisse on this past trip - MJ's was as good as always but Chalet Suisse is just not my thing. Chalet Suisse has great service, the food is good (good but not outstanding) and the atmosphere reminds me of some place my mother would like (which is kind of blah to me.) It's a good place but I'm always looking for something a little different and Chalet Suisse is just too mainstream for me.
Lindon - happy to hear I could help with the mini vacation!
Now I need to start planning trip #21 for next spring!