Well, first off I find it difficult to write about my trip after just reading the terrible news about the Aruban. That is where we stayed the first few years when we came to Aruba and I feel just sick about the entire situation. If anyone has reservations in the next few weeks, I would be on the phone getting alternate accomodations asap. That may be one good thing about the poor economy, available rooms!
Anway, first I want to report is that AVIS did honour our reservation. First when we showed the sheet, they were sceptical and tried to say this was't right, etc. but I had the email from Lidia stating that they would honour our reservation at that rate so off we went in a very beat up van. I am assuming that the best vans are going to the full paying customers. We had the van for a day and then exchanged it as the alignment was off and the third row was broken. Got another beat up white van but it works and for $300 for three weeks, we certainly can't complain!
The weather has been beautiful and yesterday was really outstanding with not a cloud in the sky. We ate at Casa Tua and Yemanja Woodfired Grill. The highlight of our trip so far was meeting the O family!
As RobO reported, we met them for dinner on Sunday and had the best time. They have wonderful daughters and even my 16 year old son engaged in conversation with them! He tends to be shy when he doesn't know people but their warm personalities won us all over. They gave us a tour of the Renaissance Ocean Suites and it was great.
The most unusual thing that happened to us was on Saturday night. We had dinner at Blossoms and sat at a table with another family from Canada. Small world as we found out the two men worked for the same company but in different cities! How weird is that?
The beach at the Surf Club is the best it has ever been. Sea Solutions is here again (how lucky can I be when both visits last year started listening to the sound of their generators all day long?
) and the beach floor is fantastic! DID YOU HEAR THAT DANNYO??
The new rule about the Bimini's is actually working quite well and allowing more space at the front of the beach and no flying chairs either. We watched a couple (yesterday) spend at least 30 minutes arguing with the beach supervisor because they wanted to keep their Bimini at the water's edge. We couldn't believe that they would argue so long about it. Finally, one of the guys just took the Bimini's and replaced them with regular chairs. I gave the supervisor credit for continuing to be patient and listening for so long. After 5 minutes I would have ended the conversation and just replaced the chairs.
Other than that, paradise is still paradise!