We arrived on 5/28 for our 3rd trip to Aruba. Ricky from More4Less Jeep rental was waiting for us at the airport. We drove over to their office picked up our jeep and were on our way. We got to Beach House Aruba(our home away from home) unpacked and headed out to Ling and Sons for some groceries and then to Salt & Pepper for our annual 1st night dinner.
We spent most of our first week snorkeling from Boca Catalina. We have never done a snorkel cruise and booked in advance to go out with Capt. Anthony on the Tranquilo for a Thursday all day snorkel to Spanish Lagoon. That was a lot of fun and met some really nice people.
We made friends last year with another couple from Wisconsin and they were there for our first week. We spent some time with them and went to dinner with them a couple of times.
We are not huge gamblers. We live 15 minutes from a casino and have been maybe 5 times. We went to Key Largo Casino twice and Seaport once. We play the quarter slots. I should quit while it seems that I am ahead. I think the slots are kind of tight on the island. I have played in other Caribbean destinations and have done better.
Anyway, we also did a day of shopping downtown during the first week. We had to get our usual annual Balashi t-shirts and Aruba calendar and of course my magnets.
Week 2 my best friend and her husband arrived for a one week stay at the Beach House with us. We did our fair amount of snorkeling and beach sitting again at Boca Catalina.We saw a maybe 300 pound green sea turtle and I saw an 100 pound Hawkbill. We did a snorkel trip with Jethro and 1st mate Jeff and his little boy JJ on the Octopus. We had a good time with them. Next trip I have to go out and snorkel the Antilla. I've wanted to do that for a few years and haven't gotten out there yet.
One day we took our jeep rental out along the rugged North and East Coast of the island. We visited the California Lighthouse, Alto Vista Chapel, Bushibirana Gold ruins, Natural Bridge and Natural Pool. We enjoyed the beauty of the more uninhabited side of the island as well as the harrowing drive. Even though Natural Bridge is collapsed it's something to see. We saw it in May 2005 before it collapsed. My friends' husband would have done this everyday if it had been up to him. He is not a huge beach person.
We also did a day of shopping together downtown and at the Sat/Sun flea mkt. along LG Smith.
All in all a very enjoyable vacation. If anyone has any questions don't hesitate to ask
I will also add in my restaurant reviews on another thread. This is an abridged version of my trip report. I have posted a lengthy one on another BB.

Nice trip