Back in the chilly north country...homecoming update.

[Mr. Ratt]

Some of this note was on another thread, and it didn't belong there,
so here's a bit of a report on last week's festivities at the Tamarijn...

And other stuff I learned....

Most of the shops in the back of the Alhambra have disappeared. I think of the five that were there, two are left, and I know one of those is closing in the very near future. Kind of a shame, they were a nice distraction on an evening, and much more convenient than trotting downtown to pick up the requisite pirate goodies.... yarrrrr. (The best of those t-shirts are at the airport... believe it or not)

And for those of you/us that are regulars at La Ponderosa, here's a heads-up...
Patrick is heading back to Surinam with his family in the very near future, possibly within the next few months.
Job opening.... oh how I wish....

The search for cider (British alternative to beer, personal preference) was fruitless. Kildare's gone, none at the Paddock, but LUCKILY (!) our dear friends from England brought two very special bottles with them... bless 'em.

Uh, let's see... what else?

Wednesday was the annual ride with La Ponderosa, excellent horses as usual, I had Zorro, my Lady had Domino. A good and relatively uneventful ride until about 1/2 way into the return ride, my Lady rides up beside me and sort of whispers to me, "Don't freak, don't say anything, don't call any attention, but I got cut on the trail..." I looked down to see the top of her white sneaker turning a deep crimson, and it was spreading up her shin. It seems the horse ahead of her (not mine) had tossed a rock and somehow it connected with her leg. Ever the horsewoman, she just dealt with it, and besides, whatchagonnado out there?
On returning to the ranch we tried to keep the fuss to a minimum,
and Patrick was quick once it had been pointed out to him. He brought bandages, iodine and hydrogen peroxide and we cleaned it all up. Lucho wanted her to go to the hospital, but it wasn't that severe. Messy, yes.

Oh yeah! Wednesday night at the Divi, I rescued a little bat that had (I think) run into something and got dazed and was scuttling around the bar on the boards and on the sidewalk. I was worried that he was going to get stepped on so I retrieved a towel from the bar and scooped him up and placed him in the sand by the Red Parrot... he scuttled under there and hopefully got his bearings and took off later. (I guess that's why I have the bat tattoo on my arm)

A VERY long meeting with the new Leisure Activities Manager at the Tamarijn and it's looking more and more like there could be a musical journey to the island with a Blues band, possibly every six months.... actually, the first serious rehearsals are this Thursday afternoon.
If you want something to happen, you gotta make it happen.
And so we shall.

Didn't take a whole lot of photos this trip.
As many have said, after the third or fourth trip, there's not a lot of new stuff to see, so you take photos of new friends and old family when you get there.

I'm sure when my Lady reminds me of other stuff I'll drop it on here.
Including the pictures of the incredibly wide beach at the Tam.

See ya'll around....

[EdnaSmith]

We were told the shops at Alhambra are going to be knocked down and the entire area rebuilt into a new mall.

[beckybnott]

Mr Ratt,

Did you happen to notice what is in the space that Little Switzerland used to occupy? And were the beaches down past the Bunker Bar very wide as well.. Monday I will be there... Thanks

Becky

[BALTIMOREBILLY]

Becky the beaches where you stay were also deep. In fact right next to the Bunker Bar there was a little pond of water up on the beach. also while we were there they had no Miller Lite. Talk to you soon. Have fun

[beckybnott]

Billy,

Miller Lite is Wimpy Beer.. Do you have your Ticket yet? Im hoping the beaches stay huge..

I figure, Im going right about the right time.. The rain is coming, and greening things up and this weekend is supposed to be great.
When I come home everything should look nice..

I'll play 28 on the Roulette Table for you Billy...

[BALTIMOREBILLY]

Becky us fat people have to drink that light beer not that it helps but we are all not like you skinny one plus drinking Balashi and Captain and cokes all day does fill you up a bit. Did that everyday and the earliest night was 3:30 am

[beckybnott]

It's gonna take more than captain and coke to keep me up all night..

Your such a Night Owl billy!!!

4 More days hee hee

[Mr. Ratt]

Hey Becky...

As someone else said, the beaches are massive.
And to the point where down around the south bend, past the Bunker Bar (which actually used to be overtop the water!) there's a little private lagoon for the kiddies to splash about in, all courtesy of Mother Nature.
It's amazing to see considering the way I've seen it over the last 8 years.

The worst result I've seen is the exposed rocks by the 1500 block of buildings. Unfortunately it's all dry and the crab population seems to be, well, gone. Sure, some will say good riddance, but it made for a wonderful nature lesson, and always attracted a crowd.

Maybe all the sand just washed down from Eagle Beach... or perhaps Hugo is finding some way of moving the island a little tiny bit at a time, until it's all his....

No, that's just silly.

And the Little Switzerland space is empty. Same as the Beauty and the Beast shop. Just empty.

See ya, gotta head off to rehearsals for the next journey down there.
It's looking more and more like there's a musical trip coming up, with any luck every 6 months!
Stay tuned, lots of cool stuff coming up.

Ahhh, the Blues in Aruba!!!

[beckybnott]

Thanks Mr Ratt,

I have seen the beaches this way before, Awesome!!! I like seeing the crabs though. Can't wait togo, be there on Monday, only for 10 nts..


Becky