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09-13-2008, 05:26 PM
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#1 (permalink) |
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 38
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Our honeymoon
We arrived on Labor day around 4pm, checked into Manchebo and had dinner at the French steakhouse. We had Fillet Mignon which was pretty good. We are not big fans of tenderloin, but this was good for Fillet Mignon.
(rant) What is up with Fillet Mignon on Aruba? It is the only steak available at most restaurants. Ok, it is a tender steak, but it is also the one that is lacking most in flavor and is the driest steak around!Gimme a T-bone, Ribeye, or even a strip, just stop with the tenderloin!!! ACK! This includes medalions, tenderloin, and chateubriond. (end rant) Our room was clean and new, not real huge or elegant, but we spend so little time in it, we didn't care. The view was wonderful. We could see the beach, the bathers, and beautiful sunsets. Very nice. The next day we rented a Jeep Wrangler and went to the california lighthouse and the trails behind there. We visited the wishing rock garden. It was an easy ride and really fun. My wife is a first timer and enjoyed it a lot. Wednesday the beach was very rough, the Aruba police even issued a warning not to go swimming that day or to be very careful. We decided to go to the Natural Pool with the rented Wrangler, which was a pretty tough ride to get down to, and we even had a wheel off the ground on more than one occasion. But we made it just fine and enjoyed the pool. Afterwards we went to Baby Beach and I rented snorkeling gear for Julie who has never been snorkeling before. After about five minutes of sucking ocean water, she went off on her own like a champion snorkeler. Although there was a warning that day, Baby Beach was perfectly calm. Thursday there was rain in the morning so we went shopping, whoops, big mistake. We went to that pink touristy shopping mall when the storm hit. Massive amounts of rain, flooded streets, and it went on for hours! Locals told us that it has been several years since they had rain like that. But by 2pm it clearedup, by 3pm the streets were mostly drained. By 3:30 the weather was beautiful. It was the only rain that we saw while there. Before the rain, the trade winds were very slow and it was humid, after the rain the winds returned and all was back to normal in Aruba. Friday we got his and hers massages at Spa del Sol, which were great.Then we went to DePalm island for snorkeling and it was great. The water was clear and easy to navigate and there were enough fish and corals to make it really interesting for us amateurs. Saturday we went to Arikok national park, which was really interesting with great views. The heat is pretty intense, and next time we will be bringing lots of water. (whoops for this time) Sunday I got way to ripped on the way to the airport to go home. The restaurants were: Screaming Eagle. Great service, great food, great atmosphere. Julies favorite. Our waitress Fleur taught us that Gouda is pronounced "howda". Julie had salmon with dill which she thought was wonderful. I had shrimp in a garlic sauce which was very good. Old Man and the Sea. Great wine, great atmosphere, we didn't care for the food. Le Dome, was great all around. My favorite restaurant on the island. I had veal chop with mushroom sauce. Huge portion and tasty. Julie had roasted duck, which was really good if you like it prepared that way. She prefers oranges sauce. Bingos for lunch. Great burgers. Her cheeseburger had a fried egg on it. Very tasty. My Roast beef sandwich was light on the roast beef and it was cold. Not very good. Salt and Pepper for lunch. Really good tapas. Coconut shrimp was our favorite. Yemanja for steaks. Wonderful steaks. Great service. I was not crazy about the atmosphere, we overlooked an alley, but the Ribeye steaks were fantastic! Ciao. Last edited by puffthefish; 09-14-2008 at 10:55 AM. |
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09-13-2008, 06:13 PM
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#2 (permalink) |
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Aruba since 1979
Moderator 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: renaissance island, eagle beach, amsterdam manor/passions beach bar, Hung Paradis, alto vista chapel, madam janettes, big porch at B55
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thank you for your post.
i am glad that your trip to aruba was great! are you hooked? ready to book another aruban adventure? again, thanks for your aruba trip report. Andrea
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 Please, I'll have a Grande' decaf Mocha Latte' with a shot of liquid tranquilizer. |
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09-13-2008, 06:35 PM
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#3 (permalink) |
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 38
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Hooked like a grouper!
I have been to Hawaii, Mexico, California, NJ, NY, FL, TX, a cruise, and a half dozen other places. Aruba beat them all without question. It was far and away the best vacation either of us have ever taken. Next is Israel, then after that is Aruba again. |
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09-13-2008, 08:07 PM
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#4 (permalink) | |
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Aruba since 1979
Moderator
Join Date: May 2007
Location: renaissance island, eagle beach, amsterdam manor/passions beach bar, Hung Paradis, alto vista chapel, madam janettes, big porch at B55
Posts: 13,258
Images: 80
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most everyone that visits Aruba seems to be hooked (as you say like a grouper).
the only person that i ever met that did not enjoy and was not hooked..........was a person that was very well traveled (adventures as opposed to regular tours) she has hiked the great wall, pony trekked thru british isles, greece with a backpack and $200............those kinds of adventures. aruba was just too............relaxing and boring for her.  again, glad your trip/honeymoon was wonderful tell us what you had at Old Man and the Sea that was not so terrific? thanks andrea Quote:
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Please, I'll have a Grande' decaf Mocha Latte' with a shot of liquid tranquilizer. |
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09-14-2008, 01:04 AM
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#5 (permalink) |
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 38
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At OMATS I had Lamb Chops, which I found to be overcooked and the sauce was a bit sweet for my taste. Julie had the pasta with vodka sauce, which seemed to have a conflicting flavor (peppers?) in it.
I am pretty disappointed, this was the one restaurant that we were really looking forward to. Based on the rave reviews on this site, I think we just had really bad luck there, or it was just not our type of place. |
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09-14-2008, 08:58 AM
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#6 (permalink) |
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Senior Member
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Puff, thanks for the update of your trip. We like to hear about the restuaruants, what you had, and how you viewed it...really helps for our planning....cindy
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 Cindyo Family Poolside at the Rennaissance suites April 2010 Family with Bully, arubalisa & family Next Aruba trip in |
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09-14-2008, 11:22 AM
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#7 (permalink) |
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 38
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I almost forgot Bob's pizza! The recipe is based on Bills pizza and pub, which we visit quite a bit in chicago. Bob's is not quite as good, but it was nice to see something from home while away.
Dushi bagels were about as close to NY bagels as you can get outside of NY. fixed the original post to add more about food. There are some great restaurants in Aruba. |
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