Lifestyle

Aruba, the island that boasts year-round ideal weather, world-class beaches and breathtaking sunsets is a picture perfect place for a destination wedding or honeymoon - and offers everything couples need to celebrate the beginning of the rest of their lives together.

Destination Weddings in Aruba
Couples choosing to get married in Aruba generally first have their civil ceremony - the legal part of the wedding - in the morning, followed by a beach blessing in the afternoon or evening.  Civil ceremonies always take place in the Civil House, which is a historic, sea-colored renovated mansion in downtown Oranjestad. Couples then have the choice of many luxurious hotels and resorts in which to hold their ceremony and reception. From beach blessings on the sugar-white sands at sunset, to receptions aboard a catamaran, to reciting vows to the gentle rhythm of steel-pan drums, Aruba offers an authentic island experience for couples tying the knot.
Below are current wedding packages being offered in Aruba:

Customized Weddings at Bucuti Beach Resort
At Bucuti Beach Resort, weddings are designed individually for each bride and groom.  The resort offers a choice of packages to begin the planning process which includes a decorated wedding area on the beach, services performed by a non-denominational officiate, flowers, champagne and music, plus planning assistance from the resort’s award-winning wedding coordinator.  In addition to the beach blessing, Bucuti Beach Resort will also coordinate a couple’s civil ceremony, and can offer a sit-down wedding reception dinner on the beach for up to 12 people, or a buffet-style dinner on the beach for up to 50 guests. For more information or to book a wedding at Bucuti Beach Resort, email weddings@bucuti.com.

“Free Caribbean Wedding” Package at The Holiday Inn Resort Aruba
The Holiday Inn Resort Aruba offers a “Free Caribbean Wedding” package exclusively for couples who book a minimum seven-night stay on the all-inclusive plan in a Superior Ocean Front Room.  The package includes a romantic wedding location on the beach, professional wedding planning services, a non-denominational pastor, one-tiered wedding cake, garden-fresh bridal bouquet and boutonnière, a bottle of champagne, marriage certificate, preparation of all documents and a special gift from the resort. Themed decorations and a complimentary candlelight dinner for two are also included in the package. Videography and photography services, music and reception/banquet options are also available at additional costs. An $850 fee applies for stays less than seven nights. The “Free Caribbean Wedding” program is valid through December 31, 2009.  For reservations and more information, call 1-800-HOLIDAY or visit www.caribbeanhi.com/aruba.

Kunuku Traditional Wedding Ceremony at The Aruba Marriott & Stellaris Casino
At The Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, couples have the option to get married under an archway replica of a traditional Aruban kunuku house on the resort’s pristine beach. Champagne and cake are served after the ceremony amid the sounds of Caribbean steel drums.  Components of the package include a palm- fringed walkway to the kunuku archway decorated with tropical flowers; a professional photographer; a one-tier wedding cake; flower arrangements for the signage table, bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonniere; a bottle of champagne; one-hour of live steel drum music before and after the ceremony; the service of a non-denominational pastor; a wedding certificate as a keepsake; and services of the resort’s on-site wedding coordinator.  This package is available year-round, and starts from $2,350, excluding service charges and taxes.  For more information, please visit www.arubamarriott.com or contact the resort’s on-site wedding planner at 011-297-520-6634.

The Occidental Grand Aruba Offers Stress-Free Wedding Planning
For those looking to plan a stress-free destination wedding, the Occidental Grand Aruba offers an online date confirmation system, save-the-date invitation tool, and value-added amenities for weddings, honeymoons and anniversary trips. Couples may simply visit www.occidentalweddings.com to reserve their wedding date, and an on-site wedding coordinator from the Aruba resort will contact them within two business days to create a celebration that fits their style and budget.  Additionally, the online save-the-date tool provides a cost-effective and eco-friendly way for couples to send personalized notices to guests, and an online link for guests to reserve and pay for their rooms directly.  As the Occidental Grand Aruba is an all-inclusive resort, a plethora of dining options and daily and nightly activities are available to guests throughout their stay, providing no surprises on the hotel bill at check-out time.

Rehearsal Dinner or Wedding Reception at Sea
For couples looking to celebrate their love at sea, they can host their private event aboard a catamaran on the Caribbean.  For those planning their rehearsal dinner, Red Sail Sports offers a Dinner Sail experience, including views of the sunset along Aruba’s scenic coast, followed by a Caribbean buffet catered by award-winning chefs. Private charters for up to 38 people (seated) or 80 people (reception-style) are available, and prices start from $105 per person, for a minimum of 20 people. Red Sail Sports can also accommodate wedding receptions on their catamarans, and the relaxing sail is a perfect way to end a beach wedding.  The boat departs from the Palm Beach pier and sails along Aruba’s scenic coastline.  Guests can enjoy music, hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary bar featuring wine, beer and cocktails as they watch the sun go down over the water. Private charters for up to 100 guests are available, starting from $45 per person.  To book a private sail, couples can email info@redsailaruba.com or call 011-297-586-1603.

Aruba Offers Exclusive “One Cool Honeymoon” Program for Newlyweds
For those who have already planned their wedding, Aruba also offers wonderful honeymoon options for those who have recently tied the knot. Honeymooning couples have always received the red carpet treatment in Aruba, and now they have access to even greater amenities through Aruba’s “One Cool Honeymoon” program. Honeymooners at participating hotels and resorts receive a bottle of champagne in their room upon arrival, a souvenir gift from their resort, as well as one free hotel night stay upon their return anniversary visit. Honeymooning couples also receive special discounts on spa treatments, island tours, snorkeling excursions and on meals at select restaurants.  Newlyweds only need to identify themselves while booking their hotel accommodations to automatically receive these special offers.  For more information on participating Aruba hotels and resorts, visit www.aruba.com/SpecializedVacations/weddings.aspx.

A brand new Intermezzo Spa just opened at the Brickell Bay Beach Club on Friday. The intimate spa offers two beautifully appointed treatment rooms, one for rejuvenating and invigorating body treatments – the room is perfectly suited for a couple’s massage and one dedicated to delicious pedicures and manicures, between cool dips in the resort tropical pool.

The Brickell Bay Beach Club, a boutique hotel in the heart of Aruba’s famous Palm Beach, offers visitors a relaxed and tranquil vacation experience graced with all contemporary conveniences found in large branded hotels, delivered with a more personal approach.

Intermezzo Spa’s inaugural party was hosted by its owners Michael v/d Berg and Bibi and Martin Middeldorp, also General Manager Chris Smith and Juan Keyter, Brickell Bay Beach Club Sales & Marketing Manager & General Manager Lucy Fernandez.

For more information about Intermezzo Spa and Brickell Bay Beach Resort call tel.: +297 586 0900, or write to info@brickellbayaruba.com

This year again the Occidental Grand Aruba, sponsored graduation ceremonies for two schools, Sint Jan Kleuter, a kindergarten, and Laura Wernet Paskel, an elementary school, both schools in Kadushi Largo.

The two schools enjoy an on-going relationship with the resort. Not long ago, the management of the Occidental Grand Aruba handed over eight computers to the Laura Wernet Paskel School, fulfilling a promise made earlier this year when the first two computers were donated, to furnish the school with a state of the art computer lab with a total of 10 stations.

Sr. VP of Operations Andres Pichardo reports it is part of the Occidental Grand’s corporate commitment to its destinations offering to support a worthy community cause. Cardoso explains that Occidental Grand Aruba adopted the schools since the beginning of last year, and has painted the exterior of the building also installing new windows, repairing and painting the school gate, and the courtyard, sponsoring a Sinterklaas party for the whole school in early December including Sinterklaas gifts, and sponsoring a fabulous Christmas dinner & show with all students in attendance, besides the generous computer lab gift, and this time around, spectacular graduation ceremonies.

The closing of the school year party, explains General Manager Jesus Cardoso, also marked finishing painting the entire school exterior.

Pictured here the kindergarteners taking a big leap, at the mark of their graduation. Their festive send-off to elementary school at the Occidental Grand Aruba Grand Ballroom was a memorable event.

Over twenty years ago, a group of annual visitors to Aruba who usually winter here at the Aruba Beach Club and Casa del Mar Resorts formed a foundation called Friends of the Handicapped. Founded by Keith Jones and his wife Wilma, who are now deceased, their numbers have swelled and dwindled over the years, but a core group is back again to continue their work of “giving back” to the island that is their winter home.

Friends of the Handicapped (FOTH) began their fundraising efforts among members of the Aruba Beach Club by collecting donations at Sunday Mass conducted in the social room every week. This tradition grew to organized events that have raised over one million dollars to benefit a number of worthy foundations on Aruba. In 2007, at the end of their stay, the members of FOTH, headed by President Art Stark, donated checks to fifteen groups for specialized projects, and showed they have expanded their fundraising efforts to include not only the physically and mentally challenged, but also care for the elderly, Aruba’s Red Cross, terminal cancer patient care, and other worthwhile foundations.

Three key events contribute to the bulk of their fundraising. They include Superbowl Sunday lottery tickets, a gala Sweetheart’s Dinner Dance in the Radisson Ballroom on Valentine’s Day, and new from last year, but very successful, a bingo evening in the Marriott Ballroom organized by FOTH member Dave Ulmschneider.

A FOTH member is on duty in the Casa del Mar lobby every day from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 6:45 until 7:45 p.m. selling squares on the Superbowl Sunday lottery. They cost $20 and the grand prize on each of eight boards is $750 for picking the winning scores, and $250 for reverse scores. There are raffle tickets available for drawings during both the Superbowl and on Valentine’s Day, which awards valuable prizes donated by many local vendors. To purchase tickets for the Sweetheart’s Dinner Dance and raffle tickets for fine jewelry, weekend stays and dinners for two at some of Aruba’s finest restaurants, contact Art Stark or his wife Alma at telephone number  567-4102 or 586-3273 or  Dave at 568-8199. Tickets to the dance are also available from Anoushka at the Executive Office in the Casa del Mar, and from the concierge desk in the Radisson Resort. During this delightful event with music from Tico Croes and the Crystal Breeze Band, over ninety prizes are raffled, and there is a silent auction for dinners, weekend stays, and fine art which has been donated by some of Aruba’s best artists.

Saturday, February 9, is the date for this year’s charity bingo, with prizes ranging from 250 Aruban florins to a grand prize of 5,000 Aruban florins for the final full card game. Cost for a packet to play ten games with four cards to a sheet is 20 Aruban florins or $12. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with the games beginning at 8:00 p.m. Bingo sheets and raffle tickets are available in the Marriott Ballroom lobby from 5:00 p.m.

The Friends of the Handicapped have not only added spice to the activities on Aruba with their Superbowl and Valentine’s Day events, they have enriched the lives of those less fortunate and become a part of the community during their visit. They donate their time unstintingly to assist Aruba’s foundations in their important work, and invite all visitors to join them in their efforts by enjoying the wonderful events they organize for a good cause!

Source: The News

Santosa just opened on a yet unpaved road in town, between Fantastic Gardens and Banjolux. You may sign up for a full year or a month at the time, also for a series of classes.

Super-woman Corinne, the owner, handles much of the instruction including a Sunday morning Power Step class which is described as a high paced explosive session with a series of killer abdominals at the end.

Santosa is beautiful. Corinne's husband, co-owner Pim Janse-Voermans reports he thought about retirement but then decided that islands' residents need a helping hand as far as fitness and condition are concerned and opened the club.

No, it is not a gym, and you will find no weightlifters pumping iron at Santosa. The club has two classrooms, fully air conditioned and totally equipped, one for classes the other for spinning, with high-tech new bikes.

The foyer also serves cappuccinos and cold drinks in a social setting.

The dressing rooms are fully equipped and nicely laid out with lockers and hair dryers.

The official opening catered by a Taste of Belgium, was a great success with a considerable number of people in attendance.

Santosa offers classes for kids and teens and in the very near future will also start a beauty salon and massage therapy center.

The boutique displays trendy sportswear from Argentina, Brazil and the USA. Join for Aerobics, Pilates, Spinning, four kinds of Yoga, besides Step, Zumba and Group Fitness. http://www.santosa-aruba.com

De Palm Island just opened a new day spa, right on the beach against the relaxing backdrop of blue waves and white sand.

Eduardo Diaz, De Palm Island's manager reports that the professional therapists, guided by Jacqueline Jimeno developed a special menu of treatments for the spa, designed to further pamper locals and visitors who come for some fun in the sun on the beautiful reef island off the island of Aruba.

Jacqueline's special menu of treatments includes a Honeymoon Swedish Massage for two, which consists of a full-body treatment, for 40 minutes.

The Deluxe Message features a bit more pressure, for those in need of a deep-tissue workout, and also includes a full body treatment, for 40 minutes.

For those who just wish to refresh, the spa suggests a 25-minute Deluxe Massage which treats the entire back, leg and shoulder area with another 25-minute option of head, arms and back treatment.

A very special exclusive feature has been added to the spa's menu, the unique and tempting Bamboo massage, a full body treatment or just the back option.

The Bamboo treatment, explains Jacqueline is a truly extraordinary method of muscle relaxation, and is only offered on De Palm Island.

Spa services are available as extra features and are not included in the all-inclusive De Palm Island day pass.

For a relaxing and pampering outdoor experience under a shaded cabana, Jacqueline, with 14 years of experience, is expecting your visit on De Palm Island.

Charlie Ratcliff is a special Aruba visitor. In his own words he explains it the following: Friday, November 17th was my 50th birthday. On this date in 1956, I was born in the Lago Community Hospital in Seroe Colorado. I lived here on Aruba until 1972, when my father retired from Lago. I have not been back to Aruba since then until now.

I wanted to come back many times over but there was always a reason why I couldn’t. Mostly it was because I couldn’t afford the trip. But now things have worked out and I am here to celebrate my birthday on the island of my birth.

I guess I should talk about how much things have changed. To say Aruba is all grown up would be an understatement. The west end of the island is hard to recognize. The last time I was here, the airport terminal was on the south side of the runway and the bridge over Spanish Lagoon that replace the low bridge has just opened. And I miss the banana boats on the Oranjestad waterfront. But I am proud of the progress. The island looks great! And I walked around Oranjestad yesterday (after the rain quit and the water in the streets went down) and I knew exactly where I was; I was home! I can’t tell you how good it is to hear Papiamento being spoken after all these years. I was never fluent in the language but I used to be able to understand it a bit. If it’s true what they say about use it or lose it, well, I lost it. I couldn’t make out a word of it but it was still music to my ears. I recognized stores as I walked down Caya Betico Croes (which was Nassaustraat during my first go-round) and Wilhelminastraat looked very familiar. No doubt about it, I am home.

Yesterday I was lazy and did nothing at all. But today or maybe Tuesday, I’m going to San Nicolas and Seroe Colorado and spend the day. That is going to be a very emotional day for me. I have talked to some friends who tell me that the house I used to live in is still there. And of course Rodgers Beach is still there.

So if you see a middle aged man with a big smile on his face wandering aimlessly around San Nicolas and Seroe Colorado (away from the tourist sites) over the next few days, come say hello, it’s probably me.

I return to the States on Wednesday. I presently live in (of all places) Birmingham, Alabama. But I’ll be back. In the meantime, you can know that Aruba has an outspoken ambassador in Alabama. Until my next trip home, Aruba, dushi tera!

Charlie is seen here with his internet bulletin board friends, at the Waterfront Crabhouse in town where he experienced some Aruban hospitality and deliciously fresh coconut crusted mahi mahi, chased by a to-live-for key lime pie.

Charlie whose internet BB handle is Charlie Rat, is active on ww.visitaruba.com and www.aruba.com answering questions about the island and being helpful in general. His patriotism was sparked, he admits last year when Aruba’s name was smeared in the international media. He was one of the island’s loudest and most-active defenders.

Have fun on your native island! We can’t wait to read your trip report.

Aruba’s Monument Bureau celebrated ten years of existence this past week, and thanks to its Director, Yvonne Webb-Kock, Aruba’s history and landmark buildings are being restored to their original glory for many generations to enjoy. This was truly a cause for celebration, and Sunday was a memorable day for those that partook of the “Paseo Monumental,” a walking tour of the island’s historic buildings, accompanied by a number of interesting entertainments and presentations.

The day began at the Plaza Henriquez, named for the landmark house located there, which is also the headquarters of the Monument Bureau. The Minister of Labor, Culture, and Sport, Ramon Lee, opened the “Paseo Monumental” with the raising of the flag along with Mrs. Webb-Kock after the opening speeches. Minister Lee paraphrased architect Frank Lloyd Wright in expressing that “without the characteristic architecture of their culture a people have no soul.” Mrs. Webb Kock gave a brief history of the Monument Bureau, which originally consisted of two people, but has grown to include many staff members that are devoted to their task of preserving Aruba’s architectural heritage.

Adjacent to the Henriquez home is the Ecury complex, which is being renovated to house Aruba’s National Museum and Archeological Museum. On the other side of the Monument Bureau stands the “Huisje Wild,” home of merchant Victor Wild and an example of what is called a “Town Cunucu House,” with characteristic dormers.

Maps and guides were provided for sightseers to take in the many landmark buildings of Oranjestad at their own pace. They total twenty-four restored buildings, a number of which also conducted programs that highlighted Aruba’s history and culture, with folkloric music and dancing. The Plaza Alameda featured the Aruba Steel Showband and at the courthouse there was a reenactment of a notorious case from 1903. Music could be heard throughout town the entire day, as shows were conducted at the Instituto di Cultura, and the Stadhuis (Cityhall), which was the first building restored by the Monument Bureau. The Historical Museum at Fort Zoutman was open all day, and performances and activities were held in the courtyard, as they were in the courtyard of the Numismatic Museum, considered one of the bureau’s greatest triumphs, it was originally Aruba’s first bank, and the ancestral home of the Eman family.

Each landmark building had an informative history hung at the entrance in Dutch, English and Papiamento. A beautiful full color complementary book describing each building with photographs made a very nice souvenir of the day, as did various items that showcase Aruban culture and were offered for sale from various organizations such as “Mi Cutisa” foundation.

The “Paseo Monumental” and tenth anniversary celebration provided an exciting and unforgettable day for all those that attended, and an opportunity for islanders and island visitors alike to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for Aruban culture and history.

The Aruba International Arts Foundation and the International Child Arts Foundation present the opening of the "III Arts Olympiad Aruba First National Exhibition of Children's Art" at Cas di Cultura on Monday, June 5, 2006 at 6PM.

Click the link below to view the poster of the event:
http://www.aruba.com/images/childrensart2006.jpg

The Aruba Archeological Museum is preparing to finally receive Aruba’s archeological collection. During 1983, “Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde” in Leiden, Holland, returned the archeological material to the Antilles, to Curacao more exactly. Recently, the team of Aruba archeological museum, did a complete inventory, registered and packed the corresponding part of the collection for Aruba. With the help of the National Anthropology & Archeology Museum based in Curacao and the Board of Ministers of the Antilles, the artifacts were returned to Aruba where they will be on display in the new Aruba Archeology Museum, the Ecury Building located in Schelpstraat, which is now currently being renovated. No definite date has been given for reopening, however renovation is scheduled to take about year and half to complete.

The Historical Buildings Bureau celebrates ten years in 2006 and has been proclaimed as Sunday, September 10th 2006, Aruba Monuments Day, same as Holland. The planned celebrations include an opening ceremony at the Historical Buildings Bureau where after invited guests will walk a chosen trail with monuments they can admire and learn from. Along the way, there will be several cultural activities, such as displays, exhibitions, souvenir stands etc. More information to follow.