Lisa's Adventure in Paradise 8/9/22-8/19/22

[LisaGrn]

Robin, were you and Stu on another road trip? I seem to recall there was one planned for August? Hope we'll get a full report!

I am just getting caught up reading trip reports. You trip sounds so wonderfully relaxing. Thanks so much for the great reports.

[WaltVB]

Enjoy your last full day. It's been fun reading about your time on the beach. You will see a US immigration agent before you go to the GE interview. There is a little waiting room just past the immigration officer and if there are only a few people waiting, I'd wait it out. It beats the crying room for sure and it will be done with for 5 years. If it is too crowded, you've already cleared and can just go drop your luggage and on to the gate via US TSA security.

[cpjones]

Lisa.... I don't want it to be your last full day..... I've so totally enjoyed your trip report and don't want it to end! Enjoy your day....!

[Colette M]

Enjoy your last day Lisa. Thoroughly enjoyed your trip reports. Thanks for taking us along. Let us know if you buy and sparkle’s last minute. Hahaha. Safe travels.

[flpctc]

Thank You for sharing your Aruba days with us. Safe travels

[Pegmeister]

Can’t believe it’s your last full day. I’ve so enjoyed your postings!!!

[LisaGrn]

Slept in again and decided I'd had enough beach time. Got dressed in cool clothes and had breakfast at Ike's (asparagus & goat cheese omelet, my fav). Then I planted myself on a couch in the pavilion with my Kindle and wiled away the whole morning reading and dozing. Now back up in the room, quick shower and in my "spa" caftan. I don't have to be over there until 2:15 but full disclosure, I'm bored and ready to go home. Trying to decide if I want to go grab some lunch at Pega Pega or just hang out in my room on the computer. Housekeeping hasn't been here yet (which kind of ticks me off since I was out of my room around 9:15 and saw the cart at the end of my block; it seems to be a pattern when Josefina has a day off). Hopefully, she'll still be around when I leave and double back. I'm NEVER in my room this time of day so not sure how it's handled.

[Laura in NH]

I hope you get to thoroughly enjoy your wrap and massage. I enjoyed and have been inspired by your vacation.

[robin]

Robin, were you and Stu on another road trip? I seem to recall there was one planned for August? Hope we'll get a full report!

Yes. We were away August 6-15. I am soooo done with car shows this year. Too much time in the car and eating out. The weight I lost in Aruba is back.

[LisaGrn]

I'm going to save your road trip report to read on the plane!

Final hours of final day: Remembering my own rule that it's best I not skip lunch, I sat at the Pega Pega bar and had a small caesar salad and my last frozen lime daiquiri. Said my goodbyes to Victor, Nacio and Joseul and headed over to Spa del Sol. They do things bit differently than last year so I was there from 2:15 to 6pm! Each procedure is done separately. Started off with the aloe cucumber cooling body wrap. I was actually shivering before she wrapped me up! After a shower (I'll be finding bits of cucumber for days), had the relaxing aromatherapy massage. Heavenly! But this is where things got a little weird for me. Last year I had these two sessions and an aloe facial mask while I was having the wrap. Instead, after the first two sessions, she took me in to what used to be the mani/pedi room. They've turned it into a full-scale facial salon. It looks like an operating room! So, much to my surprise, I had a full-on hour-long real facial. She even plucked my eyebrows! Did I enjoy it? Yes, and it did include an aloe mask at the end. But a lot of stuff happened to my face before that. But since my eyes were covered with witch hazel pads, I don't really know! LOL! All I do know is my skin felt and looked great. BUT it was red (like a sunburn) and a bit irritated (not painful at all) by the time I got back to my room. She told me not to wash my face or put any makeup on. Sorry, honey, the first thing I did was wash my face with my own Dove soap and slathered on my Neutrogena face cream. Felt and looked so much better! And there was no way I was going down to dinner without some face powder on at least. I guess I'm a fancy facial failure...I'm good with a simple facial mask at home a couple of times a week (and a lot cheaper!)

Dinner at Ike's was fine except the paella wasn't ready! 6:45pm and you don't have the special for the evening ready to serve? Hmmm. So I opted for sangria and a bowl of French onion soup since I wasn't that hungry anyway. I truly am tired of eating! Said my goodbyes to Michael, Fabian and Junior and began the arduous business of packing. Much easier going than coming! Fold the few things I didn't wear and stuff the rest of it in the suitcase with the laundry bag on top. I basically won't have anything in my carry on but the electronics and the other stuff you can't pack in a checked bag. Whatever I buy at the airport can slip right in.

So there you have it folks. Hope I didn't bore you all with my narratives. It was actually part of the fun for me and now I have a daily log (since I only made it to day four writing it in my journal!) of the trip. It's been exactly what I needed. Lots of "being" and not "doing". I'm ready to go home and back to reality. That should last about a week before I'm planning the next vacation...