Phrogg's 2nd Aruba Trip

[phrogg108]

Regarding the quest for Slippery Monkeys....the Marriott bars have a two for one special on drinks in the afternoon. I think happy hour starts at 1pm (or it might be 2pm) and lasts for several hours throughout the afternoon. After that, Slippery Monkeys are full price (~$12 each - ouch) so it is best to visit the Marriott in the afternoon to try your first monkeys. Also - but sure to ask the bartender to pour rum in the straw! (it is like a "shot" when you take your first sip).

Since you "loved" your drive through the Arikok National Park, I thought you might like to visit a small walkway/pathway in the Palm Beach area that is built in the shape of that road. If you are on Palm Beach, go to the Pelican Pier (the pier between Holiday Inn & Playa Linda Resorts). There is typically a carpet that leads from the pier, over the sand, and leads you up to a parking lot / pathway that leads you out to the Palm Beach road (the one that runs along the Palm Beach resorts). The pathway (that leads you from beach to the road) is designed to be a miniature of the road that runs across the Arikok National Park. It is an S-Shaped cement path with a pattern of strips of stone running horizontally across it, to simulate the drainage ditches. It is an interesting design. We usually take a picture of the path so it becomes a visual aid whenever trying to describe to someone about driving on the Arikok park road.

That's cool! We will be over that way later, so we will definitely look for that!!

[phrogg108]

The rocket launch looked really cool. You were so lucky to have seen it!

It was fascinating to see! I took some pictures of when you could see the flames of the rocket, but it's hard to see since it was so far away. My husband was taking pictures with his "real camera" (as opposed to my phone camera), so once we get home and he downloads some, I will try and get some of those posted too.

[robin]

I am loving your trip reports! You are surely having fun!

I totally understand what you say about driving. I drive mostly in Aruba, but hubby drives when we are renting a car elsewhere. Twice we had to use the rental car insurance that is provided by our credit card company and not because we were hit or hit someone else.

Old Cunucu House-We had one great experience and one really bad experience there. The first trip they were attentive and the food was good. The second time there they had a holiday party going on and the regular dinners, at least in our section, had little to no service. Our section did not see anyone for a good 20-30 minutes. Hubby and I both ordered Keshi Yena-his came out great and mine came out dried up and close to burnt. When we complained, it was heard of deaf ears. Others in our section of the restaurant also complained, but again, they did not seem to care. BTW, we were at the same table both times.

[phrogg108]

So far, it seems like those of you that have been to Old Cunucu are confirming some.of the reviews we have also seen. Not sure it would be worth the money at this point.

Btw. The pizza at Amore Mio was FABULOUS!! I'm very glad we went there!!

We are starting our day at Linda's right now and are then gonna go do a quick trip to Bushiribana to see the mine ruins. After that, we will make our way to Moomba and then... rum punch, grilled cheese, rum punch, snorkeling, rum punch, more snorkeling and...yes, rum punch.

Editing to add: the mosquitoes here are NO JOKE. I have several bites (my husband does not, of course...) that have gotten very big and are oozing. Sorry for that visual. Anyway, they seem to find me quite tasty!!

[cpjones]

Lovin' your trip so far...... not so much the mosquitos.....!

[phrogg108]

Lovin' your trip so far...... not so much the mosquitos.....!

I'm definitely not a fan of the mosquitoes either. Oof. They have gotten worse since I posted earlier and still oozing. Yay. Id send a picture for Andrea to post, but I don't think ANYONE wants to see these! Lol. My husband keeps going, "ew. You're dripping again..."

We decided to forego Moomba for lunch and are at Dushi Bagels & Burgers instead. Considering a burger at Moomba is $22, we decided to go a little cheaper.

Chris - we saw that path you were talking about! That's super cool! We've walked by it a bunch and never even knew it was there! I'm glad you said something about it!!

The gold mine ruins were really interesting! We also saw about 8 Aruba military guys doing training. Gotta love stepping down out of the ruins only to find a guy dressed in camo, holding a gun! Then, you turn to the left and there are 7 more of em! It was like real life Call of Duty or something! Ha! I will say, I don't know HOW those guys do it. Dressed head to toe in long sleeved camo and walking along the road in this heat. Blerg. I feel even more like a wuss now!! Hahaha!

We saw the iguana hunting dog duo again a few minutes ago. Must be trying to go wrangle another one! Whoever is here next will have to keep an eye out for them. It is a skinny black and brown brindle dog and a fluffy-ish brown one. We even saw them over by Linda's this morning. They get around!

Oh, and once again, if there is any doubt, let me put your mind at ease: yes, I'm drinking Balashi right now.

[Traceyd14]

We enjoy Dushi Bagels and go there for breakfast pretty frequently during our trips. If you still have time to kill and the Playa Linda Beach Bar is open, they have a good all day happy hour so stop by there.

[ArubaAce]

Oh I hate mosquito bites! If I do go in December I have to remember to pack some repellent. A few years ago I found a repellent on Ebay that contains a vanilla scent. The advertisement said that this is not sold in stores, special patent and how insects hate the smell of vanilla which is their secret ingredient. It worked like a charm BUT it also did contain 25% of Deet.

[phrogg108]

We enjoy Dushi Bagels and go there for breakfast pretty frequently during our trips. If you still have time to kill and the Playa Linda Beach Bar is open, they have a good all day happy hour so stop by there.

Thank you for the tip! That will probably be our next stop!!!

[phrogg108]

Oh I hate mosquito bites! If I do go in December I have to remember to pack some repellent. A few years ago I found a repellent on Ebay that contains a vanilla scent. The advertisement said that this is not sold in stores, special patent and how insects hate the smell of vanilla which is their secret ingredient. It worked like a charm BUT it also did contain 25% of Deet.

I hate them too. I keep reading that mosquitoes like beer drinkers. Which in my case, makes me DOOMED. Whatever kind are here are causing a reaction I've never had before. They are all blistered up and weeping. As am I... hahaha!

Next time we come here, I may have to get some of the stuff you found. The worst part is that I got these bites even with repellant on! It was just basic Off though. I guess the skeeters here laugh in the face of Off!