To start off, the flight from the West Coast to
Aruba is long....total travel time for my girlfriend from Vegas was 12.5hrs getting there, and 9.5hrs getting back. It was a lot easier for me coming from Detroit, where mother nature sent me a big smack in the face with 25 degree temps and my rental car covered in snow the morning I was leaving for
Aruba.
I'm shocked at how Americanized the place is. Taco Bells, Pizza Huts galore, and most of the nicer local restuarants all have food that caters to American tastes. The main currency in
Aruba, a Dutch influenced island is yes, the American Dollar. Half the airport (which is a disaster in itself) is for Americans only.
The weather was surprising dry for such a tropical location. The island seemed like mostly desert, and the climate was VERY dry. The constant brisk trade winds on the island are to blame for this, and this helps create perfect dry weather year round. No hurricanes, no afternoon thunderstorms, and NO BUGS.
Water was crystal clear, and the fish/reefs are beautiful and amazing. My back got fried, but other than that came out unscaved. My girlfriend burned the inside of her belly button, her bikini area and one of her ears
OK, now onto the pics
View from my hotel room @ the Renaissance Ocean Suites Marriott
Beautiful animals abound
This bird ate out of our hands at will :eek4:
Alcoholic bird (drank out of every alcohol bottle in the bar
)
Pics of the Renaissance's private island, the only private beach in
Aruba, where I spent all my days tanning:
