First Stop Aruba

So far so good! I’ve completed one of my goals, which was to read a classic novel. I read Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”, which I thought might be a murder mystery, but was instead about going up river in Africa. Okay, in all honesty I chose it because it was the shortest classic novel in the onboard library. After all I never said I was going to read War & Peace! But maybe guilt will get the better of me and I’ll throw in another classic before the cruise is over. Several of them I’ve already read (and written papers on) since I was an English Lit. major.

Also have kept to my promise of at least 45 minutes a day in the gym. Thank goodness, because I’m eating the hugest breakfasts. As a single woman who believe that peanut M&M’s are a nutritious breakfast (they have calcium, protein, Vitamin A and Riboflavin), you can imagine that I seldom cook bacon, sausages, hash browns, etc. The novelty is wearing off though, or maybe it’s my arteries screaming for help.

Remembering that this is a working vacation, and it’s important to get to know all of the activities, here’s a working pict

ure of me investigating “Movies Under the Stars.

Also learned to line dance yesterday, but didn’t have my camera.

Today was Aruba, which I visited once before when I was 13 (and the natural stone bridge was still standing). I guess that make me older than dirt. Anyway, the streets are filled with the usual t-shirt shops, Little Switzerland, Diamonds International, etc. I got a free peridot pendant and so I bought a pair of earrings too for $10, also received a coupon for a blue topaz gemstone that I’ll have made into something … maybe. Bargaining wasn’t great, so I’ll see if I can do better in Cartagena – our next stop.

Some neat architectural touches in Aruba, as you can see here.

And, as usual in Aruba, it was very dry and windy. If you want sun, Aruba is the place to buy your timeshare. They have the greatest number of sunny days in the Caribbean. Thus they also have cactus. The divi divi trees all look like they’re blown to one side … because they are!!

Should have followed my own advice and brought more cash!!! Lost $20 in the casino last night, but that’s not bad. They now have slot machines that you can charge to your cabin – VERY dangerous. You really don’t keep track as well and if your balance goes down to zero you can always just stick your cardkey in and charge another $10 - $100 more so you can keep playing. Smart system (for the casino).

Bye from Aruba. I need to hit the gym.