The first two days of this were really detox days for me. Beach, pool, walking the streets. I have a hard time decompressing but Sunday afternoon I took a glorious nap by the pool and tackled my share of gin and tonics and Slippery Monkeys. We stayed at the Marriott Surf Club. Most people know I am not a fan of big resorts. I prefer the off the beaten path sort of place that is more authentic to the location, but during COVID, this place is operating at 35% capacity which makes it much more enjoyable. The pools, lazy river and bars are barely occupied so we get most of the place to ourselves. It is stocked with a pool, a lazy river and a pool bar serving happy hour drinks 2-5 pm.
We visited Tango Argentine Grill and the Pelican Pier for dinners to enjoy a red wine filet and some curry shrimp on the water. I highly recommend both places!
We ventured out in all terrain vehicles to explore the east side of the island. Our guide took us through the desert and dunes to some island highlights. Be prepared to be filthy from all the sand and drifting in the ATV’s. Bring your own bandana or buy one at the rental place.
Our first official stop was the California Lighthouse. It’s located at Hudishibana near Arashi Beach on the northwest tip of Aruba. This lighthouse was named for the steamship California, which was wrecked in this areas in 1891. You can enjoy a fresh coconut here while taking in the view!
Next up was the Alto Vista Chapel, a small Catholic chapel also known as “Pilgrims Church” that stands on the hills above the north shore of the ocean. The present Chapel was completed in 1952 and stands in the same location as the original chapel, which was built by Domingo Silvestre, a Venezuelan missionary in 1750.
We ventured to Black Stone Beach which is the only beach in Aruba with “black sand”. Erosion by the water not only created black pebbles but also rather sharp and edgy rocks that characterize this location. The pebbles are surprisingly smooth.
The last stop was at the Bushiribana Natural Pool. This is one of two natural pools on the island. Make sure to wear good shoes. My feet were slipping out of flip flops making it challenging to grip the rocks. You have to climb down a rickety ladder to the rocks below. Underneath is a cave like area with a natural pool.
The island is such an interesting blend of people. Locals have descended from Caquetio Indians, African slaves, and Dutch settlers, and various other groups that have settled on the island over the years include the Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, and Sephardic Jews. The culture is mixed, and the melt of various languages with Papiamento is pleasing to the ears!
Fun fact about Aruba…Aruba’s tap water is pure and meets the highest standards of quality of the World Health Organization. It’s some of the best drinking water on the earth!
The Roaming Roths 