One: I can remove Aruba from my bucket list. More accurately, I can put it on my list of been there, done that, and Bonnie bought T-shirts. I am thoroughly unimpressed with Aruba. If you like white sandy beaches (all of them are public, including those in front of millionaires homes), clear blue water, and burning your skin in the sun (no matter how heavy the sun screen, it is still burnt skin) then this is the place for you. If there are historical sites, museums, galleries, etc., they are well-hidden!
Researching for this cruise I looked for something more than swimming and shopping in a tourist district filled with uninspired and uninspiring souvenirs. There was one unique item. It seems the Arubans, when they get new license plates for their cars, they turn in the old ones, and junk dealers, souvenir shops, American pickers, etc., gather them up to sell to aging, overweight tourists. I looked through the multitude of license plates scattered throughout the shopping district for 2009 tags. That year they were black and gold. All together now! “Here we go Steelers! Here we go!” To have completed the purchase it’s registration number had to be 1701. I found 1751. And so I bought nothing.
Two: I have threatened to leave Bonnie on Barbados – punishment for general bad behavior. Well, today, she almost got herself arrested.
We had taken a tour in a glass bottom boat to view a sunken ship, beautiful coral, and colorful fish. Our tour boat captain paralleled beautiful beaches and exquisite homes (starting in the $750,000 neighborhood – some neighborhood – and some are for sale). We sailed past the California Light House, a structure more than 100 years old, and named after merchant ship which sunk in the area.
After the tour, the bus dropped us in the shopping district, and as we were working our way up one street of jewelry stores advertising bargains, and noticing many shops on the other side of the street, Bonnie said, “Can we cross here?” Well, it was in the middle of a heavily driven street, and she stepped on the curb reading to jaywalk. From behind us came the shrill sound of a policeman’s whistle, and as we turned around we saw a man dressed in the traditional accutruments of law enforcement. He pointed a finger at Bonnie and said, “Ma’am, there is across walk just down there.” As we headed towards the official crossing place, I glanced back and he was watching us, to see if we would try it again. We did not.
Returning to the ship, we headed for the DaVinci dining room, only to be told that power had been off in their galley and we would have to search elsewhere for victuals. Ah, the good old Horizon Court. Yummy food, and a wide variety of choices. Lunch was quickly followed by nap time.
Later we toodled down to the Explorers Lounge for a game of trivial pursuit. Actually, not trivial pursuit, at least not the kind that I have ever seen. The young entertainment guy read 19 questions to us, and your Humble Scribe and the Wife of His Youth, scored a respectable 9 (top score was 14, and it was done by a team of six). Don’t make fun. Nine out of nineteen is better than 50 percent, and if Aki Iwamora had done that well with a baseball bat, he’d still be playing for the Pirates rather than toiling in the minor leagues (but if you are guaranteed 4.5 million dollars, you can suffer a little).
Okay, you try it:
1) What object did the 2007 Barbie Doll have that the original did not?
2) Ten year old Liza Minelli introduced what classic movie the first time it came on television?
3) With what substance is fried chicken stuffed so that it will appear more appetizing in commercials: (a) jello, (b) mashed potatoes, or (c) water.
4) What gas in Swiss Cheese makes its characteristic holes?
5) What poisonous creature, found in California grapes, caused New Zealand to ban all future shipments?
Well, in about an hour we set sail for Curacao, and I am definitely excited.
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