Traveling: Impressions From Aruba - Sand, Water & Coconut Palms

(Drivebycuriosity) - My wife and I are just back from Aruba, where we stayed 7 nights. Aruba is a small island in the Caribbean Sea close to the coast of Venezuela. Like the sister island Curacao (which we visited last year, here my report ), the island is a former Dutch colony. Today both islands are independent countries but still connected with the Netherlands, which supports them financially. Therefore Aruba & Curacao are more European & wealthier than other Caribbean islands.

 

There is not much to do.  Staying there means enjoying sand, water & coconut palms. The island has a big advantage: The superb weather. Like Curacao - and the Colombian beach town Cartagena (we stayed there in 2017) the island has almost a desert climate, resembling Southern California. Temperatures hovered close to 80 F (26 C) and there was no rain and few clouds. The humidity is low which separates these places from the typically humid Caribbean islands. As a result there is no tropical lush vegetation,  but the hotels planted myriads of coconut palms and other plants along the beach.

 

We stayed at Palm Beach, a long stripe of very white & smooth sand, where you could walk miles south or north. There is no surf and the water is very shallow. Even after walking about 30 feet into the water I could still stand on a muddy ground covered with grass. Because of the shallowness the waves are stirring up the ground and the water looks milky and is almost opaque. Even though I swam and dove with goggles I didn`t spot any fish there - disappointing - and not many frigatebirds, sea gulls and other birds who live from fishing. But the beach had some stray dogs.

There was a rope along the beach which separates the swimming region from the outer area which was used by speed boats and such. It looked a bit like a highway. 

Palm Beach is flanked by dozens of hotels stretching from budget place to upmarket locations including Marriott & Ritz Carlton. These tourist factories accommodate masses of guests.

The dry climate and a mostly cloudless sky allows spotting gorgeous sunsets.

I enjoyed how the colors changed after sunset .

Unfortunately the beach was very crowded and the shady huts - which we could rent for about $60 a day - stood side by side. But I got somewhat compensated by nice views.

There were a lot beach bars of course.

The lack of seabirds got somewhat compensated by the funny & colorful troupias - also the national birds of Venezuela - who where preying on the fast food rests or where attracted by the bar. Alcoholism everywhere.


                                                      Legal Immigrants 

 

The hotel has also a pool with iguanas & turtles plus some legal immigrants: Myriads of Japanese Kois & two Australian black swans.

The beach area has also myriads of restaurants catering the masses. We found 2 fine places: Elements Restaurant at Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort and Atardi, which belongs to Marriott. Both are on the beach and Atardi puts the tables onto the sand. A very romantic place with excellent food, but prices like in Manhattan.

Our Aruba vacation was fun and a nice escape from New York`s winter weather.