AWESOME ARUBA!

Caribbean Princess
Monday, February 6, 2023
Oranjestad, Aruba—Netherlands Antilles
84F, sunny!
 

Oranjestad, Aruba as we arrived this morning

Aruba is a very popular destination and there is much to do. Since this is our 9^th visit, we just walked around in downtown Oranjestad and visited some our favorite spots.  In the past we toured the island, visited the Butterfly Farm and the Aloe Aruba Museum and factory, as well as a soap factory in town.  We were disappointed that the tram that takes people around the city was not running today.

A monarch butterfly greeted us in port

On our last visit TK promised me that next time we were in Aruba we could go to the Dutch Pancakehouse, so that is what we did first for breakfast.  It turns out this is their 20^th year.   https://www.thedutchpancakehouse.com/   

Dutch Pancakehouse

We learned that in the Netherlands pancakes are served for lunch and dinner and are not popular at breakfast, but they soon learned that pancakes are very popular in other cultures—so the restaurant started serving breakfast.  We did not wait long for a table but while we were there, the line extended to 16-23 people at a time. Pearl Mills Maple Syrup was available, as well as molasses, which we tried. I like maple syrup better.

Janie, waiting for breakfast at the Dutch Pancakehouse

Menu

Janie's pancake, which is more like a crepe

I folded it and put butter and maple syrup on it

Perfection!

TK's Dutch poffertjes--much more like a pancake

with Knott's Berry Farm strawberry jam

The long line!

We picked up an Aruba brochure and found a coupon for $25 each at the Wind Creek Casino located at the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort down the street a little way from the restaurant. An upscale mall is attached to the complex.  We know all this because we have gone there many times.  We spend the free $25, cash in, and shop.  Today TK won $26.85, and I won $.55. (that is 55 cents)

TK with flamingos and the Caribbean Princess

Wind Creek Casino

After our big win TK stopped at Starbucks and I visited some shops. A favorite is the Aloe Aruba store that sells lotions and creams with aloe.

Marriott Hotel and Wind Creek Casino

Infinity Pool

Renaissance Mall

Starbucks, very classy

By this time, it was about 11:00 a.m. and the heat was getting to us, so we walked along the straw markets back to the ship.

Shops along the way

Straw Market

At dinner I was surprised at how good the steak fajita was. TK had Cornish hen. His Black Forest cake did not look like what we know, but he said it was tasty.

Tonight's Black Forest Cake

Tonight we both went to see Thor, Love and Thunder at MUTS.  I am not an authority on movies like this that probably make millions, but my writing group friends like Ann and Chris could surely write better dialogue. Russell Crowe as Zeus was over the top. Matt Damon? Oh my.

A scene from Thor, with Natalie Portman and Chris Helmsworth

And, aside to Donna and Lawrence--

we are practicing our euchre skills too!!

Dear Readers, this is about as exciting as it gets  for us. As you can tell, we are doing what we want to and we sure are enjoying the respite from the Pennsylvania chill. This afternoon the only excitement  happened when TK “broke” the toilet seat in the stateroom, but somehow I figured out that it just snaps back on.  We did not need any more drama after the air conditioning and hot water dilemmas that are now straightened out.  We do not want any earthquakes. 

TK’s Takes: He was happy to see a monarch butterfly flitting around downtown.  He found the bamboo t-shirts here, his favorite at Cariloha. He had four cheese pizza for lunch--best he ever had. (fresh mozzarella, fontina, provolone, dolcelatte)  The Dutch Pancakehouse was the busiest place in town, but he was surprised at the hype.