Luxe Shopping, Aruba

Relatives of mine love cruising and go on at least one cruise a year. One of the things they like to do is shop for jewelry and local items, as well as high end goods that may be better priced than they would find in the United States. Well, in Aruba, you have plenty of options just beyond the port where your ship docks. You’ll pass through the gate and walk down this street, headed roughly south, southeast.

Seems rather nondescript, but as you move along you’ll pass a number of jewelry stores, the Mont Blanc store, and a well-stocked cigar shop (yes, with Cubans). Then you’ll come to this area.

Here are several high-end watch sellers, including Gandelman and Little Switzerland. There’s also a few options for food and drinks upstairs including the Mambo Jambo Club. Here’s another view from the opposite side.

Tommy Hilfiger has a place on the corner there. Just down another half block you’ll come to the Seaport Casino and Mall. This is all luxury goods. Here are just a few photos for those who want proof.

It goes on to include Cartier, Bulgari, Ferragamo and so on.

There’s also the BCBG store for the ladies and a few decent shops for men’s clothes.

So, if you like to spend your money on this type of shopping, you came to the right place. Just in case you have some room on the credit card limit, you’ll pass this store on the way back to the ship or your car.

Just don’t let the tax man know what you’ve been up to.

Published in: on July 17, 2008 at 7:29 pm  Comments (1)  
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A Pilgrimage

Everyone has their go-to joint, the place to which they make a pilgrimage for one reason or another. For me, it is the Mont Blanc store. Now, let me say that I’ve been using a Mont Blanc fountain pen for more than two decades. As mentioned in earlier posts, I write pages and pages and pages most every day. A fountain pen is the best tool for this job. At any rate, I happen to be on the island of Aruba just now, and thankfully Mont Blanc opened a shop about a year ago. Thus, the Pilgrimage.

Of course you’re not allowed to take photos inside. Here I found an assortment of gorgeous pens. They had the Greta Garbo model, numberous 149’s, a J.P. Morgan, not to mention a smattering of the rest of the product line. (As for the other luxury goods, I’m not all that interested.) Earlier in the year they had the Franz Kafka pen but sold out. (Damn! That was a nice one.)

As with all the Mont Blanc stores, the staff is knowledgeable of the products, friendly, and willing to show a potential customer whatever pen he would like to see. I fondled a few of them, thinking the prices were pretty good, then reconsidered because I already have three and can only write with one at a time. I use two colors of ink, which gives me the opportunity to “claim” to use two pens at a time. Nonetheless, another one was just not in the cards. These things do not wear out despite my efforts to prove otherwise.

Having made my pilgrimage I returned to the writing table to crank out a few more pages of Under A Blue Flag, which is the sequel to my novel, An Island Away.

Published in: on July 15, 2008 at 8:54 pm  Comments (3)  
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Paseo Herencia, Aruba

One shopping alternative near the high-rise hotels is the Paseo Herencia Mall, which was completed recently. Almost all the stores are active now. You can buy sneakers, jewelry, local crafts, high-end lingerie, watches, clothing of all types, and more. Here’s a look at one of the entrances.

There are several restaurants here, too. Mr. Jazz is a club where you can hear live music. A multi-screen movie theatre is tucked upstairs. The popcorn and soda is priced reasonably, I might add, unlike in the United States. Here’s another look, this time at the interior of the plaza.

The central fountain helps keep the place cool and sometimes bands set up here. Other cultural events ranging from dance show to historical displays are put on as well. The guy who gives the motorcycle tours of the island is located on the outer edge of the mall. He’s usually there in the evenings, during which you can make your reservation and check out his bikes.

This is just one of several shopping areas found on Aruba. I’ll post more photos and details over the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

Published in: on July 10, 2008 at 3:49 pm  Leave a Comment  
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