Aruba Bob Snorkeling, video

You won’t meet a guy more friendly than Kent, better known as Aruba Bob. He’s been snorkeling around the island for more than 15 years and takes you on a personal tour through the water. Here’s my interview with him, including a look at some of the sea life you’ll see on one of his adventures.

Those “water scooters” make the snorkeling trip at Mangel Halto twice the fun. You can relax and soar along atop the sea while checking out the sea life. Given the small groups and personalized nature of the snorkel adventure with Kent and his friend, Stuart, you’re bound to have the best time. Enjoy the ocean responsibly.

Published in: on March 2, 2012 at 10:14 am  Leave a Comment  
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Baby Beach Improvements

Aruba’s Baby Beach is a popular place for visitors and locals alike. The calm, sheltered water makes for easy swimming. The powder soft sand is comfortable, too. Lately, there have been a number of improvements to the area including a new wall separating the parking area from the beach, new palapa huts with permanent bases, and another snack shack. Here are some photos:

babimpr4Doesn’t that water look nice? Really, it is that blue.

babimpr2You can hang out in the shade when you’re not in the water. You and ten of your friends. Or go get a snack at the following place:

babimpr3And finally, here is a shot of the masonry wall just for eye candy.

babimpr1Enjoy your day at Baby Beach. Don’t forget the sunscreen, big hat, and plenty of water. On your way to your accommodations, why not stop by Charlie’s Bar for a beverage and plenty of fun? Sure, it’s the right thing to do.

Bon dia from Aruba.

Published in: on February 12, 2009 at 12:26 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Aruba’s Natural Bridge, video

On the windy side of Aruba, you’ll find one of several natural bridges formed when the ocean carved through the rock. The large one collapsed several years ago. However, there is a smaller one immediately adjacent to it. Take a look at the video from the site.

As you can see, this place is one of raw beauty. It’s worth a drive during your tour of the island. Not only that, you can stop in at the Thirst Station for an ice-cold Coca-Cola. Never pass up a chance on one of those.

Bon dia from Aruba.

Published in: on November 29, 2008 at 9:28 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Cape May, New Jersey, USA

This is only the second time that I’ve seen the Cape May Lighthouse from shore. Of course, I saw it numerous times from the water.

The lighthouse is actually located in Cape May Point, NJ. This is a great place if you’re into bird watching, quiet living, and enjoy the salt air. The lighthouse itself is open for tours. You can climb to the top of it as well as walk around the balcony just below the light. The view is fantastic. You can see into the Delaware Bay, out into the Atlantic Ocean, and over the beaches that fringe the end of New Jersey’s coastline.

It’s always a good idea to come here early as the crowds build throughout the day, especially when the weather is as nice as it was when I took this photo. Here’s a look at the beach at Cape May Point.

You can see it wasn’t crowded. People had just started to stake out their patch of sand. The airplanes were towing banners, advertising everything from restaurant specials to Atlantic City casinos. Cape May itself is filled with Victorian-style homes. I took this photo of two modest places, but there are many more that are as big as these two put together and more brightly painted than a carnival ride.

Still, I think these represent a pleasant scale that is both practical and inviting. Readers of this blog know that I’m partial to Spanish Colonial Architecture. However, I enjoyed a morning stroll through Cape May, taking in the variety of Victorian homes. The residents here take good care of their property. The sidewalks and streets are immaculate. If you want to do some shopping or antique hunting, there’s a pedestrian mall in the center of town that looks like this:

We found a place for lunch here that was quite good. Of course, an ice-cold Coca-Cola was had for dessert before more walking around town. Cape May deserves its reputation as a low-key, friendly destination. The beach can get crowded but all good beaches do. There are plenty of good restaurants, quaint bed and breakfast establishments if you want to stay a few days, and lots of quite streets to welcome you. (I’d like to work Cape May into a story some day, just haven’t figured out exactly how.)

Published in: on September 1, 2008 at 11:56 am  Leave a Comment  
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