…on the Ritz-Carlton in Aruba. As you see here, the main structure is mostly complete.
Inland facade of Ritz Carlton, Aruba.
The building is much larger than I thought it would be from the conceptual drawings that were in the local newspaper. It takes up a chunk of the beach and is immediately adjacent to a very popular wind/kite surf area. The good/bad news is, there’s no more beach to build more hotels in this area.
As regular Bent Page readers know, Charlie’s Bar in San Nicolaas, Aruba, is one of my regular haunts. I’ve done tons of writing and socializing there. With good reason, too, because plenty of people pass by. This week, Virginia Madsen and Nick Holmes stopped in to enjoy the ambience and a chat with yours truly.
Friends at Charlie’s Bar, Aruba.
We told stories, enjoyed some food and drink, and of course made plans to return. So it is in Aruba. See you there soon!
Manuel is one of those characters in San Nicolaas, Aruba, that makes the place an interesting setting. He was born in Cuba and after Castro’s gang ruined his family, Manuel came to Aruba, where despite being 92 years old, he still works.
In San Nicolaas with Manuel.
I nick-named him “pops” because he has that look and a nicer guy is hard to find. Long life and much health to you, pops!
The Bent Page 
A Note About Safety
Recently, while riding my bicycle, I was struck head-on by a motor vehicle. Not good as the photo below shows in the immediate aftermath.
In the ambulance.
Things got worse from there. Lots of bruises, a few cuts, and other damage. I was wearing a helmet. The helmet is ruined, but my head is in one piece. Thus, despite connecting with a two-ton machine, I survived with much less damage than it could have been. So, ALWAYS wear your helmet. And, if you happen to be driving, keep a lookout for small fluffy creatures and the people (like me) on bicycles. Put the cell phone away. Watch the road. Thank you. I would like to thank the emergency personal for quick response and excellent curing during this incident.
- Commentary
on June 24, 2013 at 7:54 pm Comments (3)Tags: bicycle, bicycle safety, car accident, Commentary, photo, photos, recreation, safety, sports