Aruba features great Coca-Cola signage, from old-time painted walls to newer laminates like this one at a local Chinese restaurant.
Coca-Cola sign at the Rising Dragon Chinese Bar in Aruba.
I’ve been out taking more pictures of all kinds of cultural icons here in Aruba. Some of them are disappearing and new ones are cropping up. It’s good to have a record of the change so we know where we came from, even if we don’t know where we’re going.
When you arrive at the Queen Beatrix Airport in sunny Aruba, you’ll probably be in a hurry to get to your hotel, timeshare, or other accommodation. Of course, there are plenty of taxis waiting. You’ll find a stand with a booth just outside the terminal where you’ll be handed a slip of paper specifying the rate for your trip in the cab. Here are the rates as of February 2012:
Taxi rate slip showing rates from Queen Beatrix Airport.
There you can see the most common destinations and amount you will pay in US dollars. Most cabs are very clean, operated by independent people, and a fun way to arrive in style. Enjoy your visit to One Happy Island.
Today, I took an excellent flight from Miami to Aruba via American Airlines. Absolutely fantastic crew from the Captain, to the co-pilot, to the cabin staff. Truly good people doing a great job. The meal was darn good as well; more on that in another post. I had the opportunity to chat with the pilot a few minutes. Here’s a look at the flight deck:
Flight deck of a Boeing 737.
I noticed the llama on the console there and the pilot explained he got in Lima, Peru during a trip there. Here’s a close up:
Llama on the console of 737.
I thought that was a nice touch. The pilot explained it was the turbulence indicator. “If it falls over, we have to slow down.” So, another great flight in the books. Thanks again to American Airlines for delivering me safely to my destination.
The Bent Page 
La Fleur Morange (taste #1)
As mentioned in previous posts, I cut back on the big red wines that are so good, but leave me with some reflux. However, I’ve found a temporary reflux patch that needed a test and I decided on this bottle, La Fleur Morange to give it a go.
2000 vintage La Fleur Morange
The old saying goes like this: Buy on bread, sell on cheese. Looking for an honest palate, I cleared it with a piece of bread and gave the La Fleur Morange a swill. Very, very tasty indeed. Now, others have a different opinion of this wine and don’t we all. For me, it was slow to open, but contained all the great flavors I would expect from a crafted Bordeaux. And this producer is relatively new and working hard. The Grand Cru classification is well-deserved. This wine pairs with the usual suspects for me: veal, red sauce, and so on. Enjoy it or leave in the cellar for a few more years will it will surely get just a little bit better. Cheers!
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on January 20, 2013 at 2:33 pm Leave a CommentTags: bordeaux, La Fleur Morange, photo, red wine, wine, wine bottle, wine tasting