Natural Bridge, Aruba

The natural bridge in Aruba, the one you probably heard of, fell down a few years ago. But don’t worry, nature is scarfing out another one that is destined to be just as beautiful. Here’s a look at the one that still stands on the eastern edge of the island.

The one that fell down was only a few yards away, and here is what’s left of it.

Luckily it fell down in the middle of the night, like so many things do, and no one was injured. This side of Aruba faces into the trade winds. The seas are driven on the shore with spectacular results, like these natural bridges that are cut from the rock. You’ll see water shooting straight up as it crashes over the rocks. The vistas can be striking, especially early in the morning. Most guided tours of the island bring you to this spot.

As you may have suspected, there is place to buy trinkets and use the toilet. It’s called the Thirst-Aid Station and I recommend you avail yourself of the facilities before you head on with your jaunt.

If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know that it is the perfect place for an ICE-COLD Coca-Cola. I’ve had a few here with friends and family and so should you.

Published in: on July 27, 2008 at 5:42 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Radisson Hotel, Aruba

The Radisson Hotel in Aruba is a menagerie of buildings in a complex that has a “not so big” feel. There are separate towers housing the rooms as well as a main building with the reception desk, shops, and a restaurant. Then there are some separate bars that flank the pool and stretch out toward Palm Beach. Let’s start at the entrance.

It’s nice to pull up under that portico where there is always a doorman ready to help you with your bags or in an out of a taxi. The main lobby area is open air in the sense that the breeze passes through from one side to the other. There are gathering spaces like these for informal meetings, relaxation, and just hanging out.

Jewelry lovers will note the Diamonds International Store there in the background. Opposite this photo on the left side (not shown) is the casino. But let’s pass through the other side of the lobby to the outdoor spaces which feature plenty of flowing water and more gathering places like this.

Can you see yourself having a beverage here? I can. Anyway, there’s more, like this bar which typically features live music every night.

And then there are the swimming pools with the shallow entry points like this one.

And then there is Gilligan’s Restaurant which fronts the beach. Good place for a lunch between sun and fun.

They have some fantastic photos from days gone by on display here. Take the time to check them out. Finally, you’re under a palapa hut on beautiful Palm Beach. Doesn’t get much better than that.

Unless you need some spa treatments, in which case the Larimar Spa is on site and ready to take care of your needs.

I would say that the Radisson is a balance between the high-rise and low-rise hotels in Aruba. It has all the features of a much bigger establishment but still has a low-key feel. Just wanted to show this option to those of you who ask me about places to stay in Aruba.

Keep checking for more updates as I will be covering all types of accommodations on the island.

Published in: on July 27, 2008 at 12:28 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Vesuvio Bakery, NYC

The Vesuvio Bakery in New York City has got to be one of the best in the city. It’s in SoHo and got on my list of go-to places for high quality carbs after my other place, Zito’s on Bleeker Street closed. (Zito used to make a prusciuto bread that would knock your taste buds out!) Here’s a look at Vesuvio’s front window on Prince Street.

You may have seen a post card of this shot, taken in winter time. If not, let’s go in for a closer examination of the breads on offer.

Holy-carbo-overload-moly! Yeah, that and imagine how good this place smells. Warm bread, fresh from the oven, sesame seed overtones. Delicious! Enough to make your stomach do flips. I always like this photo that is propped in the front window, too.

Proud owner and his children from days gone buy. Talk about the American dream, and still going strong. Places like this and the previously posted Murray’s Cheese Shop are just one of the million things that make New York City the great city that it is.

Published in: on July 26, 2008 at 3:30 pm  Comments (1)  
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Desert Island Water

Aruba’s drinking water is produced by a desalinization plant co-located with the electricity plant in an area known as Balashi. Since Aruba is a desert island, this facility became a necessity once the population grew beyond a certain point. You’ll still see old Cunucu houses with a rooftop collection system that gathered rain water and stored it in a cistern. There are also a few brackish wells left, but used only for small scale irrigation. Thus, water is a precious resource in this environment, and metered and invoiced accordingly. The drinking water in Aruba is completely pure and delicious thanks to the way it is produced. There is absolutely no need to buy bottled drinking water here. That which comes from the tap is fine.

Here’s a photo of a domestic water meter, the one at my home.

Exciting stuff, eh? It can be if you’re not careful. Notice the valve located on the right side. It features a hasp-like function so that you can place a lock on it in the “closed” position. Whenever I leave the island, I lock this meter in the closed position. It’s not that I’m worried about someone stealing the water. It prevents an unexpected leak from spinning the meter for days on end until my pal checks the house or I return. This happened to another friend of mine and he was stuck with a water bill in excess of US$3,000.

So, a word to the wise. If you own a home in Aruba, or are considering it, don’t forget small but important things like this. Inspect the plumbing systems from the meter all the way to the drains and septic. It’s not thrilling stuff like the wind surfing, bar hopping, and shopping, but it will put a damper on your good times if you’re not careful.

Okay, in the next post we’ll take a look at the bathroom I rebuilt, which is a little more interesting than the old water meter.

Published in: on July 26, 2008 at 11:19 am  Leave a Comment  
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