Marriott Ocean Club, Aruba, (walk through)

You may have seen my review of the Marriott Ocean Club in Aruba in other places on the Net. Well, the video is finally up, showing you a walk through of a one bedroom unit with the lock out studio. No boring commentary, just a pass through the rooms, showing you the facilities as they are. And, you know, these rooms are very, very nice. Check out the video:

This arrangement would be perfect for a small family or a pair of couples. Considering all the amenities these places offer, I’m of the opinion that a place like this is a step above a hotel room, offering the flexibility of cooking some meals, relaxing privately, and just having a bit more space to yourself. Whatever you choose, enjoy your stay.

Airline Breakfast

Thanks to the dogged accumulation and clever application of frequent flier miles, I’m able to fly in the front of the plane, which means less these days than it used to. Still, there is a bit of food and a steady flow of drinks. For example, during a recent departure from Aruba, the following breakfast was enjoyed:

American Airlines breakfast from Aruba to Miami.

American Airlines breakfast from Aruba to Miami.

All the essentials were there from orange juice and fruit to the quiche and grilled tomato. Seriously, this was a tasty treat, albeit a small one compared to my usual breakfast. The cabin staff was friendly and helpful, the way they always are aboard American, at least in my experience. Enjoy your flight and please cooperate with all the directives issued by the captain and crew. They are looking out for your safety and comfort.

Way up there…

One of the things I enjoy most about flying (big plane or small) is the view that you can’t have from terra firma. For example, yesterday I was aboard a commercial airliner, flying above the clouds as the sunset. Here’s what it looked like.

Dusk from 35,000 feet.

Dusk from 35,000 feet.

The floor of clouds was like a swell on the ocean. The sunset was a perfect gradient of all rainbow. Hard to beat that. Thanks to American Airlines for another safe, on time journey, as well as a pair of excellent landings. I’m always impressed at how well the professionals can handle those airplanes.

The Kitchen, Aruba

The Kitchen is an easy-going, friendly place for a reasonably priced meal. Located just on the edge of Oranjestaad, close to the large grocery stores, it offers up a wide menu of choices. We dined there a few nights ago, starting with a couple of salads, including this chef’s salad:

Chef Salad at The Kitchen, Aruba

Chef Salad at The Kitchen, Aruba

Note the glass of wine on the side, which was reasonably priced and tasty. Then there was a mixed green salad as seen next.

Mixed Green Salad, The Kitchen, Aruba.

Mixed Green Salad, The Kitchen, Aruba.

This time, to the right you see some fresh toasted bread with tapenade of olives and tomatoes, both of which were quite flavorful. The salads were very fresh and loaded with ingredients. Finally, we tried the tenderloin. It is served on a hot skillet with veggies and a potato. Here it is:

Tenderloin Platter, the Kitchen, Aruba.

Tenderloin Platter, the Kitchen, Aruba.

The steak was good, a little tough, but for the price was a fair value. Most of all, we had great service. I also mention the drink prices as seen here on the table card.

Drink Card, The Kitchen, Aruba.

Drink Card, The Kitchen, Aruba.

For anywhere near the tourist area in Aruba, these prices are excellent. Plenty of seats front the well-stocked bar, so you can stop in for a drink and a snack and stay on budget. Bon dia.