Aruba Airport to Hotels, Driving Video

Here’s another one of my Aruba Driving Directions videos. This time, you’ll go from the Queen Beatrix Airport to both the low-rise and high-rise hotel area. Instead of driving through Oranjestaad along the waterfront, you’ll go inland to avoid what can be a very congested area. Depending upon the time of day, both routes can be busy, so be warned. Here it is:

As always, be careful while driving. If you have a passenger with you, let them enjoy the sights during that first, unfamiliar ride. Concentrate on the road. Enjoy your visit to Aruba! (For this video: Cameras and lenses by Nikon.)

Published in: on August 7, 2014 at 9:24 am  Leave a Comment  
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Hollywood Smokehouse, Aruba, (2014)

Way back when, I posted about the Hollywood Smokehouse when it was located in San Nicolaas, Aruba. Well, it’s moved. Now it is located in the pedestrian mall adjacent to the Alhambra Casino, which is much closer to all of you on that side of the bridge.

Hollywood Smokehouse, Aruba.

Hollywood Smokehouse, Aruba.

All of your favorites dishes are on the menu, and here’s a look at the menu in case you are unfamiliar:

Hollywood Smokehouse, Aruba, menu.

Hollywood Smokehouse, Aruba, menu.

And here’s the other side:

Menu at Hollywood Smokehouse, Aruba.

Menu at Hollywood Smokehouse, Aruba.

Those are fair prices for this side of the bridge. There’s also a well-stocked bar with all your favorite beverages, so plan to stick around. Here’s a look at the brisket platter, which is my choice:

Brisket platter at Hollywood Smokehouse, Aruba.

Brisket platter at Hollywood Smokehouse, Aruba.

There’s plenty of other tasty selections so stop back frequently and try them all. Bon dia!

Published in: on August 5, 2014 at 1:32 pm  Comments (1)  
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BMW from Hertz, Spain (2104)

During my most recent visit to Spain, I had the pleasure of driving a very nice car. Thanks to various points and promotions from Hertz, I was able to secure this BMW 3 series:

3 Series BMW rented from Hertz, Barcelona, Spain.

3 Series BMW rented from Hertz, Barcelona, Spain.

What a pleasure to drive this car. It was equipped with a GPS navigation system that worked very well. It’s diesel engine was quite efficient, especially given it was paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Here’s a photo of the instrument cluster just before I began the drive:

Instrument cluster in 3 Series BMW rented from Hertz, Spain.

Instrument cluster in 3 Series BMW rented from Hertz, Spain.

Take note of the trip odometer which shows all zeros. Then, at the end of the drive, when I arrived in Madrid, I snapped the next photo:

Instrument cluster at end of driving across northern Spain.

Instrument cluster at end of driving across northern Spain.

Again, note the trip odometer and see that I drove a total of 2,517.3 kilometers. That’s a fair distance. So many wonderful stops along the way, many of which you’ll find here on The Bent Page. Plus, the scenery was outstanding. And this machine performed like a champ. Thanks, Hertz!

Published in: on August 1, 2014 at 12:24 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Hotel Ópera, Madrid (2014)

In terms of location, Hotel Ópera has one of the best spots if you want to explore Madrid’s old town on foot. You will be literally across the street from the Teatro Real and about two blocks from the Royal Palace.

Hotel Ópera, Madrid, Spain.

Hotel Ópera, Madrid, Spain.

Walking up to the Plaza Mayor or Plaza del Sol is also an easy trek, maybe five or ten minutes depending upon your fitness level. Rooms are fairly standard.

Standard room at Hotel Ópera, Madrid, Spain.

Standard room at Hotel Ópera, Madrid, Spain.

Of course, everything you need is there for a comfortable stay. Here’s a look at the bathroom:

Bathroom in standard room at Hotel Ópera, Madrid, Spain.

Bathroom in standard room at Hotel Ópera, Madrid, Spain.

Breakfast was included with my room rate and I thought it was a good value. The buffet was fresh and tasty, just the thing to start the day. There’s also a full cafe on the ground floor if you’re looking for coffee, a snack, or a few tapas to round out the day. Service at the front desk is extremely helpful. They arranged for a taxi to take me to the airport, took care of some laundry, and a few other tasks, all with a smile. Convenient and a good value, Hotel Ópera is a good choice in old Madrid.

Published in: on July 29, 2014 at 11:33 am  Leave a Comment  
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