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.

Published in: on December 31, 2012 at 2:57 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

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.

Published in: on December 30, 2012 at 2:52 pm  Comments (1)  
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

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.

Published in: on December 23, 2012 at 9:36 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Airport Rotonde, Aruba

Aruba has upgraded the road infrastructure. Recently the traffic circle, or rotonde as they are called here, was installed at the major intersection of the Route 1 and the entrance to Queen Beatrix Airport. The traffic lights are gone. As you approach from Oranjestaad this is what it looks like:

Approaching the traffic circle at Queen Beatrix Airport.

Approaching the traffic circle at Queen Beatrix Airport.

Sorry for the lousy photos through the car windshield. As you can see on those signs, all directions are accommodated. Here’s another look a little closer to the circle.

Airport Circle with Christmas Tree, Aruba.

Airport Circle with Christmas Tree, Aruba.

They have the Christmas Tree up and ready to go for the holiday. The circle itself is quite large, making for easy navigation. Just remember to keep an eye out for merging traffic. If you’re in doubt about your exit, simply continue around the circle again until you get your bearings. Bon dia.

Published in: on December 22, 2012 at 12:29 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »