Day 11: Aruba

Today’s organized excursion was called Aruba Hidden Gems, which was not my original tour but here I go, the summary said we would enjoy an extraordinary exploration through Aruba, showcasing the historical and natural landmarks that make this island so unique.

First stop: Casibari Rock Formation

We made a drive around Arikik National Park.  One side of the road is the national park and other side is a military range.  The views were amazing . . . I wonder how many times I have said that on this blog?

Second stop: Fontein Cave

I got annoyed with the tour and just walked away to do my own thing.  The group was too large to fit in the cave area and could not hear or see anything the guide was saying.  There was a trail behind the bus so I explored on my own. 

As I walked I could hear the hundreds of lizards scatter. I just looked forward and didn’t even think about them scurrying by my feet.

 

Third stop: Quadirikiri Cave

As soon as I saw a guy hit his head on the entrance, I knew it was not for me so I explored outside the cave.

Fourth Stop: The Lourdes Grotto

I am not sure why we even stopped here . . . I'm not knocking the grotto but there has to be something more original or historic to Aruba that we could have stopped to visit.

On our way back to the ship, the bus drove through the downtown part of Oranjestad and made the decision there wasn’t anything that I needed to go see so back to ship for lunch and relaxation.

As I was laying there, I started feeling guilty for hanging out in my cabin so I got up and got off the ship. After about 45 minutes of walking and seeing the same souvenir shops over and over, I went to my favorite afternoon hang out, Schooner Bar. I have decided no more taste test and my favorite is Desert Pear Margarita!

Looking back, I should have taken a bus or cab to a nearby beach to just hangout and relax.