Aruba

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Geo: 12.53, -70.03

We got a call from Mickey at 6:30 this morning. We needed to get ready and grab breakfast before our 8:15 shore excursion. We got breakfast at Topsiders and tried to find a table but there were none inside. We went out on deck to eat only to discover...rain. Luckily we found a table by the Mickey Pool that was covered. After breakfast, we ran to the room to pick up our bag and then go down to Diversions, our assigned meeting place.

We arrived at Diversions and there was nobody there to check us in. We waited for a while and I finally, at 8:15, went to find someone to help us. It turns out that the person who was supposed to check us in was "delayed" so someone else came to take over. There were three shore excursions meeting in Diversions so there was a little mayhem but we were finally put on a bus to be taken to the tour operator's facility. We had signed up to go on a Jeep Safari to a Natural Pool.

Once we were there we checked in and were assigned a Jeep to ride in. Our driver was Omar. Our first stop was the California Lighthouse. Then we began our off-road experience. We rode along the ocean on an unpaved, dirt road to our next stop which was a church. Then, back on the off-road drive past a fort and a natural bridge to our last stop before the pool which was another Natural Bridge, but in 2005 in collapsed so now it is just ruins.

Then we were back on paved roads to get to the really rough off-road part of our excursion. We rode up a dirt road over a 300' high peak and back down again to near ocean level. We then hiked down to the natural pool, a lava area that made a natural swimming pool. We were provided masks and snorkels so we could see the fish in the pool. The water was really comfortable and we saw some good fish. There were also lots of black crabs crawling on the black lava rocks. We spent about 40 minutes at the pool before back in the jeeps up and over the same mountain and back to the tour operator office to get on a bus back to the ship.

Aruba was a very pretty place but not at all what I was expecting. Our Tour Guide referred to it as Arizona with water all around it. There were cactus everywhere and it was very dry.

Once we were back on the ship we grabbed some lunch and then Nikki and I went into town to do a little shopping. Regan and Kelsie showered and then took a nap. After shopping, Nikki and I went to the Quite Cove pool to swim and cool off before heading back to the room to get ready for dinner.
Dinner was in Parrot Cay and was an International Theme.

The show tonight was an Ally and AJ concert. Because we knew the show would be popular, the girls with Stephanie, Kimmie, Cheryl and Scott went to get in line about 7:15 even though the show wasn't until 8:30. Kelsie and Stephanie were able to get seats on the front row but, as soon as the show began, everyone rushed the stage and they ended up toward the back of the crowd. Kelsie eventually was able to get touched by both Ally and AJ.

The girls were all would up so they headed to their respective clubs and Nikki and I walked around the Promenade deck before heading back to the room.

The next two days are at sea.

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