Blogs from Oranjestad, Aruba, Central America Caribbean - page 2

Oranjestad, (Orange city from the House of Orange the ruling family in the Netherlands), Aruba We had breakfast with Paul and Christina and then watched masked boobies dive and go after the flying fish that were escaping the ship cutting through their territory. The four of us got on different buses after lunch to take two different tours. Paul and Christina to snorkel and Valerie and I to tour by “semi-submarine” the same scuttled wreck of the 440 foot freighter, the Antilla and to tour other parts of the island. The Antilla was a German merchant marine ship that the Captain sank on purpose because he didn’t want to return to Germany and get involved in World War II. The wreckage is down just 50 feet underwater and ... read more

I recently heard a saying: 'Every day on board is like a new adventure wrapped up in a dream.' I told a Canadian passenger as we both watched the coast of the tiny island of Aruba near. 'That is so true', he said. 'Is that Mark Twain or perhaps Huxley? ' 'No', I replied. ‘It is by that well known British philosopher, Dennis Tanner from Coronation Street!!' Aruba is a small island that forms part of the Netherlands Antilles along with Bonaire, Curacao and Saba. It lies off the coast of Venezuela, South America and is roughly the same size and shape as the Isle of Man. The only difference is that in Aruba it is sunny all year round but on the down side there is no Laxey wheel!!! There are 4 languages spoken in ... read more

Zoals beloofd, de foto's die bij het vorige verhaal horen, en nog een paar... Enjoy!... read more

Afgelopen zaterdagmiddag zat ik in de auto, net een huishoudelijk ochtendje achter de rug, geskyped met mijn lieve vrienden en familie in Nederland, op weg naar een avondje chillen met vrienden bij zonsondergang op strand, waarna ik nog een spelletje colonisten zou gaan spelen bij andere vrienden en het enige wat ik voelde was DANKBAARHEID! Dankbaar voor alle lieve mensen om mij heen, in Nederland, op Aruba of elders in de wereld, I love you! Dankbaar voor de enorme rijkdom die ik hierdoor ervaar. Dankbaar dat ik hier mijn draai gevonden heb en kan genieten van zon, zee, strand en de prachtige onderwaterwereld. Dankbaar voor alle kansen die ik krijg en alle dingen die ik mag leren. Dankbaar dat ik mag vertrouwen dat God mijn leven in Zijn hand houdt. Ik ben een gezegend mens! Goed, ... read more

Two months after leaving Sausalito and driving 5500 land miles across the United States, it was time to start putting some nautical miles under our belts. We sailed out of Port Everglades at dusk on a balmy Florida evening. Our friends Mike and Sherry were watching us on the port webcam as we made our way out to sea. We called Ralph and Joann Acker who live in a nearby condo and they saluted us with a flag and flashlight as we passed by their building right at the harbor opening. Fortunately we had two sea days to get settled into the shipboard routine, meet old and new friends and start focusing on the adventure which lay ahead. We immediately ran into many staff with whom we have cruised often. Luis Teixeira, recently promoted to F&B ... read more