Final day

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So it’s a sad day in Aruba – last snorkels, last turtles, last visit to Linda’s, etc etc.

We were at Tres Trapi for turtle hunting by 8:30, and we were very well rewarded. This time we weren’t so systematic, so perhaps we were seeing the same ones over and over, but we certainly thought we saw a dozen, including you know who – Hungry Boy, the gray turtle.

We also found 2 flying gurnards (sorry Robin) and a Queen Triggerfish at last. Still no sign of the short-nosed batfish or the frogfish. David was infuriated by one particular family who pestered the turtles, and the boy who swooped in to touch the turtle as it was coming up for air, and just as David was filming. I’ve been known to tell off anyone I see standing on coral, but I said nothing – these turtles probably won’t be stressed by this. I hope.

After about 2 hours we dried ourselves off and shared contact info with some ladies from St. Louis area who coveted the photos of the turtles up close. This is their 3^rd time in Aruba, and we shared some favorite tips. They had approached us as we got out and said “weren’t you the one the turtle swam right up to?” They had been in that circle watching patiently to see what would happen. Two of the ladies actually are in the video so we are sending it to them.

Then off to Linda’s for pancakes, and we finally got to see Sandrah, who just returned from a month in the Philippines to see family. She shared with us the horror of arriving after like 35 hours of traveling, to discover her husband had left the small bag with passports and money in the taxi. For 2 hours they tried CCTV cameras and calling, and then the taxi driver came to the hotel – he had had no other fares and had noticed it when he packed up for the night – and he drove hours to do that. Phew. We all praised God. We gave Nelsie and Mary Jane final hugs.

We had been admiring the numbers on houses (including our own Airbnb) and we found then at a recommended shop. We need some to stop the incorrect delivery by Amazon.

We finally found the Protestant Church in Piedra Plat too, just for interest. Still no indication that it was in English, or even that there is a service on Sunday.

We returned home to do a little relaxing in the pool and then headed out for the final drift snorkel at Mangel Halto. It was perhaps a little choppier than yesterday, and the visibility was down at the start, but cleared up later. For some reason, David says the clarity improves the minute he gets down from the surface a foot or so.

Only 1 green moray this time, and no octopuses, but plenty of sanddivers to chase and see their colors change. AND THREE ocean trigger fish this time. They are so elegant. It was hard to get out, but David said he was considering feeling seasick it was so rolly – if you check out the videos you’ll see. Just before we got out I saw what might be a bit ocean spider, or a type of crazy crab – not sure.

Time to clean up and pack up and eat up the left overs. Fish again!

We will miss this little oasis, including the cute sounds of the little chicha David thinks lives behind the airconditioning unit.

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