Farewell

We have to be out of the unit by 10.  No one wants to leave and the kids are sad.  After breakfast we get finished with the packing and cleaning up.  After two trips to the trash shute we are ready to have a bellman come and get the luggage to hang onto for awhile.  Teresa, Keith and the kids walked over to the shopping center to try to find something we could take on the plane for Lindsay to eat.  I finished the check out and returned, chair tags, room keys and wrist bands then sat and read until they all got back.  We then got a cab to the airport.

Leaving Aruba is never a fun event for multiple reasons...it is a beautiful and restful place but leaving here is always a nightmare!  When people tell you that you need to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight this is not a joke and in some cases may not be enough time to get you to your gate on time!!!  We checked in at the Delta counter then you exit the building and get in the line for the first check point which is done by two officers outside the building.  We were in this line for about 20 minutes and it is very hot by now standing outside.  The lines are so long inside that they are only letting a few people inside at a time.

 

 

 

Once we passed the iguana above we were finally allowed into the next line which was Aruba passport control which was our shortest wait at about 10 minutes through the winding lanes. Then we head to the first security check point where as in USA shoes, laptops, liquids need to be out and go through the scanner.  Another twenty minutes through here and then putting it all back together again to move on.   Now the unsuspecting person thinks they are home free because you then enter an area of shops and restaurants.  This is short lived however when the airline employees are walking around telling you that the luggage queues are extremely long and you may miss your flight if you don't hurry.  Teresa is getting pizza for the kids as they are hungry by this time.  We finally head to the next section which is now the US Customs area.  You must find your luggage and get in the queues which is 7 lanes wide.  One hour later and dragging 8 pieces of luggage we managed to get through the Homeland Security checkpoint.  You would think that you are now finished wouldn't you?  You must now drag the bags to another room where they decide who will and will not have to take them to yet another room and open them.  We must have looked overly stressed out at this point because we were NOT chosen to open anything and we able to put the 8 pieces of luggage on the conveyor belt to be whisked away to the plane...finally.  Again, you would breathe a sigh of relief and think you were finished but alas you now must go through another security checkpoint again on what is considered the "USA" side of the Aruba airport.  Again off the with shoes, out with the computers and liquids and then put it all together again.  Now you truly are finished and can go up the escalator to your gate.  We left the Marriott Surf Club at 11:30 AM and we arrived at the gate just before 2 PM in time to see the Delta flight arrive at the gate a few minutes later. This is considered "low season" in Aruba so imagine what this process is like during "high season" with twice the people...I have done it and it is not a pleasant experience.  Debbie and Andy got to the gate just minutes before we started boarding the flight.  By the time we got on the plane, we were all exhausted and just ready to get home now.  We had a first officer that came and talked to us and was very pleasant and thanked everyone for flying Delta...never had any officer or crew on a plane do that before.  He said between him and the captain they had more than 70 years of experience so we should just relax and enjoy the flight.  We did and said our goodbyes to Debbie and Andy as they had to go to catch their flight to Nashville to get home.  Our luggage came up on Concourse F which is in the new International Terminal at the airport and I have never had that happen before.  I also have not been in the new terminal since it opened a year ago.  It is totally separate from the domestic part of the airport and is on the opposite side of the field.  It is accessible by the airport train but actually has an entirely separate entrance building off of I-75.  After collecting our luggage we had to wait for the shuttle to take us back to the car.  It was 10 PM before we made it back home and everyone was tired from the long day of traveling.  I have to say the kids are troopers though and did the day with a minimum of complaints.  It was a wonderful week and I am always so happy to be able to show my grandchildren the wonders of the world they can experience by traveling.

 

The sign we saw when getting off the plane a week ago

 

 

 

 

Debbie and I will be back in Aruba by ship next time in a little over a month with our ladies cruise group.  It is much easier getting out of here on a ship..:-)

 

 

 

 Fletcher the dog above left in the photo was at Savy Paws Resort this week.  They have a Facebook page and I sent them a message while we were in Aruba that we wanted to see him on FB....they posted the above photo with Zoe and Luma.  I don't know if he was having as much fun as we were but he sure was glad to see everyone on Sunday...even Grandmama!

 

Our last full day

We could not ask for more beautiful weather.  It has been a beautiful week here with just enough rain on Monday when we were at the lighthouse to straighten the hair but the wind would ruin any hair style so it was hopeless anyway.

Teresa has a "Fit Bit" type bracelet that she misplaced the second day after we got here.  It was found on the floor Thursday.  The reason for this mention is that she would choose the chairs by the pool when she went to run in the mornings and put the chair tags on them.  This resort complex is huge and although our building has the best view from the condo of the resort, pool and ground and ocean/sunsets, we are also the building farthest from the beach.  Teresa would always pick chairs that were almost at the beach.  Also, we were the very last condo from the elevator on our floor which meant we walked the full length of the building every time we went anywhere.  I asked her on Friday if there was a way she could possibly get chairs closer to the entrance to the lazy river.  When she came back from her run she said there weren't any this morning and we were not far from our usual place but further away.  Now she has her bracelet back on and said it was 1/4 mile from the condo door to where our chairs have been located so several trips a day netted us well over a mile without leaving the resort!  My knees were killing me and Advil was my closest friend this past week.

    
The girls finally got their hair braided.  They had been going everyday but the lady was never there until today.  Andy told Chris he would take him back to the go karts again today and Debbie was coming up to do the lazy river with us.  They were two hours later than originally planned but all worked out and everyone had a great day.  Teresa and the girls did "Big Mabel" which is a big chair they tow behind a motor boat up and down the beach.  They had a blast doing that and Chris and Andy were disgusting dirty when they returned from racing and we all did the lazy river.  Andy doesn't get the idea of relaxing though as he felt it necessary to "lap" us in the lazy river too.  Really?  Chris is Andy's new best friend.  Teresa got to paddle board for awhile too!

After Debbie and Andy left, we made a left over dinner and the kids went back to the pool while we started getting things packed up.  I also went to the office (another trip down and back) to print off our boarding passes for the trip home.  I walked around and found the kids in the lazy river and thought how quickly this week has passed.  I think they all really enjoyed being here.  Teresa and Keith had been here on the honeymoon 20 years ago and were skeptical about coming here with the kids but I made Teresa stop being a naysayer and she admitted it was really fun.  In her defense, the island was nothing 20 years ago and if you hadn't been here recently, you wouldn't believe the difference.  Below is a photo of the Palm Beach shore line 30 years ago.

Bon Dia!

The kids have enjoyed having breakfast on the balcony and enjoying the view....so unlike kids.  I could sit out there with a cup of coffee for hours as it is such a beautiful view.  This morning however we had to get an early start as we were returning the rental van or "creeper van" as the kids called it.  On this island it is difficult to find a vehicle that will transport more than 5 people which has to do with some rules that pertain to taxis so the one we rented will actually hold 12 people if they were crammed in but was comfortable for us.  The kids said it looked like a van creepy people use to lore kids with candy hence the "creeper van" title.  We also had picked up a dead crab by the Natural Bridge that Keith tried to scare the girls with.  They thought it was funny so they put it on the hood.  The funny part is that through all the wind, bumpy dirt roads the stupid thing has hung on and is still there.  Anyway, we need to make one last trip to the grocery store before we turn the van in since we are having guests for dinner tonight.  When I turned in the van the girl took a double take with the crab....I let her keep it but said it was out pet while we were here.

 

 

Teresa, Keith and I walked to the beach as they were trying to book the Jolly Pirate Ship for the afternoon sail which they did.  We did the lazy river most of the afternoon until it was time for them to do the pirate ship then I went back to get things ready for dinner.  They had a blast on the ship and besides swinging off the side, they said the snorkel near the ship wreck was spectacular!  Teresa said she had never snorkeled with so many fish before.  They all loved it and would do it again they said.  They met several people from the resort and Teresa scored a paid of sunglasses from "Danny and Ashley's Wedding" which was a favor they apparently gave out at their wedding on 9-13-14 in Minnesota.

 

I don't have the photos from that trip but they were cute and I will post when I get them from their phones.  Debbie and Andy came to dinner and we celebrated Andy's birthday which really isn't until next week.  Great dinner, great friends and the brownies I baked this afternoon were a hit with the vanilla ice cream for dessert.  The sunset tonight was spectacular so it was another great day in paradise!

 

 

 

The Falcons were playing on Thursday night prime time TV and we got the game.  Paige was asleep before Debbie and Andy left, Chris had the sofa bed open and was watching the game and as soon as Debbie left, Lindsay and I crashed too.  Teresa and Keith went to the casino at the hotel.  Keith played while Teresa sat in the bar watching the game.  Oh and the Falcons won by an overwhelming amount like 56 - 14!  

 

 



Natural Pool Day

Another beautiful morning in Aruba.  Chris and Paige both went to run with Teresa this morning.  Lindsay who not only has a peanut allergy also suffers from asthma so running in this heat doesn't fair well for her breathing abilities.  They are going to the Natural Pool today and I am passing on the excursion and will do some laundry while they are gone and enjoy some quiet time....LOL  After they left I did straighten up and sat down to work on the puzzle for a bit when I realized that maid service comes on Wednesday and does linen service and a quick clean up.  When the kids came back they said it was great but about a mile and a half hike up a mountain to get there and then the same hike back to the van.  Lindsay had an asthma issue on the return trip and scared the crap out of everyone but asked what her favorite thing they did on the island...Lindsay said the natural pool!  It is funny since Debbie and I have been coming here for years and do enjoy driving around and seeing the tourist spots, it is fun to see the awe the kids had for them.

We went to the pool for awhile then Debbie and Andy stopped by.  They had been out to lunch at Five Guys.  We almost had Andy close to picking up a piece of the puzzle but he quickly took his hand away and said he didn't do them...LOL  They are going to come to dinner Thursday night.  We had dinner and the kids went to swim for awhile and we finished the puzzle tonight.  Another fun day.

The fastest we have finished 1,000 pieces

I think the kids said there were 62 donuts in this thing!
 

Go-Karts

Teresa did her usual run on the beach and said she ran to Debbie's but they didn't have breakfast ready for her so she came back.  After she returned we got ready to go pick up Andy and Debbie and head to the track.  We get there and Andy of course has been before so he gets everyone set and this guy brings out the cars one at a time and has them all lined up.  Andy has arranged for Chris to have the "adult" one because he has made a bet with his dad and couldn't keep up with the youth version.  I am horrified but I am not the parent.  The track is quite extensive with lots of turns and those karts can move!

Chris in front--Andy behind...but only at the starting line!

Poor Lindsay had the slowest one and brought up the rear.

 

Debbie and I documented the event while the other five participated.  Immediately there was drama when completing the first lap Paige made a wrong turn back to the starting area and they tried to keep Lindsay from following her but almost succeeded in directing her to a head on collision with the fencepost that divided the field from the track...OMG!  The kid that was "in charge" decided that Debbie and I needed someone to talk to and we heard his life story, ambitions, family problems and by this time I was praying Andy didn't pay for any extra time!  Yikes...nice kid but he needs someone to talk to!  Still pictures were difficult because they went by so fast but I did get some video and I will see if it will post.  The second drama was when they were finished and Lindsay was crying because hers was so slow.  They were all so dirty they should have been hosed down before getting back in the van to go home.

Can you tell he loved it?

Our "friend" still talking to Debbie..
 

Andy was actually the winner

 

 

 

When we finished, we took Debbie and Andy back to their mansion since they were going to do more horse trading and we came back to go to the pool and beach.  We all contributed to dinner as Lindsay and I made a Ziti casserole, Teresa and Paige made a Ceasar salad and Keith made the garlic bread...great dinner!  Our night time activity is family puzzle time.  This year we have one that is donuts and has the weirdest shapes of pieces I have ever seen on a puzzle but it adds to the fun.  Keith wanted to go to the casino so I went with him for awhile and doubled my money and we came home and worked on the puzzle again.  So ended our Tuesday in Aruba.

Monday September 15, 2014

The kids weathered the flight well but how bad can it be in first class?  It took us longer to go through immigration than previous times I have been here but the kids got their first stamp in their passports!  We actually got here and were able to check in and get our assignment right away so that was a positive.  We brought a good amount of dry food with us so we could put off going to grocery shop until Sunday.  After unpacking the kids went to the pool and we made arrangements to meet Debbie and Andy at the restaurant we could walk to on the beach.  By the time we were all ready all and walked there we were all really hungry.  We were in trouble though since what they had told us about peanut products was not true so Debbie, Andy and I stayed and the kids went back to the condo and ordered pizza.  I felt bad for Lindsay but we just can't chances with her allergy and especially when we have no idea of what the medical care would be like here if she needed it....better safe than sorry.  Debbie, Andy and I got into the Sangria which was very tasty but heaven knows I had enough to drink on the plane and with all we had it seemed like the longest walk ever to get back to our building and into our room.  The Kendrick's had finished their pizza and had started on a puzzle we brought with us for evening entertainment.  I took a shower and went to bed with the kids and slept like a baby.

The next morning I got up and made a pot of coffee (since Kuerig I didn't know if I could still do it) and it was quite good.  The kids got up and enjoyed having breakfast on the balcony.    I was nice sitting out there shielded from the wind which is brutal here.  It has been blowing at a steady 22 mph since we arrived.  Teresa ran the beach then went to the gym and when she got back Keith and I went to pick up the rental car and then we went to get groceries.  Poor Keith was shell shocked looking at the prices of things here.  We actually went to a new grocery that was much closer than the one Debbie and I generally use when we are here but this one had everything we needed and some things we didn't.  We were going through the frozen section and found this package call "Bitterballen".  We couldn't read what it was because it was in Dutch but Keith and I decided to buy it because we thought it was funny.  When we got home we had to look up the translation online to find out what it was but the funniest part was that we cooked them and everyone including the kids loved them.  They were like little appetizer balls of some sort of beef and butter or broth with a crispy coating!  We spent the day at the pool or at least Teresa and the kids did doing the lazy river floating around in the tubes we brought with us.  I had to laugh since everyone here has the same ones...Walmart special.  If you have been here before you know that they charge $12 for one here and I bought them for $3 at home and we will leave them here!  They are loving this Marriott Resort.  We had a great dinner with steaks Keith did on the grill and we had a nice salad and baked potatoes.  After dinner we took at drive to Debbie and Andy's to see their penthouse unit that is huge.  We got our schedules coordinated and we are doing go carts with them tomorrow.

The kids first experience with an iguana!

Lots of baby iguana's

We stayed up late doing the puzzle and I for whatever reason did not sleep well at all.  I tossed and turned all night and listened to Paige talk in her sleep and Chris cough in the other room.  Unfortunately my knee was hurting and I was too lazy to get up and get some Advil and water which added to why I did not sleep because I was in pain from so much walking.  We are on the 8th floor which I have been before but this time we are in the very last rooms at the end of the hall.  These buildings are huge so it is quite the hike from the pool or beach to the building then up the elevator and all the way to the end of the corridor...just like being in the aft cabin on the cruise ship!  Not that I couldn't use the exercise but OMG it is a long way.  Anyway it was overcast this morning and we did breakfast then got ready and headed out for a day of seeing the sights of Aruba.  We actually got rained on when we were at the lighthouse then we stopped at the I love Aruba sign and did some goofy photos and I got a great picture of them in a Divi Divi tree.  From there we did the usual Aruba thing and got lost several times before finding the rock formations, gold mines and then the natural bridge.  Chris of course was bored half way through but the girls loved it.  We stopped at a fish market that was local and bought some fish and shrimp for dinner.  Keith is grilling it now while I am catching you up on the news.  The kids are going to the hot tub after dinner and I am doing some laundry and will work on the puzzle.  Tomorrow we are meeting Debbie and Andy to go to the Go-karts.  What an exciting life I lead huh?  Andy wanted me to go ""helmet diving" with him but as I told Debbie many times I can't swim and breathe at the same time so that is out!  Later!