Aruba, One Happy Island

After a day at sea, our next port-of-call was Aruba – which has proclaimed itself One Happy Island. Indeed it is, as it should be – in the Caribbean, sunny with clear blue skies – and a multitude of tourists to fill its pockets.

It is a happy island

The ship pulled into the dock – or was pulled in with the aid of tugboats and we disembarked

after I took a photo of part of the village from the veranda,

and the lamp post with its shadows
as well as the banana bus.
As we entered the terminal we were greeting by Aruban dancers in their finest feathers.
We walked past more colorful buses
to the inlet where we would meet the tender which had not yet arrived. The shopping areas were across this bay and were Arubian colorful

The tender arrived
which took us to the mini-submarine
a small island within view of the submarine caught my fancy as we waited to board
Once boarded, the submarine began its descent
140 feet down
where we saw a sea turtle
a stingray
and a shipwreck, with fish swimming in groups and alone.

Each of us had our own porthole through which we viewed the underwater life.

Returned to the dock, we headed into the shopping area to look in at Diamonds International – to look and drool. And drool. But not to buy.

Next on the agenda, our sunset cruise aboard a catamaran.

Where we cruised past many resorts with beautiful white sand beaches



and some new construction
as well as another catamaran
and an old wooden sailing boat headed to shore.

Sitting outside looking up, the moon appeared between the sails
and the sun lowered in the sky
Fortuitously, another catamaran appeared on the horizon
passing the sun before it descended into the sea.

We arrived back at the dock in the dark.

lights across the bay

We returned to the ship to quickly change clothes and head down for a late dinner, then the evening’s entertainment and a fairly early bedtime. Tomorrow is Curacao, another busy day.