Aruba update
Trip Start
Oct 04, 2008
1
3
31
Trip End
Jun 30, 2009
Oranjestad,
Aruba
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
We got the tail of Hurricane OMAR....never seen rain like it, solid for 36 hours and caused chaos on the island with roads turning into impassable rivers, we were trapped for 3 days....no electricity for some of this time, the only other people around us moved somewhere ! and our garden turned into a swimming pool, we were close to getting flooded.....BUT....we are british, we sang songs around the single candle, and worked on our morale using alcohol....we had a few leaks in the roof and windows......which have been fixed now (we hope) after calling everyday for a couple of weeks....Colin is good at that !! originally they said they couldn't work on the roof due to Health & Safety, they eventually turned up with a make shift ladder, flip flops and no hats etc., so not sure which part of H&S they were talking about.
Our workman were great (when they eventually arrived as nothing happens quickly on this island) they even gave us presents (see photo).
The site swimming pool was awash with debris, 2 large frogs & a huge crab that came from somewhere.
Colin got stung on his head by a scorpion that was in his hat ! fortunately they are not venemous. He seems to have been talking more sense since the sting....so may have been a good thing. The rain has brought out all the critters, mosquitos the size of birds.
Managed a day out in Arikok NP which is always worth seeing, but was challenging in a YARIS due to the roads being partly washed away and very bumpy, we did get to see the wild goats & donkeys but most of the caves were closed due to flooding.
The car has gone back now so walking most places with the odd bus & taxi journey, this is working out great.....the weather is now fantastic so we are spending as much time as we can either at the pool or the beach snorkelling....and are tanning nicely.
Have bumped into a few Brits this time....they can always tell, apparently, Brits are the only people to say "LOVELY" so easy to spot. We also found the sole Aussie on Aruba...there is always one ! Our neighbour is a former English professional footballer for 10 years....he & his wife built a jungle lodge in Belize for adventure eco tourism, looks amazing....interested see the link www.belizejungledome.com
The Americans on the island have been engrossed in the presidential elections...you can't miss it, coverage started 18 months ago when we were last away, and will be analysed for at least a year after the result....and then we can start all over again.....they spent over a billion dollars on it !! talk about fail to get your priorities right !!! it is obscene. God bless rich america !
What a shame no one has been able to come out for Nov/Dec time....it's not too late ! can we tempt you with long hot lazy days, plenty of wine and great company (well us)...
Really looking forward to seeing Andrew & Jane in January....hope you get a good dollar rate ?
Remember everyone..stay in touch, we love to get news on how things are with you...sunny smiles from Aruba
