Aruba

7/89  7/ 91  9/95  7/97  1/98  7/99  6/00

The first time we went to Aruba, we did all the tourist stuff.  Sightseeing, motor biking to the other side of the island (2 stitches), once I even took out one of those tiny "Sunfish" type mini-sailboats.  But, just once!

They're not as easy as they look.  I went out a little way, and then, as I tried to turn...the sail went down.  And I couldn't get it up.  No matter what I did.  No laughing, now.  Next thing I know I'm on my way to Venezuela, hanging onto what now seemed now like an overturned ironing board!  It's only 12 miles from Aruba to Venezuela, you know.  If it was dry, you could walk it!  Did you also know that Aruba is the windsurfing capital of the Caribbean?   As I watched the hotel getting smaller and smaller and a tiny Lee waving to me from the beach, I wondered just how far 12 miles really is.  How long would it take?  Would I get hungry?  Would I be on the six o'clock news?  Would I be able to SEE myself on the six o'clock news?  Then they sent out a guy in a boat who got things under control in about 5 seconds, which convinced me to stay on the beach from then on. 

So now, having tried all that stuff already, I just relax!  And, I've found out, I'm darned good at it!  So, now when we're in Aruba, we don't actually "do" anything anymore.  We like to just lay on the beach all day, then gamble a bit and then have dinner.  No sightseeing!  Nowhere to GO!!  Just relax!!!!

If friends come with us for the first week or so, we stay a while after they've left, because just the effort of having to decide "where to eat" among an entire group of people takes all the "relax" out of it.  We're now up to staying for 18 days at a time!