irie1029
Contributor
Arrived Friday flew through immigration and customs and were sipping cocktails 1 hour later by the lazy river at the Marriott Surf Club. Only problem delta cancelled Tuesday flight so we needed to stay one extra day at the Renn. The fourth night at the Renn is free if includes a Sunday they also throw in s Sunday night Martini and Tapas party
folks Marriott is awesome.
Friday night had dinner at the new, upscale Hadicurari restaurant the food was fantastic and the view of the docks at sunset romantic... Dessert at Hadicurari restaurant was interrupted by what was the biggest thunderstorm I ever experienced... No exaggeration from 10:30 in the eve until 6 am constant rain and BIG thunder/lightening. Saturday morning roads were flooded, but so what, we are off to baby beach and JADS scuba to set up some dives. We drove through flooded streets in a 70K mile POS rental and it took over one hour to get to San Nicolas . Several wrong turns later (wife was navigating) we ended enjoying an hour of circumventing wandering goat herds, mud puddles, and potholes. I had an inkling we were friggin' lost and decided to abandon male bravado and ask some locals living (at least partying) in shacks with the most beautiful view of the carrib where to find Baby Beach. I only wish I could have spent more time with the kind couple would have been a blast but oh well they gave us explicit instructions to go back the way we came and go left not right and at the anchor go straight.. Just go straight no turn wow they were right.
JADS baby beach . Met with JP a wonderful person very down to earth and flexible the prettier one of us is scuba diver and I am OW. JP came up with plan to go day by day starting Monday and develop a dive schedule to get a sampling of the reef systems and how varied they were. Regardless, the first dive would be a checkout dive at baby beach Monday. According to JP best diving was dependant on the weather and currents and as crazy as the weather had been JP would decide day to day where to dive. JP was to meet us Monday at the Surf club lobby and would call us when he arrived so we would not be waiting around for him. (NOVEL IDEA) He tossed me a free t-shirt and we bid farewell. Picked up limited grocery and bar items at Hong Kong grocery amazing how inexpensive stuff is and all goes there by boat. Verified the shopping list and headed off to the car (which being a POS was easy to confuse in the lot), Sampled the Rum and Gin at the beach and had a few at Moombas as well. I could really get used to this place. Saturday night. Did a Duck Race for stray animals animal charities and then walked the board walk. Day one was wonderful.
Sunday was an early am shore snorkel trip near Boca Catalina we really like this spot and is much healthier this year versus last year. This year we saw Larger Octopus, barracuda conch eel tangs and a nicely improving sponge population. Returned the POS rental 2 days early and said would rebook later in the week. They were apologetic for the POS in my mind was not big deal. Spent rest of day bouncing between ocean and lazy river sipping cocktails and chilling. My favorite oxymoron is chilling at the beach. Eve we toured the new shops stopped at new Taste of Belgium by the new cinema. Sipped wine and watched folk going to and from the cinema and shops Waiter turned us on to a restaurant La Terraza downtown and he used to work there before it moved we will check it out then headed to dinner at one of my favorite fishes and more (note I will say favorite many times because they all have special things about them) . Fishes and More is / was Tuna Carpaccio appetizer which is no longer on their menu... Meal and service was great regardless. Walked the boardwalk back and visited various hotels lobbies on the way back.
Monday breakfast in the room . And call 8:30 by JP of JADS waiting on us in the lobby. After some getting to know each other on the way we did a bubble check at baby beach... with some Frisbee and catch at 15 feet . Then took boat to a reef dive with splendid 20 tall coral and all the life that goes with it. Not one inch left without life teeming I was amazed at the beauty. It was a runner up to Alice in Wonderland on Curacao. Back at JADS dive shop on Baby beach we logged our dives and shot the bull with folks it was really a splendid day. JP drove us back to the Surf and pointed out landmarks as well as history. JP is a really great guy. Spent the rest of the day chilling at the beach and lazy river. Evening we wanted to hot the sushi bar Katsu but due to construction it was closed D@#! Now we are forced to eat somewhere else We decided to return to Hadicurari their calamari is just plain awesome . I had the grouper as well as the stew all meals were perfect and service was fun. Glenlivet after dinner just tastes better in Aruba.
Tuesday- Just hang out chilling in the ocean and lazy river. Dinner what can I say was at Champions as we needed a burger fix I did not need the Karaoke fix but hey it was an amusing sight and not so amusing sound.
Wednesday got a decent rental and early snorkel then off to Terra del Sol Spa for my wife having what I call a head to hoof and me a haircut. We used the pool and span for several hours enjoying cocktails prior to our appointments. The pool and spa is almost vacant and it is beautiful. After the beautifying touchups dinner at Terra del Sol Ventanas del Mar... WOW awesome view, menu, cocktails, service, taste of food, music and romance. I would urge everyone to check this place out. A favorite. On Wednesday they had surf and turf special $35 which my wife got. Filet was tender and lobster succulent best meal so far.
Thursday JADS Scuba was at 10 and right on time did a boat dive and again some awesome coral fish of all sorts squid platoon and again beauty beyond expectations. The dive master from Bonaire was my buddy and he was impressed with the site. We invited JP and (Uncle a local) to lunch at Charlies I had the matrimony Squid and Shrimp and my sweetie the shrimp. Great place and lots of fun. Got the scoop on the place as Uncle was a best friend of Charlie ones son. The Red anchor is dedicated to seamen by Charlies family in Charlies name. The refinery folks shot blasted and painted the anchor and set it in place. Also talked about the refinery attack. Splendid day. On the way back to the surf club saw Venezuela in the distance. I was told it is rare to see Venezuela. Dinner my favorite simply fish ambiance and service impeccable. Tuna appetizer, sea bass and swordfish was awesome.
Friday checked out of surf and dropped sweetie and luggage at the Renn. Returned Rental to Airport and got a free ride to Renn thanks national. Walked the streets and had lunch at my favorite Cubas cooking. I really like that place for ambiance, fun service, real mojitos, and good Cuban food. Had the Empanada combo, midnighter, and avocado salad.. yum yum. Onto the island for snorkeling and relaxing. Dinner was at La Terraza in the new mall at the harbor. This place is now one of my favorites. Get this appetizer -conch fritters but you have got to ask for them as they are only on the lunch menu but they will give them to you at dinner. Our second appetizer was escargot which was good but nothing compared to the fritters. Our main courses were catch of the day aruban style friggin great my wife surf and turf (shrimp and she specially asked for coconut style versus spicy) and a huge filet again It was an excellent meal at a very reasonable price $17 for the main course! Also frigid white wine. We really like this place.
Saturday AM we did JADS shore dive. JP picked us up he had another customer with him. She was from New York and was getting OW certified on referral. Her friend dove with JP and was so impressed had her go to Aruba to get certified. On the way to the spot saw Curacao... again a rarity. The dive was heavenly. I was a little skeptical as we parked in Jairos the dive masters friends yard but in the water the coral and Christmas tree sea worms were just unbelievable huge brain coral densely populated by multicolor worms everywhere you looked there was life abounding. An astonishing dive. Spent rest of day on Renn Island and watched the sunset from the Island. Dinner was Lobster at the clam shack at the Renn shops again had a lot of fun with the wait staff and really enjoyed a rainy evening that cleared up.
Sunday Walked the shops looking at various touristy stuff. Stopped at Dunkin Donuts and then on to the Paddock for lunch as LaTerraza was closed. Oh well. On to the Renn Island for some sun and relation. Of course we snorkeled Renn every day always finding one more critter. Evening had sunset martini party at poolside gratis for a four day stay including a Sunday. Met Renn management and other guests. Small gathering but a bunch of drinks and all of the Tapas on the Blue menu were the free appetizers. I liked the tuna so well they brought me a plate of it . Marriott is awesome... They really get it as does JADS.
Monday Dove with JADS this dive was a drift dive and saw tons of schooling fish awesome fans corals and anemones. I am dazzled by the variety of life in Aruba reef system. Also we really met some great people at JADS and bid them farewell. We will be back. We chilled on the Island through sunset and then went to La Terraza again for dinner. This time I had the Spicy Mango Swordfish and my wife the Chicken and shrimp curry and of course conch fritters as appetizers. Wow what a meal. And as the main course was served the Christmas in October fireworks were lit off and we had balcony seats. Won a little at the casino and called it a night.
Tuesday Awe shucks last day we spent the entire day at the island snorkeling, sunning and drinking. Met some real nice people from Conneticut and Virginia while on the Island. Unfortunately one couples husband lost his wedding band my wife and I snorkeld looking for it but the area was pretty well trampled. Wife asked at Red Sail if the had a metal detector they said no but if someone lost a ring Marriott had a way to find it? Any way the wife hooked the couple up and sure would like to know the outcome. After sunset had dinner at LG Smiths Starter was Beef Carpaccio followed with Strip Steak for me and Surf and turf for the wife. We suffered through Chocolate cake for desert. On to the casino! Bumped into our friends from the island and exchanged information we will hook up with them again. The wife was smoking hot on roulette as a fabulous end to a great vacation.
Wednesday back home at 11pm bummer.
Friday night had dinner at the new, upscale Hadicurari restaurant the food was fantastic and the view of the docks at sunset romantic... Dessert at Hadicurari restaurant was interrupted by what was the biggest thunderstorm I ever experienced... No exaggeration from 10:30 in the eve until 6 am constant rain and BIG thunder/lightening. Saturday morning roads were flooded, but so what, we are off to baby beach and JADS scuba to set up some dives. We drove through flooded streets in a 70K mile POS rental and it took over one hour to get to San Nicolas . Several wrong turns later (wife was navigating) we ended enjoying an hour of circumventing wandering goat herds, mud puddles, and potholes. I had an inkling we were friggin' lost and decided to abandon male bravado and ask some locals living (at least partying) in shacks with the most beautiful view of the carrib where to find Baby Beach. I only wish I could have spent more time with the kind couple would have been a blast but oh well they gave us explicit instructions to go back the way we came and go left not right and at the anchor go straight.. Just go straight no turn wow they were right.
JADS baby beach . Met with JP a wonderful person very down to earth and flexible the prettier one of us is scuba diver and I am OW. JP came up with plan to go day by day starting Monday and develop a dive schedule to get a sampling of the reef systems and how varied they were. Regardless, the first dive would be a checkout dive at baby beach Monday. According to JP best diving was dependant on the weather and currents and as crazy as the weather had been JP would decide day to day where to dive. JP was to meet us Monday at the Surf club lobby and would call us when he arrived so we would not be waiting around for him. (NOVEL IDEA) He tossed me a free t-shirt and we bid farewell. Picked up limited grocery and bar items at Hong Kong grocery amazing how inexpensive stuff is and all goes there by boat. Verified the shopping list and headed off to the car (which being a POS was easy to confuse in the lot), Sampled the Rum and Gin at the beach and had a few at Moombas as well. I could really get used to this place. Saturday night. Did a Duck Race for stray animals animal charities and then walked the board walk. Day one was wonderful.
Sunday was an early am shore snorkel trip near Boca Catalina we really like this spot and is much healthier this year versus last year. This year we saw Larger Octopus, barracuda conch eel tangs and a nicely improving sponge population. Returned the POS rental 2 days early and said would rebook later in the week. They were apologetic for the POS in my mind was not big deal. Spent rest of day bouncing between ocean and lazy river sipping cocktails and chilling. My favorite oxymoron is chilling at the beach. Eve we toured the new shops stopped at new Taste of Belgium by the new cinema. Sipped wine and watched folk going to and from the cinema and shops Waiter turned us on to a restaurant La Terraza downtown and he used to work there before it moved we will check it out then headed to dinner at one of my favorite fishes and more (note I will say favorite many times because they all have special things about them) . Fishes and More is / was Tuna Carpaccio appetizer which is no longer on their menu... Meal and service was great regardless. Walked the boardwalk back and visited various hotels lobbies on the way back.
Monday breakfast in the room . And call 8:30 by JP of JADS waiting on us in the lobby. After some getting to know each other on the way we did a bubble check at baby beach... with some Frisbee and catch at 15 feet . Then took boat to a reef dive with splendid 20 tall coral and all the life that goes with it. Not one inch left without life teeming I was amazed at the beauty. It was a runner up to Alice in Wonderland on Curacao. Back at JADS dive shop on Baby beach we logged our dives and shot the bull with folks it was really a splendid day. JP drove us back to the Surf and pointed out landmarks as well as history. JP is a really great guy. Spent the rest of the day chilling at the beach and lazy river. Evening we wanted to hot the sushi bar Katsu but due to construction it was closed D@#! Now we are forced to eat somewhere else We decided to return to Hadicurari their calamari is just plain awesome . I had the grouper as well as the stew all meals were perfect and service was fun. Glenlivet after dinner just tastes better in Aruba.
Tuesday- Just hang out chilling in the ocean and lazy river. Dinner what can I say was at Champions as we needed a burger fix I did not need the Karaoke fix but hey it was an amusing sight and not so amusing sound.
Wednesday got a decent rental and early snorkel then off to Terra del Sol Spa for my wife having what I call a head to hoof and me a haircut. We used the pool and span for several hours enjoying cocktails prior to our appointments. The pool and spa is almost vacant and it is beautiful. After the beautifying touchups dinner at Terra del Sol Ventanas del Mar... WOW awesome view, menu, cocktails, service, taste of food, music and romance. I would urge everyone to check this place out. A favorite. On Wednesday they had surf and turf special $35 which my wife got. Filet was tender and lobster succulent best meal so far.
Thursday JADS Scuba was at 10 and right on time did a boat dive and again some awesome coral fish of all sorts squid platoon and again beauty beyond expectations. The dive master from Bonaire was my buddy and he was impressed with the site. We invited JP and (Uncle a local) to lunch at Charlies I had the matrimony Squid and Shrimp and my sweetie the shrimp. Great place and lots of fun. Got the scoop on the place as Uncle was a best friend of Charlie ones son. The Red anchor is dedicated to seamen by Charlies family in Charlies name. The refinery folks shot blasted and painted the anchor and set it in place. Also talked about the refinery attack. Splendid day. On the way back to the surf club saw Venezuela in the distance. I was told it is rare to see Venezuela. Dinner my favorite simply fish ambiance and service impeccable. Tuna appetizer, sea bass and swordfish was awesome.
Friday checked out of surf and dropped sweetie and luggage at the Renn. Returned Rental to Airport and got a free ride to Renn thanks national. Walked the streets and had lunch at my favorite Cubas cooking. I really like that place for ambiance, fun service, real mojitos, and good Cuban food. Had the Empanada combo, midnighter, and avocado salad.. yum yum. Onto the island for snorkeling and relaxing. Dinner was at La Terraza in the new mall at the harbor. This place is now one of my favorites. Get this appetizer -conch fritters but you have got to ask for them as they are only on the lunch menu but they will give them to you at dinner. Our second appetizer was escargot which was good but nothing compared to the fritters. Our main courses were catch of the day aruban style friggin great my wife surf and turf (shrimp and she specially asked for coconut style versus spicy) and a huge filet again It was an excellent meal at a very reasonable price $17 for the main course! Also frigid white wine. We really like this place.
Saturday AM we did JADS shore dive. JP picked us up he had another customer with him. She was from New York and was getting OW certified on referral. Her friend dove with JP and was so impressed had her go to Aruba to get certified. On the way to the spot saw Curacao... again a rarity. The dive was heavenly. I was a little skeptical as we parked in Jairos the dive masters friends yard but in the water the coral and Christmas tree sea worms were just unbelievable huge brain coral densely populated by multicolor worms everywhere you looked there was life abounding. An astonishing dive. Spent rest of day on Renn Island and watched the sunset from the Island. Dinner was Lobster at the clam shack at the Renn shops again had a lot of fun with the wait staff and really enjoyed a rainy evening that cleared up.
Sunday Walked the shops looking at various touristy stuff. Stopped at Dunkin Donuts and then on to the Paddock for lunch as LaTerraza was closed. Oh well. On to the Renn Island for some sun and relation. Of course we snorkeled Renn every day always finding one more critter. Evening had sunset martini party at poolside gratis for a four day stay including a Sunday. Met Renn management and other guests. Small gathering but a bunch of drinks and all of the Tapas on the Blue menu were the free appetizers. I liked the tuna so well they brought me a plate of it . Marriott is awesome... They really get it as does JADS.
Monday Dove with JADS this dive was a drift dive and saw tons of schooling fish awesome fans corals and anemones. I am dazzled by the variety of life in Aruba reef system. Also we really met some great people at JADS and bid them farewell. We will be back. We chilled on the Island through sunset and then went to La Terraza again for dinner. This time I had the Spicy Mango Swordfish and my wife the Chicken and shrimp curry and of course conch fritters as appetizers. Wow what a meal. And as the main course was served the Christmas in October fireworks were lit off and we had balcony seats. Won a little at the casino and called it a night.
Tuesday Awe shucks last day we spent the entire day at the island snorkeling, sunning and drinking. Met some real nice people from Conneticut and Virginia while on the Island. Unfortunately one couples husband lost his wedding band my wife and I snorkeld looking for it but the area was pretty well trampled. Wife asked at Red Sail if the had a metal detector they said no but if someone lost a ring Marriott had a way to find it? Any way the wife hooked the couple up and sure would like to know the outcome. After sunset had dinner at LG Smiths Starter was Beef Carpaccio followed with Strip Steak for me and Surf and turf for the wife. We suffered through Chocolate cake for desert. On to the casino! Bumped into our friends from the island and exchanged information we will hook up with them again. The wife was smoking hot on roulette as a fabulous end to a great vacation.
Wednesday back home at 11pm bummer.
