This morning we are sailing toward our next destination, the island of Grenada.  The sky is overcast and thunderstorms are expected (our first day of questionable weather).  We will visit Sunnyside Gardens as part of our shore excursion this afternoon, so I am hoping that the weather will allow us to go.

3-4 July 2018:

At Sea:  Havana to Aruba

Hurricane Alert!

I left my readers as the Insignia was sailing away from Havana on Monday.  We have two full day and one half-day at Sea, heading south-southeast to Aruba, where we are scheduled to arrive at noon.  The seas have been rough throughout this period, so the outdoor decks have been closed and everyone is taking precautions as we move about the ship.  Our stateroom is midships on Deck 7, so we don't feel as much movement as in the dining areas in the aft portion.  But the movement has not yet made us stop eating!

Jusr as we are finishing our dinner, the Captain announces that we will be changing course to avoid Hurricane Beryl, which is gathering strength as it heads toward the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico, an area in which we are supposed to visit three ports.  These port visits have been cancelled and after Grenada we will visit Trinidad and have one extra sea day.  Although I am disappointed to miss St Lucia and Domenica, it is always wise to acknowledge and follow the Captain's orders. 

We dock in Aruba just 30 minutes late, at 11:30am.  Since our tour doesn't meet until 1:15pm, and since the cruise pier is only a few steps from the shopping and cultural center of Oranjestad, I disembark to walk about the town until tour time.  Will stays on board to enjoy a quiet lunch.

The main street of Oranjestad (Aruba's capital and largest city) consists of one upscale jewelry store after another, the procession interrupted only by ornately designed multi-colored shopping malls.  There isn't much that I need, so I enjoy the kitschy architecture and watching my fellow tourists as they wander the streets.  Automobile traffic is pretty awful here as cars and buses are backed-up along the main artery of the city.

Welcome to Aruba 

One shopping mall . . .

. . . After Another

As Saturday Traffic Gets Worse . . .

. .  and Worse

I return just in time to meet Will and obtain our bus tickets for the excursion, "Sea and See Island Discovery."  Our bus travels along the main road that hugs the coastline and we view a series of international hotels--Hilton, Marriott, and others.  We get glimpses of folks enjoying the beautiful white sand as we pass a number of Aruba's main beaches.  Water and beach activities are the main draw that brings tourists to Aruba (as well as the sister islands, Curacao and Bonaire).  Too far south (Venezuela is just 18 miles away) for hurricanes, the ABC islands, especially Aruba, 

have not been afraid to construct tall-story hotels right on the sand.  The beaches are open to all, without regard to the hotels or homes situated right next to then.

In about 15 minutes we arrive at the ornately- constructed RUI Hotel, the largest along this part of the coast.  From here a small catamaran ferry takes us out to the semi-submersible that will give us the opportunity to view the remains of the Antilla shipwreck, lying on its side, but still amazingly visible.  The carcass of the ship provides food and shelter for many fish, including the two-legged variety.

Catamaran "Ferry" from Palm Beach to Semi-submersible Site

View of Resort Hotels and Palm Beach, from the Ferry

Inside the Semi-submersible

Views of the Shipwreck (above and below)

After about 45 minutes watching fish (and human divers) play about the wreck, we clamber back up to fresh air and the waiting catamaran ferry.  Back at the beach our van is waiting to take us to our next destination, the California Lighthouse, one of the icon sites of Aruba.   It sits on the northern shore somewhat removed from the coastline--over the decades, erosion an weather has enlarged the shoreline.

The last stop of the tour, before heading back to the ship, is a visit to the small "Natural Bridge," a beautiful example of how nature continues to mold the land.  There used to be a large "Natural Bridge" at this location but time and weather have led to its collapse.  Today we enjoy the crash of waves through the opening in the rock, we can be sure that eventually this bridge will collapse as well.

 We have enjoyed this round-the-island tour, which introduced me to many aspects of this island that I had not seen on my previous journey here in February 2014.

Tonight we sail to Bonaire, skipping Curacao, the third of the ABCs.