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La Cabana
October 11-18, 2003 by Teri
WARNING!!! Extremely long and detailed report!
I also use this to put in my photo album as a diary to remind us of what we did.
Saturday
We arrived at the Pittsburgh Airport at 6:00, about 1 1/2 hrs. before our flight. This year there were 8 of us, my husband John, son Shawn, daughter-in-law Denise, two granddaughters Nicolette and Brandi, son Kirk, baby grandson Kirk Jr. and ME!! One of our best friend's works at the USAirways ticket counter so we were taken immediately. Unfortunately the computer randomly picked Denise for a search so ALL of our luggage was opened and ransacked and Denise was thoroughly checked. We had time for breakfast at McDonalds, a couple of cigarettes in the bar and then it was (FINALLY) time to leave. Our first flight was just a quickie to Charlotte, went smoothly. We had a 2 hour layover which we used to stock up on food for the plane ride and add nails to our coffins. Flight left on time for Aruba and the baby did remarkably well for his very first flight at 15 months old. We arrived right on schedule at 3:00 and had no wait for immigration or customs. I went over to rent our vehicles while the rest of the gang got the luggage. We rented two cars for convenience and received 2 Toyota Yaris'. (What the heck is a Yaris anyway? They must be exclusive to Aruba because we saw them all over the island all week. The guy at the car rental told me that they sold in the States under the name of "Echo" and had a bigger engine.) Anyway, off to the hotel where we checked in instantly, no problems with the extra unit rented for Shawn and family. Everyone went to their rooms and changed and met at the pool.
We had decided to try Tabasko that night (Marlene told me I MUST try it and I was afraid that all of my posts would be deleted on Lekka Lekka so we had to go) and after watching our first sunset and watching the baby on the beach (he loved the sand, hated the sea!) off we went. It is a very pretty place and we had a nice table and nice waitress and she brought the menu's out written on wooden paddles. Well our family just looked at the small selection, nothing of which was to anyone's liking (all very Irish-meat-and-potatoes clan) off we went again. Everyone always likes Buccaneers so it seemed like a good idea for the first night. Our car arrived with John, Kirk, baby and me but Shawn etc. never showed up. We waited 15 minutes then went back to check the ditches for them but couldn't find them. Volleyed backed and forth for about 1/2 hour and finally gave up and went to The Captains Corner (near Linda's). (Found out on Sunday that they lost us at a roundabout and finally found Buccaneers an hour later, since we weren't there they went back and ate at Hooters). After dinner, went back to the hotel, Kirk and Kirk Jr. went to bed and John and I changed into red clothes to go to the Full Moon Party at MooMba's. We found Marlene instantly, actually she found us, when I walked in she came running up and said "It's Teri!". Not sure if I look that much like my pictures or my reputation preceded me but it made me feel good either way. Had a few drinks with Mark and Marlene (not very good and too expensive) and it was so hot there it wore us out and we went back and went to bed.
Sunday
John woke up early to save our favorite table by the pool and to get coffee at Dunkin Donuts, his usual morning ritual. I was down early to and spent most of the day in the pool, as usual. Unbelievably, I made the beginner's mistake of not putting sunscreen on my back and finally remembered around noon but it was already too late. I was nicely fried and already in pain, how dumb was that? I went to the guest relations desk around 1:30 to confirm the online dinner reservations I had made for Madame Janette's that night for 7:30 and found out that I had made them for Monday night instead! Couldn't do that, it was the night of the BB party but luckily Madame Janette's could accommadate us at 8:30 which gave us a little more time at the beach and pool. Had pizza for lunch from Pizza and Pastabilities and it was surprisingly good. We all played bingo at the pool but no winners that day. Went down to the beach for sunset and then off to Madame Janette's for a fabulous dinner, as usual. John and I stopped at the Cadushi Bar for a nightcap and off to bed.
Monday
Up early again for our daily pool routine. I was in much pain from the sunburn and had to wear a shirt over my suit all day. Our car had been acting up, John thought the power steering was gone so we had to go back to the airport to get a different car. This is the third time we have had to change a vehicle in Aruba! Got another Yaris (surprise, surprise!), a pretty pale blue one this time. Stopped at the Straw Market shops downtown but it was kind of early and not much was open. Stopped at the supermarket for cheese, buns, snacks etc. We bring a cooler and food from home, mostly for lunches. We had hamburgers on the outdoor grills for lunch with chips. Played Bingo and John won the second game and got $15.00. Left the pool early to get ready for the BB party.
We all got to MooMba's about 4:15 and met Suzi and Jim, John and Erin, Cheryl and Eric, Kamsmom and dad and all the others who had come for the Jolly Pirates Cruise and dinner. We took a tender out to the pirate ship and the cruise was a blast! The crew is unbelievably friendly and nice. The price includes an open bar and their specialties are pina coladas but you can get other things too. They served snacks of chicken tenders and cheese sticks. The ship drives up the coast aways and then drops anchor not too far from shore and you have a chance to risk your life and ruin your clothes by hanging from a bar and being tossed out to sea, hoping you can swim back to the ship. A few people were intoxicated enough to try it, both of my sons being among the first in line. Suzi, who until that point I thought was a perfectly sane and reasonable person, decided that both of us HAD to do this. Now I am a fairly good swimmer and like a good time as much as the next person but ruining my clothes and exposing my body (see through shirt) in front of a bunch of people I had already met just didn't appeal to me at that moment. Suzi proceeded to proclaim to all far and wide that "Teri's a chicken!!" which is so not true (maybe a little around spiders and bees) but I was not persuaded to ruin the little bit of style left in my hair so Suzi had to do it herself. I might add that Kamsmom said if I did it, she would too, but I think that was just an excuse to not do it because she darn well knew that I wasn't going up there. After all of the passengers had been dunked, the crew proceeded to put on a show that put everyone to shame. They had two people at a time up there and when they jumped, they did flips and fancy dives in the air. I believe I saw a triple lundy but that might have just been the pina colada's. Seriously, it was lots of fun and if I would have thought to wear a bathing suit, I would have been the first in line!
After watching a beautiful sunset, John and Erin, who were celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary, renewed their vows, officiated by Captain Harald (not to be confused with Cap'n Tom, who also recently spoke vows). It was a cute, lighthearted ceremony, apparently written by Erin as there was lots of comments about buying jewelry, etc. We had a nice ride back to MooMba's were most of the party was having dinner. I was sorry that Dee, etc, had made other plans for dinner because they were all such nice people and we would have liked to talk to them more.
Tuesday
Up early again for our usual pool routine. Everyone else gets donuts for breakfast, I usually get the ham, egg and cheese sandwich. The guys made chicken for lunch on the grills and we played Bingo. I won a breakfast at the Captains Table which I gave to Kirk to use the next day. Also did our usual Happy Hour at the pool, 2 for 1 drinks which we all try different ones and share. We were about a third of the way down their extensive list by then. Kamsmom was also staying at La Cabana so we spent some time with her in the morning. That was their day to tour the island so we didn't see her much after that. Shawn and Denise decided to stay in and have pizza that night so we asked them to watch the baby so we could go to a casino after dinner. Can't believe that we had been there since Saturday and still haven't made it to a casino! The baby, however, had discovered the game room and took off for it every chance he got. Cheap entertainment, you don't have to put any money in because he thinks he is playing the games! Anyway, John, Kirk and I went to dinner at Marandi's that night, another one Marlene said we had to try. The place is beautiful, right on the beach and decorated very differently than other restaurants. After dinner we went to the Crystal Casino and ran into Cheryl and her mother. Didn't win any money but had fun trying. Back to the hotel and in bed early. We don't usually stay up very late on vacation, too tired from being in the sun all day!
Wednesday
We have been lucky every day to get our table at the pool. Usual breakfast, then John and I had lunch at the Islander, the restaurant by the pool. Finished just in time for Bingo where John won a t-shirt. Suzi and Jim stopped by at happy hour and had a few cocktails with us. It was the weekly Manager's Cocktail Party afterwards at the Islander and Kirk and I went while everyone else went to get ready for dinner. I only go to try and win something but no luck, as usual! Oh well, I did get a few rum and diet cokes. We had picked Rumba's that night for dinner and got there rather quickly, only made about 3 wrong turns. Very nice place, I cannot imagine why it wasn't more crowded. Everyone enjoyed their meal and I enjoyed the fancy drinks. After dinner, Kirk and I went to the Royal Casino to try our luck and what a shock! The place has greatly gone downhill since our last visit. The cigar shop and the restaurant are both closed and there is no longer a show. How depressing! And a lot of the machines were not functioning properly. We played for about an hour and went back with not much more than we went in with.
Thursday
Sunset Our usual day at the pool. Shawn and Denise went out exploring for awhile and took a lot of great pictures. The girls got their hair braided at the salon there and looked so cute! They are enjoying the pool and the slides, as are the rest of us! WE had hamburgers again at the grills and played bingo. John won the final game and got $78.00 and a free snorkeling cruise. By now people were cheering for us when we yelled Bingo because we had won one game almost every day! Suzi and Jim and Kamsmom came over for Happy Hour and we had a great time drinking and talking and listening to the band. Hard to believe that the vacation is almost over! Shawn and Denise and the girls wanted to go to Hooters that night so John, Kirk and I went to Avallone's. Not the best Italian food, still in search of a good Italian restaurant on the island. Home and in bed early again.
Friday
Sunset Our last full day on One Happy Island! And Kamsmom had to leave today which was kind of depressing. John and I went shopping at the Alhambra shops but only one was open, the rest didn't open until 4:00. I bought a few souvenirs for family and friends. We then stopped and donated some money to the casino and went back and got Kirk and the baby to go to Hooters for lunch. Shawn and Denise and the girls went out shopping and exploring again. They found a great place to snorkel so we went with them, up past the high rises. It was beautiful and the water was very clear but there were so many hazardous rocks! John and I went back to get ready to meet Suzi and Jim for Happy Hour at the Bucuti. We had never been down there and the beach is just beautiful. I got some great sunset shots. And it was so relaxing to sit there and listen to the steel drums. We then met everyone else for dinner at El Gaucho's. Not bad, only made one wrong turn and John got a parking spot a stone's throw away. Boy he's good! We were seated immediately and had a wonderful dinner and great service. Great place for our last night there. After dinner, we drove Suzi and Jim back and then John volunteered to watch the grandkids while Shawn, Denise, Kirk and I went over to the casino. It was MUCH more crowded than it had been the other night and I managed to feed back all the money I won!
Saturday
Hard to believe that a week had already flown by! Up early for a walk on the beach and a few last pictures. Packed quickly and left for the airport 3 hours ahead of time, as told. Turned the cars in while everyone waited in line, got there just as they reached the front of the line! We forgot how it was set up, thought you went through Immigration and Customs first and then got to shop so we did very little shopping. Had lunch at Sbarro's (YUCK!!!) very expensive! There was a long line to get to Immigration but it moved very quickly, went right through Customs and then had to sit and wait and wait and wait. Airplane rides home uneventful and now we have an even longer wait until we get back to our home away from home!
ETC.
We were amazed at how many more dogs there were everywhere, we were seeing them in packs. Another trip report said there were less but we thought there were more.
On the other hand, there were many less iguana's than before. I wonder if the remodeling at the pool at La Cabana drove them away. Or maybe it was the signs that said "Do Not Feed The Iguana's" and they decided they weren't going to get any food there and went to other hotels to scrounge.
What is up with the mosquitos?!?!? We all had welts all over us all week. I don't remember ever having that problem before.
One week is NOT ENOUGH! John and I are going to try to go back in the Spring or stay longer next year. No wonder Cheryl had to build a house there, you can't resist going back over and over again.
La Cabana staff and service was as wonderful as ever. And it's always nice to see the familiar faces around the pool. However, it did seem less crowded than usual.
We did run into some very rude tourists at the pool and at Marandi's. I am not going to say what nationality they were but it's not just Americans who are rude.
There is no such thing as a good hair day in Aruba. My hair has a bit of a natural wave but I usually wear it straight. Well that just wasn't going to work so I tried wearing it curly but it mostly went flat. I don't know how Amy does it, her hair looks gorgeous in all of her pictures. I think she must take head shots before she goes and then superimposes them on the pictures that we get to see.
This was our seventh trip to Aruba and we haven't done any sightseeing in several years. Our next trip I vow to rediscover the island, to eat at the Pirate's Nest and Chalet Suisse and not worry so much about getting a tan that nobody at home is going to see under my heavy winter clothes.
I greatly regret that we didn't get to meet Sandra and didn't get to spend more time with Carla and Marlene and Mark. Another good reason to go back soon!
Teri
p.s. : if you made it this far-I DID warn you!!! ;)