Goodbye Aruba

Slept in late

But the sea spray has been as high as the bridge on the deck above us so all of our window glass is obliterated with sea salt.

Arlene damage

We were told that the astro turf on Deck 11 where the putting green is was totally ripped off as we skirted this tropical storm.  I can believe it.

New staff on board

We picked up many new staff in Ft. Lauderdale and so some of the old timers are staying on until Aruba. We will have a new captain from now on as an example.

Trivia: we seem to be jinxed that when we lose, it is by one point. Sshhh

Noon on shore

It is hot and humid here and the horizon is hazy thus no panoramas this time.

We walked around the little area near the ship, wound up at Starbucks where we had a coke and used the internet. I needed the break. I am doing much better but still not 100%. Eventually we took the little free trolley around town which moves at a pace slower than walking. Still we did add a few places we had not yet gotten to in our search for a pharmacy and a tuxedo T-shirt for Ed. Two guys on the ship have them and Ed is intrigued by them. We found a different kind of tuxedo shirt but I was relieved when Ed didn’t buy it as it looked like something a Mafioso would wear. He did buy a $5 tchotskey though. I found a purple one size fits all bikini top for red hat events and a pair of very forgiving pants both at bargain prices.

Weather in the high 80s with terrific winds which I appreciated as it is cooling but makes a mess out of your hair and speaking of which, this is frizzy hair weather. Spanish, English and Creole are spoken here. But quite frankly there’s not much to do here unless you scuba or want to fry on the beach.

Medications

I bought an over the counter drug in Aruba and it also had Braille dots on it. Is this something I just haven’t encountered in the US?

Curfew

It was nice not to feel rushed today as the ship leaves after 7:30 pm. We had done a tour last time we were here and saw no need to repeat it.

Dinner

It was open seating so some folks at a table adjacent to our usual one invited us to join them. All delightful people. I sat next to a man from Homa La and we had a grand time talking about not much of anything except La politics. One fellow, an accountant rather shocked me with his open talk of taking illegal deductions that taxpayers wanted to take but which he knew weren’t legal. We all know it goes on, but to be so open about it was quite brazen I think.

We had a good time discussing various movies and instead of entertainment tonight, they are showing the movie Split. We are watching the ship leave as it sails away at 8 pm, rather late for us. The wind is fierce outside and the lines have been numerous and very snug today.

Listening to the engines rev up and the motors for the ropes begin, I was thinking this is a part of what I will miss when I go home. It is annoying when you can’t sleep through it but it is a part of the total experience.

New carpeting

The ship goes into drydock in late May but there are some workers on board already. We are seeing new carpeting in the most unexpected places at odd times. However, we have never seen anyone installing it. Do they do it quietly at night when all are asleep?

Sea day

Tomorrow. I still enjoy them. For some reasons I think I have enjoyed this world cruise, at least the last few weeks of it, far more than previous ones. Not sure what that is about.