October 28, 2015

Caribbean Sea

On Board the MS Royal Princess: Day Eight

Oranjestad, Aruba, Dutch Caribbean

 

[NOTE: I’ve grown weary of writing the usual bullshit narrative; so I’ve decided to dispense with it and present the raw notes I took on my iPhone instead.]

 

The Royal Plaza Mall on Lloyd G. Smith Blvd, in Oranjestad, Aruba.
The Royal Plaza Mall on Lloyd G. Smith Blvd, in Oranjestad, Aruba.
Steps leading up to Iguana Joe's.
Steps leading up to Iguana Joe’s.
The Crystal Casino on the main boulevard of Oranjestad.
The Crystal Casino on the main boulevard of Oranjestad.
A giant "I Heart Aruba" sign.
A giant “I Heart Aruba” sign.
Willem III Tower (built in 1868 AD), located at the west entrance of Fort Zoutman (built in 1798 AD).
Willem III Tower (built in 1868 AD), located at the west entrance of Fort Zoutman (built in 1798 AD).
The rear-side of Fort Zoutman.
The rear-side of Fort Zoutman.
18 March Monument in Oranjestad.
18 March Monument in Oranjestad.
Boardwalk along the beach.
Boardwalk along the beach.
Flowering tree in Aruba.
Flowering tree in Aruba.
The coral shore on Aruba's west coast.
The coral shore on Aruba’s west coast.
Juvenile green iguana in a tree.
Juvenile green iguana in a tree.
Flag of Aruba.
Flag of Aruba.
Statue of Queen Wilhelmina in Oranjestad.
Statue of Queen Wilhelmina in Oranjestad.
An adult iguana in the grass (one of many in Aruba).
An adult iguana in the grass (one of many in Aruba).
Statue of Anne Frank in Wilhelmina Park.
Statue of Anne Frank in Wilhelmina Park.
Cafe near the waterfront in Oranjestad.
Cafe near the waterfront in Oranjestad.
A market in Oranjestad.
A market in Oranjestad.
One of Aruba's crazy buses.
One of Aruba’s crazy buses.
A giant Adirondack chair outside a market in Aruba.
A giant Adirondack chair outside a market in Aruba.
Another crazy bus in Aruba.
Another crazy bus in Aruba.
Oranjestad seen from the MS Royal Princess.
Oranjestad seen from the MS Royal Princess.
A view of the port at Oranjestad from the cruise ship.
A view of the port at Oranjestad from the cruise ship.

-woke up at 10:10, showered, dressed

-exited the ship around 12:30 and walked around, first southward, then northward -saw lots of iguanas

-returned to the ship after 14:00, ate lunch: iced tea, pulled pork, a mix of grilled meat and vegetables, tortilla chips with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole

-watched ‘Whiplash’

-watched ‘St. Vincent’

-watched ‘Grace of Monaco’

-dinner at Horizon Court: two slices of pepperoni pizza, then a soft serve chocolate ice cream cone which melted faster than I could eat, then honeyed nuts, cheese, yogurt with strawberries, and cranberry sauce back to my room, ate that with the Riesling I bought last night through room service

-watched ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

-watched ‘Laggies’

-watched ‘Begin Again’, making it a Kiera Knightly night (I enjoy watching her performances)

-beddy-byes after 04:00

 

An open journal or an exercise in narcissism.