cruisin', part five: aruba.
Our final port of call on this cruise was Oranjestad, Aruba and it was also the port of call at which we had the most time to explore the city and island. We woke up quite early because we had signed up for an excursion that took us around the island of Aruba.
We first visited the Natural Bridge at the Arikok National Park. Formed naturally of coral limestone, the larger bridge collapsed in 2005, but the baby bridge is still standing. Next up was the Casibari Rock Formation, which is essentially a cluster of large rocks in which you can navigate and climb your way to the top. At the top, the panoramic views of Aruba are fantastic. The climb is a bit steep, so make sure you’re careful if you do opt to check out the Casibari Rock Formation.
Afterwards, it started to pour as we drove to the California Lighthouse, which is why I didn’t post any photos. The skies were grey, the wind was howling, and the rain was coming down. I did step outside of the bus briefly to snap a couple of photographs of the lighthouse, but those photos are mainly for my personal collection. The weather cleared up a bit as we headed towards the world-famous Palm Beach district and some fellow excursion mates disembarked the bus at Eagle Beach.
The Natural Bridge
Atop the Casibari Rock Formation
A dead boa constrictor
We returned to our cruise ship for lunch and to freshen up a bit before heading back ashore. We ventured through the shopping area in the downtown core of Oranjestad, stopping in shops such as Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Burberry. Who would have thought that such a small island would have such luxurious shops? I must say that it was extremely hot and humid, and I was very glad that I opted to wear a bikini top and mesh crop top.
Prior to the cruise, I was really excited for Aruba but it didn’t seem to live up to my expectations. Perhaps my expectations were too high and I think the bipolar weather had something to do with it…
Next up: final thoughts and a hint about the location of my next trip! x