Aruba

Taxi fee to Manchebo/Eagle beach was like 15 bucks incl tip. Maybe cheaper. It is a quick ride.

We went to Manchebo reaort but then walked through their wide opulent beach and then through Costa Linda to Coco Loco beach bar. 40 bucks for a non front row Umbrella and two chairs on the credit card. Added our beers to that. If you want front row you hqve to pay more and in cash. Kindof dumb as i might have paid 60 for front row but only had 40 cash for souvenirs in aruba and the rest of the cruise.

Beers were about $6 each in a bucket. Ouch. More than ship prices.

Had a hohum burger. Didnt starve or get sick.

The beach is nice pretty turqoiuse and the surf alot of wave action. Zero snorkelability.

About 30 topless women, half landtrippers and half BN cruisers, at the beach. So much for Dutch conservatism on Aruba.

It was a good day but a far cry from Orient with better water, cheaper chairs, way cheaper beer, and better food.

Probably wont head to Aruba again unless we got free lodging from a friend.

Curacao

We rented a car from Avis at the port. Very short walk. Many walkups turned away. We had a reservation. Easy rental. About 70 usd with all insurances. Easy to drive. Much easier than SXM.

Went to several beaches.
The 1st Grote Knip. Very nice setting frames by rocks on both ends. Got chairs + umbrella for 20 bucks. Hamburger and 2 cokes for 10 bucks. Beautiful beach with calm water, good snorkeling, soft sand. Wenreally liked hear but wanted to s enmore sonoulled up chocks. Some topless scattered. Mostly dutch.

2) Little knip. Nice, not ss good as Grote in any reapect. Someinternet indicated AN potential, we didnt see any.

3) Cas Abao. This is anlong beach not as nice as Grote knip and a rocky entry. snorkeling very good at East end with many fish and Turtles. We were able to do some discrete AN at the far end nd as most people were l aving at 4pm plus.

Saw my best friend the KLM Blue 747 making its approack from right to left on this beach.

Drove by the HATO airport on way back to willemsted and saw the 747 again.

Went iver big bridge to Mambo beach arriving at dark. Picture beautiful mall shops and beach bars restaurants and very nice bars.
Mlots of industry and standard of living well above SXM.


we loved Curacao and will definitely return at some date.

Bonaire is diving diving diving. take 20 roundtrip shuttle to Kleine Bonaire. Most beautiful reef inthe world imho. able to get AN awaiting last ferry boat to beach and pick us up.

Thanks Irish for your tips prior to Curacao.