Our Little Gem!

Aruba has always been a favorite of ours, and a trip back to Sunset Beach Studios is always exciting.  We had the big middle, front room for this trip….which has a really nice kitchen.  We checked in, unpacked, and crashed after a long day of travel with American Airlines. The next day we took it easy, relaxed and I made a big Pasta Salad for the party after sunset.  All the guest were invited to a celebration of Eef’s birthday and meal in the garden after watching sunset. It was a beautiful evening and we enjoyed dinner under the stars.

Our days were filled with early morning walks, pool and hot tub time, snorkeling, and visiting with other guest.  No visit would be complete without a trip down to Baby Beach to checkout the progress of the Secrets Resort. Of course lunch that day was at Zeerovers.…fresh shrimp and french fries.

As a belated Anniversary celebration we had dinner at sunset on the beach at Barefoot’s Restaurant.  The food was delicious and we toasted our 17 years of marriage with a glass of champagne. 

For our final dinner we went to Smoky Joe’s for some finger licking good ribs.  We ate early, finished packing, and enjoyed a final visit with JP and Eef.

We always enjoy our stay and this trip was no different. Just sad to see all the development on Aruba……increasing tourism. At least our little resort is still out of main tourist area….for how long I don’t know! But money is the name of the game and it looks like increasing tourism is the plan.

Gaia Resort for 17th Anniversary

For a change of pace, we booked a week at the Gaia Reserve and Resort near Quepos, Costa Rica.  Loft Suite #133 was ours for our week long stay.  Our concierge for our stay was a young Costa Rican gal named Catalina. Thanks to WhatsApp she was available 24 hours a day….answering questions, booking dining reservations, and shuttles to the beach. The staff was amazing, always offering top notch service. Nestled on a hilltop surrounded by lush rainforest the views are breathtaking.

A quick ride down to the gate and we would catch a shuttle to Espadilla Beach.  Our concierge arranged for 2 lounge chairs and a umbrella for a relaxing beach day. 

The beach was beautiful, with gentle waves and warm water. The perfect spot to spend the day.  A school bus renovated into a restaurant served delicious burgers and fries.

La Luna, the restaurant at Gaia served a special menu for Valentine’s Day/our Anniversary. A spectacular sunset and a delicious meal with great service made the perfect pairing.

After a week of being spoiled it was time to head back to San Jose and our flight to Houston.  

Oyster Fest 2025

It was that time again to head to Fulton Beach for some fresh Texas oysters.  

Dale was recognized during the parade by some military guys…..really made him feel special.  Munched on fried and raw oysters, plus  some fried shrimp. Enjoyed some good music and got in a dance or two.  A great time down at the coast.

Blu Azul for Xmas 2024

This was our first time staying at Blu Azul in Esterillos Este.
First off, we knew we had a 2nd floor unit, not our favorite but it was the only one available.  The room was spacious with a kitchen, dining table and chairs, a big bed, and big bathroom....plus good WiFi and AC!  The gas cook top was an old propane gas four burner that had seen better days and when ignited I always feared I would singe my eyebrows! The burner was tricky to use but I managed with some laughs and a few bad words! We didn't starve for sure!  The shower head called a suicide shower head was tricky!  It had exposed electric wires running to it and only protruded inches from the wall. It provided instant hot water but you had to press your body to the shower wall to get wet. Dale said just don't touch the wires! The bed proved to be the most challenging.  I think it was a King box spring with 2 thin twin mattresses on top.  During the night if you tossed and turned the top 2 mattresses would separate and a giant crack would appear. Dale always seemed to be in the crack but survived!  Part of the issue was the sheets didn't fit snug so the 2 mattresses would travel, sometimes moving partly off the bed.  Amazingly it was super comfortable and we slept great....except when in the crack!  Minor things were the toaster only toasted on one side, the sink had no hot water, typical of Costa Rica. There was a 1-2 inch lip in the tile between the bedroom and living area that proved to be a killer in the middle of the night on the way to the bathroom. I found a big heavy rug that covered the lip and probably saved us a few falls and broken bones!
Other than that, the place was feet from the beach with million-dollar views.  Two local rescued mutts were very lovable and always showed up when I cooked breakfast!  My alarm clock was a Tico that came by on the road about 5 am on a loud motorbike and a tweety bird outside my window that serenaded me every morning before the sun broke the horizon. 
But I'm an early riser, and always aim to put the first footprints on the sand in the morning. 
We rolled with the punches, laughed a bunch and survived with stories to tell!  As spoiled American travelers it is always good to experience other lifestyles as it reinforces how lucky we are to live with all our conveniences and comforts.

 

Dale’s friend Chepe