This Thanksgiving, I was granted the pleasure of going on a six-day vacation to Aruba (courtesy of my boyfriend’s lovely family!) and I was able to experience the splendor and ambiance of the southern Caribbean. Not only was it ninety degrees with clear blue skies every day, but I could see the mountains of Venezuela in the distance! Besides being in complete paradise, it was nice to be thrown into a completely different culture other than my own. Call me crazy, but I love the feeling of being an outsider looking in on something you have never seen or experienced before. It’s an invigorating feeling, and I am definitely feeling refreshed [though sad] upon my arrival back in the states. Although I was sad to tell Aruba ‘see you later’, it is almost as amazing to look back at my wonderful experiences there (and I got a tan as a good reminder)!
Staying at the Riu Palace Hotel Resort was remarkable beyond words. Not only did my pool have a swim-up bar, but the beach was literally at my backdoor (see the picture I took from my terrace)! I spent the majority of my time being pulled in a tube out in the middle of the ocean, or gaining a tan by lying on a lounge chair. The most special part of my vacation was going downtown in the city of Oranjestad and interacting with the locals and seeing all the cute shops. I had my souvenir shopping done in literally five minutes – there were so many cute trinkets to choose from! I love being part of a different environment and seeing things differently than I normally would. The language barrier fascinated me – the people mainly spoke Spanish, but they also have a local language called Papiamento. I could have stayed forever – Aruba was my personal paradise! I advise all of you to find the time and money to travel there, and I guarantee you will fall in love with this “happy island.”
Words & Image By: Cassie Tucker
