Day 2 (November 11, 2022): Aruba - One Happy Island!

The alarm went off at 5AM and at 6, we boarded the shuttle for Newark Liberty.  Anticipating a brutal security line-up, we actually got through in minutes and were settled at our gate with an hour to spare before the boarding time.  All 179 seats on our United flight were sold out, but despite the large number of passengers, the door closed five minutes before the departure time.  It was a smooth 4 1/2 hour flight, and we landed half an hour early.  Customs took just minutes, and we were soon on a shuttle to pick up our rental car.

The Dutch influence (Aruba is a Dutch territory) was immediately felt, as we drove north from the Queen Beatrix International Airport to the resort where we are staying - Riu Palace.  

It didn’t take us long to get out onto the beautiful beach and into the warm Caribbean.  Aruba, along with nearby islands Bonaire and Curaçao — which together form the “ABC Islands” — is a stone’s throw from Venezuela.  

As we sat on the beach, a wedding was quickly set up and, before we knew it, the guests and bridal party showed up and the nuptials were sealed.  It made for an interesting bit of beach entertainment,  

An afternoon milkshake and dessert was our introduction to the all-inclusive menu of the Riu Palace, and a four-course steak and shrimp dinner was simply excellent.

It took 24 hours to get here, but as we sat on the beach this afternoon, we agreed it was well worth the journey!

The Manhattan skyline as seen in the hazy distance from our boarding gate at Newark Liberty Airport.


Our United Airlines Boeing 737-900 left on time, with every one of the 179 seats sold out.



The United Airlines tapas box is like burrowing into your trick-or-treat bag of goodies as a kid — it just keeps delivering good things!  A good way to while away a long flight.

Our first view of Aruba upon descent into Queen Beatrix International Airport presented some wonderful Caribbean colours.


When Spain first discovered Aruba, they called it the “useless island”.  It’s dessert terrain and cacti made it seem inhospitable.  But the cacti forests actually make Aruba quite unique among the Caribbean islands.



The Dutch infrastructure, including decent highways, is impressive compared to many Caribbean islands.

After parking our rental car, we had a crazy uphill climb with our bags to reach the hotel’s lobby.

We were immediately struck by the grandeur of the Riu Palace.  Manicured grounds and expansive pools greeted us.



Our room, with a pool and ocean view, on the 7th floor of one of the hotel’s three towers.


View of the pool from our room.

View of Palm Beach from our room.

This ring of flowers was assembled as we sat on the beach, and soon a bridal party and guests arrived to seal the nuptials.

Sunset itself was a bust today, but the hour before sunset did bring a lovely sky.

The pool at night.