Beach bums

Friday, January 8th was a pretty typical day on this vacation.  Kari and I were up before everyone else.  We went for a nice 2 mile walk on the boardwalk and around the resorts.  Nothing like 80 degrees and gentle off shore breeze on you morning walk to promote relaxation and rest.  We crushed the buffet and then headed for the beach.  Another tough day under a palapa.  Sun and surf was only interrupted a by a rain shower at the end of the day.  Not a lot for photos today.  Grace and I floated  in the ocean for awhile.  The gin games got a little intense.  Kari and I continued to work on our books.  Kari probably reads about 2x faster than I do.

Beer and Limes on the beach

The struggle is real when you are not heavy enough to activate the pressure plate to turn on the feet washer

After our day at the beach, we had one last dinner planned at Quinta del Carmen. 

The kids before dinner

Selfie nation.  Grace is lunging wildly at the camera like an angry Alec Baldwin.

Welcome.  Please wash your hands and stay away from each other.

Quinta Del Carmen

From the front

Quinta Del Carmen was at one time a hospital and recuperating center for people injured working for the eagle refinery.  Historically Venezuelan crude oil was brought by freighter to Aruba to be refined.  Injuries were common on the freighters and the injured need a place to receive their care.

The land around it was eventually turned into a 7 hole golf course.  Finally the building was purchased and became a private home before becoming the restaurant you see now.

The girls are getting ready for dinner

Max and Ashley 

Lime Mia Tia

French 🍸 

Tuna Duo

Red Snapper with Brie 

Grouper, shrimp, smoked salmon, goat cheese in a white wine herb sauce.  It was good but the smoked salmon was a little over powering for me.

Chocolate Mousse with orange vanilla sauce.  This is my jam.  I could eat about 10 lbs of this dessert.

Another cab ride back to the hotel and bed.  Tomorrow we will hangout in the morning and then catch a jet plane home to MN.

Our stay at the Hyatt was great.  The staff was  friendly and professional.  I felt like every single one of them were interested in keeping us safe.  I am sure every single person in Aruba is under a tremendous amount of stress given that appropriately 86% of their economy depends on tourism.  

Rarely do I spend this much time relaxing on a vacation and reflecting  on a year of challenges both large and small.  Looking forward to an uncertain future which will have predictable and some unpredictable challenges as well.  I feel pretty confident that we can handle what comes next based on faith, family and friendships.  2021 here we come.