Mama on the Move – Aruba Safari Jeep Adventure

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Our group of visiting journalists left the cushy confines of the Aruba Marriott Resort to explore the island a bit with De Palm Tours and its “Aruba Safari Jeep Adventure,” topped off with lunch at the Balashi Beer Garden. Here, in honor of THursday, are THirteen THings I learned today:

In front of the De Palm Tours Land Rover.
In front of the De Palm Tours Land Rover.

1. The bulk of American tourists who visit Aruba every year are from New York and New Jersey.

2. Aruba, less than 20 miles from Venezuela, has a dry climate and its landscape is strewn with cactus (really, parts reminded me of Arizona, not your typical Caribbean).

3. More than 300,000 lbs of gold were mined on Aruba and exported in the 19th century.

4. The typical Aruban cemetery is above ground, with family members being buried on top of each other in colorful two-level structures.

5. Aruba’s Natural Bridge, a giant stone span carved by water erosion on the northern side of the island, remains a hot tourist attraction even though the “bridge” collapsed three years ago. Hysterical.

6. Balashi is the only beer brewed on Aruba. Much better than Budweiser.

Above-ground Aruban cemetery.
Above-ground Aruban cemetery.

7. I like bami – a slightly spicy noodle dish with chicken and peanut sauce. Same for the funky, crispy-Cling-Free-like “shrimp chips” I was served at the Balashi Beer Garden. Yummy stuff.

8. A group of journalists and marketing people all wearing white hair nets to go on a brewery tour is really funny. (No incriminating photos. I’d like to be invited back someday.)

9. The “simple syrup” room at a soda bottling plant smells really bad.

10. But the pineapple-flavored Tropical soda tastes really good.

Fallen Natural Bridge still attracts tourists.

11. The native language spoken in Aruba is Papiamento, but most Arubans can speak some semblance of English, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese.

12. I might have screamed once or twice while riding over the big bumps on our off-road jeep adventure. Okay, three times.

13. When I’m traveling without my family, I think of them ALL THE TIME. (Thankfully my next two trips are family getaways!)

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November 20, 2008 | Filed Under Adventure Travel, Destinations 

Comments

5 Responses to “Mama on the Move – Aruba Safari Jeep Adventure”

  1. soultravelers3 says:
    November 20, 2008 at

    Looks like fun! It’s been a long time since I have been to Aruba. Funny, I am enjoying visiting Denver while you are there. ;)

    Stumbled!

  2. Carolan Ivey says:
    November 20, 2008 at

    We’ve done some “jeeping” (is that a word? lol) on St. John and Hawaii’s Big Island. And yeah, I can be a screamer, too. :)

  3. Nicholas says:
    November 20, 2008 at

    Sounds like you had a lot of fun!

  4. Keith says:
    November 21, 2008 at

    >>Balashi is the only beer brewed on Aruba. Much better than Budweiser.<<

    The water I boiled my breakfast eggs in is better than Budweiser! :D

  5. nj american water says:
    December 9, 2008 at

    A 60-inch water main break in Franklin Township had a ripple effect on residents in Somerset, Middlesex and Union counties today, prompting school closings and a boil water advisory. As a precaution, New Jersey American

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