Aruba: Pix's, Fun, Experiences Feb./2015!

[TLCOhio]

Appreciate those who have dropped by this thread. Don't be shy!! If you have any tips, ideas, experiences, etc., to share from visiting here, please post so that others can benefit.

 

We are now back from our first river boat and Southeast Asia sailing. It was for the Mekong River!! Plus, plus.

 

Well-pleased with these countries, especially Cambodia, plus the ship, staff, food, tours, etc. On my live/blog, there are dozens of pictures and many details to document these fun adventures and travels. Happy on the live/blog to answer any and all questions, share more info/background, etc.

 

Now, we shift our focus and attention to mid November, 2018, for our Athens to Dubai, 20-day cruise with Oceania, including our first visits to the Holy Lands, Egypt, Middle East, etc. Many options to consider and logistics to research. Keep hearing great things from other travelers about Oceania, the staff, their food, etc. Right?

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

SE Asia/Mekong River, Etc.! Just completed a Jan. 21-Feb. 20, 2018, first adventure through Southeast Asia with stops in Hong Kong and Bangkok, before traveling all over Vietnam and Cambodia. This includes seven days sailing on the Mekong River. Now at 29,067 views. Lots of fun, interesting pictures!! See more at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2591474

Here are just a few visuals samples from what we saw and did with Avalon while sailing along the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia. Many, many more photos and details on the full live/blog.:

(Open your screen/viewer wider to see these pictures larger/better!)

 

 

 

We saw many temples, palaces, markets and samples of daily life/work, including at this below spectacular Royal structure in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.:

 

[TLCOhio]

From MSN News yesterday by Alicia Miller, they had this headline: “10 best places to travel in 2023” with these highlights: “Basking under rays in the south Caribbean Sea, Aruba is a hot ticket this year.  This compact Dutch-influenced island has all you’re probably looking for in a Caribbean break, from beautiful soft beaches to fresh seafood. Because the island is small, you can see the sights - from capital Oranjestad to the rambling Arikok National Park - in hardly any time at all, which leaves plenty of time for R&R on your sun-drenched lounger. Pack a few page-turner novels and settle in at west-facing Eagle Beach, low-key and perfect for sunset hour, or Palm Beach, lined with resorts.  When it’s time for a bit of refreshment, hit the water. Hadicurari Beach in the north of Aruba is known for its winds, making it ideal for windsurfers and kite surfers. Or you can approach the waves more gently, signing up for a sunset boat trip instead.”

 

At the start of this summary, the writer correctly notes: "We all know that the last couple of years haven’t exactly been ‘normal’ when it comes to travel. But the good news is that this year - finally - holidays are properly back with a bang."

 

Full story at:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/the-10-best-places-to-travel-in-2023/ar-AA16ArWp

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Early 2020, many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia.  This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc:  Live/blog;

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/

[TLCOhio]

From Conde Nast Traveler magazine, they had this headline: “The World’s Best Islands for Beaches” with this highlight that spotlighted Aruba being rated the best, number one: “For first-time visitors to this Dutch Caribbean island, it would be easy to never step foot off the two-mile strip of Palm Beach, with its high-rise hotels and access to watersports, from parasailing to kite-surfing to flyboarding—aka zooming above the surface of the water on a water-propelled jetpack. But look elsewhere on this nearly 70-square-mile island and you’ll find beaches that show off its surprising diversity of landscapes. Eagle Beach, for instance, is home to gnarled fofoti trees that twist and bend like bonsais due to the tradewinds, while rugged Blackstone Beach is covered in smooth black pebbles in the shadow of natural land bridges.”

 

Full story at:

https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2015-02-24/top-10-most-beautiful-island-beaches-hawaii-australia?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=cnt&utm_mailing=CNT_Daily_AM_061823&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&bxid=5db3f99524c17c23c34ecf3e&cndid=6657468&hasha=e1ca3019f9f535a4b98389997c63b892&hashb=7daf2541a0de702392cfe60ed513a5c2d1d23598&hashc=f541a9e649534cc2931bd57d58d8c2cac2bb8c5d298f722bad5b05cc8ad5ece2&esrc=IDCONDENAST_REGGATE&utm_term=CNT_Daily

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Late Summer 2022, many scenic visuals and details from Canada Maritimes doing Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island, etc., via a Tauck land tour.  Visual Summary:

www.flickr.com/photos/196555480@N08/albums

[TLCOhio]

From the Washington Post yesterday, they had this headline: “8 destinations to escape extreme heat this summer” with these highlights for this Caribbean location: “Aruba is always the first destination a travel adviser recommends to clients looking for a vacation destination with consistent weather.  'The temperature is almost always in the 80s,' Elaine Esposito said. 'Aruba is an arid island with a dry climate where trade winds blow to lessen the heat.'   Beyond selling points such as pristine beaches and excellent snorkeling, Aruba is south of the hurricane belt, making such disasters rare.”

 

Full story at:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/extreme-heat-summer-cooler-destinations/

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio 

 

Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 248,033 views.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

[TLCOhio]

From the London/UK Sunday Times this weekend, they had this headline: “Best holiday destinations for 2024” with one of their highlights focused on this location.  

 

Among their reporting highlights: “Aruba has long been popular with US visitors and the Dutch, who colonised the Caribbean island in 1623. Just 18 miles north of Venezuela, Aruba claims to have the best beaches in the Caribbean, offering the sunset-facing white sands of Eagle Beach as the first exhibit and following up with a dozen more — all irritatingly perfect.” 

 

Full story and other travel ideas/tips for 2024 at:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-best-holiday-destinations-for-2024-a-month-by-month-guide-jvds5pq6s

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights.  On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings.  Now at 247,560 views.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

[TLCOhio]

From MSN News and  Condé Nast Traveler magazine this morning, they had this headline: “Visited Aruba More Than 30 Times — Here's How to Plan the Perfect Trip” with these highlights: “There’s something about the turquoise waters, pristine white sand, and incomparable sunsets that keep people coming back, year after year. I've visited the island more than 30 times, continuing to make my annual pilgrimage each winter.”

 

Among the top tips are: "Catch one of Aruba’s famous sunsets from a catamaran cruise and enjoy one-of-a-kind views of the island.   Drive out to Savaneta for lunch at Zeerover, an oceanfront restaurant where the menu features whatever the fisherman caught that day. Spend a day on Eagle Beach, consistently voted one of the best beaches in the world.  Given Aruba is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, there’s a lot of Dutch influence on the island and this extends to the grocery store as well. I always make time to stop at a local supermarket to browse the aisles, and there’s no better place to do that in Aruba than Super Food."

 

Full story at:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/i-ve-visited-aruba-more-than-30-times-here-s-how-to-plan-the-perfect-trip/ar-AA1mp64S

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio   

 

Venice: Loving It & Why??!!  Is one of your future desires or past favorites? See these many visual samples for its great history and architecture.  This posting is now at 110,204 views.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226