Aruba

Today I went on a beach and snorkel cruise via catamaran. Our first stop took us near Boca Catalina. As I plunged into the water, several pale-colored fish with purple and yellow stripes came up to say hello. They followed me around for a while as I scoped out schools of tiny silver fish, big silver fish with long white-and-black fins, and solo swimmers in shades of crimson, electric blue, and vibrant yellow. Snorkel time was cut short when the wind started to pick up, causing our second stop (the WWII shipwreck, Antilla) to be cancelled. We spent the remainder of our time cruising up and down the south coast, swishing through water in varying depths of aqua and cobalt blue.

Inside Our Transport to the Catamaran

On the Catamaran

Boca Catalina

After a quick lunch, the tour company left us at Palm Beach for a couple of hours. Ever since I went to Playa Flamenco in Culebra last March, that beach as been my “gold standard.” Compared to Playa Flamenco, Palm Beach was kind of a bummer. The resorts were packed so close to one another that the beaches were overflowing with sunburned tourists and deck chairs. Debris from the palm trees was constantly crashing up against the shore, sticking to one’s legs and feet, and the sand was coarse. A brief stint at Aruba’s “famed” shopping district was equally disappointing. What’s all the fuss about Aruba, anyway?

Palm Beach

Food of the Day: Nothing. It was a lame-o food day.