DAY Ten
Thursday, 28 December
Bingo is now open
for lunch. This was great for us as we had a late plane. We
could have stayed on the property as no one had our room until the 29th
but we couldn't leave without our second visit to Bingo.
Hank again had the Bingo Burger while I
had the steak en brochette. Both were excellent. The steak was
sooo tender. Mmmmm.
It was slow because few folks have
caught on to the lunch bit. We had a nice chat with the waitress.
We discussed the difference between Americans and Dutch (indeed most
Europeans) with respect to dining out.
Americans expect that you will bring them their check right at the
end of the meal. Any delay is seen as poor service. Many folks are
quite adamant about it.
Presenting a bill to a European
without his asking would be an insult. "Here's your hat,
what's your hurry?" Europeans make an evening of dinner.
They do not want to feel that you're tossing them out the door. When they
want their bill they will ask for it.
What is a necessity to one is an insult to another. It's all a
matter of perception, really. But it does cause trouble when all we have
to do ... is ask.
When Mike came in, he and the waitress opened their gift basket from
Super
Food. There was chocolate.
Talk about kids in the candy store!
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At the airport we requested a
wheelchair for Hank and then I went over to
Aruba Fast
Phones to turn in our cell. This time they were not busy.
Charles was there. He had a MODO WON. Need I tell you how pissed
Hank was (let alone the wheel chair guy) that they had to wait around for
twenty minutes while I played with the device?
The MODO WON is
a phone and a camera and a calculator of course. It's even a PDA. But
there are other features which are too cool for words.
One is an Island Guide: There is a graphic menu with things like
Activities, Restaurants, Hotels etc. Touch restaurants and you are
presented with a second menu for what kind of food you are hankering
after. Touch on "International" for example and choices are presented like
Que Pasa. Touch Que Pasa and you get all the information about the
restaurant you need - including a video and a graphic which lets you make
a reservation right then and there.
The neat thing is that places, activities etc. we don't know so much about
(like Aruba Kite Surfing)
are in the menu as well so there will be
discoveries for all of us.
But that's not all. The device is a GPS with a Road Map!! Call up the
feature and see a map of Aruba with your location shown. Makes getting
lost in the cunucu more interesting for sure. I don't know when it will be
available but I do know I'll be wanting one next trip.
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The flight home was uneventful and
we even got out of Philly airport in decent time.
Looking back, I think that was my favorite time in Aruba. We have
stayed at fancier places and for longer periods but there is something
special about getting off the hotel strip, hearing almost no English
unless someone was speaking to us and even shopping locally. And
there is certainly something special about Paradera park Apartments.
If we return to Aruba for an eighth time it will probably be to Paradera.
Mi
stima Aruba.
Te aworo. |
