Breakfast at Manchebo. The waiter remembered Sassy. Angelo and Swinda remembered us. I find that amazing that they would remember a guest from last year.

We spent the day on the beach - sun and clouds alternated. Great beach day, but Hubby violated Ocean Rule Number One (which all Jersey folks know) "Never turn your back on the ocean". So, as he was climbing up the rise to the beach a wave got him and totally wiped him out. He wasn't hurt but boy was he full of sand. It's crazy because the waves are really little - not nearly as big as we're used to up home.

We had the welcome basket fruit for lunch and then went off to Bingo! for dinner. I am sorry to report that Bingo! is an EXCELLENT restaurant with a brilliant chef, and a fine staff. So now there's yet another restaurant on our MUST DO list.


Hubby had the filet and I the mixed grill. We introduced ourselves to Mike, the owner, in order that Amy would be able to break another wine glass next spring. (Don't ask) The pic of us and Mike was taken by Marlene, who posts on the aruba-bb boards. It was great to run in to her and Mark and put faces with the names.


I'll be posting restaurant reviews on all the appropriate places but wanted to give everyone who's coming down soon a head's up. Do Bingo! (On the road to Noord on the left in the strip with Linda's Pancakes. Just past the Valero)

We take way too much stuff.


But we made it just in time for the manager's party.




And the beach is as beautiful as always.




Sassy is a repeat visitor to the Manchebo and gets a welcome basket of fruit.




Dinner was at the French Steakhouse. Food was great, as always, and the service was excellent. I don't think we've ever had such swift service on the island. We had the early bird this year - a change from our usual Ambassador Special.






NANO --
The first 1000 words of Bodies at Bromley are written in the Philly airport.

Yesterday hubby complained that he had a pinched nerve or something in his back/shoulder. Today it felt the same. Since our neighbor walked around for three days with that exact symptom only to find he was actually having a heart problem we thought it wiser to cancel today's flight and call hubby's doctor.

If it's a false alarm we will try to reschedule for tomorrow. If not, we'll have to call the Manchebo and cancel altogether.

We reckon if you live long and travel enough everything is going to happen to you once. So far we've come home early due to illness (me - France), been mugged (Madrid), lost our wallet (Baby beach, Aruba), ended up in a police station (San Nicolas, Aruba and Henderson, NV) and driven away from our hotel only to return to town late at night and realize we had no idea where the hotel was nor its name (our stupidity on the Riviera).

We've avoided so far: dentists, foreign hospitals, auto breakdowns, military coups and abduction by aliens. But then, we're not done traveling yet.

We're in the packing stage and I can never believe how much STUFF we take: extension cords, cameras (waterproof and digital), battery chargers, stuff in case you get a cold or get sunburned, stuff to prevent getting a cold or getting sunburned.

Plus, of course, a rubber duck.

The flight and the hotel having been booked, only the car remained and now that's done. We've chosen Jansen once again. Leo is one of the good guys. He's not the cheapest but he's reliable and the cars are in great condition. We'll get a Kia Rio, 4 dr, automatic with AC.