I'm always on the lookout for authentic Dutch food and my pre-trip research pointed me towards a small Dutch owned and operated bar called Cafe 080. We drove by earlier in the day and my stomach is growling, but they don't open until three so we pass the time by exploring the nearby Natural Bridge.
But why not start with a crazy caution sign?
But why not start with a crazy caution sign?
The old, larger bridge collapsed in 2005 and makes for an intriguing pile of rubble blanketed with a deep layer of seaweed.
But the smaller bridge is very impressive on its own!
Once I notice the waves battering the rocky shoreline I forget all about the natural bridge.
... and whoosh!
... and whoosh!
Sandy loves water on rock so I convinced her to take a closer look just as a massive wave rolls in ...
Sandy is doubled over laughing; there's not a shred of dry fabric left on either of us.
*** I didn't realize how much of the spray hit the lens, so you'll notice
"fuzzy" spots in the pictures I took with my DSLR from here on
The Bushiribana gold mill ruins, built during Aruba's gold rush in 1874 are close by. There's not a lot too see, but it's a nice picture opportunity and a fun to explore.
The classic Bushiribana picture.
As you can see in the background there's a sea of hoodoos that stretches out along the rocky shoreline in both directions.
Cool piece of fossilized brain coral near the water.
The classic Bushiribana picture.
As you can see in the background there's a sea of hoodoos that stretches out along the rocky shoreline in both directions.
Cool piece of fossilized brain coral near the water.
Cafe 080 has been open for some time by the time we get there and I don't waste a second before ordering some bitterballen to share, a kroket, Dutch fries with real Dutch mayonnaise and a shoarma platter (middle eastern dish popular in Holland, see link) for Sandy.
My yummy bitterballen! It doesn't get any better than this!
My yummy bitterballen! It doesn't get any better than this!
In case you're wondering; bitterballen and kroketten are made with a thick roux (usually beef) that's been shaped into balls (bitterbal), or log shapes (kroket), then breaded and deep fried. Bitterballen are often served as hors d'oeuvres accompanied by yellow mustard, while kroketten are frequently served on bread or with fries. Try them if you ever get a chance ... they are super yummy!
Stuffed we drive ourselves to Casibari Park to burn off some of those calories. As you can tell in the picture below it was a bit of a scramble to get to the top!
Love the view from the top!
A little windy, but that's Aruba!
It's funny the things you can see from up above ... like the set of stairs we could have taken instead of boulder hopping our way up. But of course that wouldn't have been nearly as much fun!
Love the view from the top!
A little windy, but that's Aruba!
It's funny the things you can see from up above ... like the set of stairs we could have taken instead of boulder hopping our way up. But of course that wouldn't have been nearly as much fun!
It's too bad we saved this for later in the day, because you can have a lot of fun monkeying around here between the swinging from low hanging branches and climbing the rock formations.
Or you could just take a nap.
Or you could just take a nap.
The sun is starting to set, which means we only have time for one more quick stop. We drive past Ayo Rock Formation and after all the fun we just had a Casibari it's tempting to stick to rocks and more rocks, but on a whim we decide to continue down the road to Andicuri Beach.
The uneven sand/dirt road is in questionable shape and we're pushing the limits of our tiny, low clearance car. We're dodging boulders and holes left and right and I find myself having to get out time and again to help navigate the trickier sections, until the road deteriorates to the point where it's faster for me to jog in front of the car in my flip flops!
When I spot loose sand up ahead, I direct Sandy to park along the side of the road so that we don't end up having to inadvertently spend the night stuck in a drift.
It might have been a rough ride, but the view is surely worth it! Better yet, we have it almost entirely to ourselves save for a couple of local kids.
When I spot loose sand up ahead, I direct Sandy to park along the side of the road so that we don't end up having to inadvertently spend the night stuck in a drift.
It might have been a rough ride, but the view is surely worth it! Better yet, we have it almost entirely to ourselves save for a couple of local kids.
Having had a very late lunch neither of us feels like having dinner, but a late night snack has never hurt anyone so after Googling “Aruba stroopwafel dessert” we find ourselves at the classy Quinta del Carmen restaurant.
The place is très chic and I'm surprised they are willing to seat us for dessert only -- especially given our windblown tourist look -- but we end up with a beautiful table in the courtyard.`
Sandy has an order of their Nutella cheesecake with hazelnut ice cream, while I wolf down the the Stroopwafel parfait.
We are both exhausted when we get back to the hotel and after chatting with Jet & Hans for a bit I hop in the shower to battle the giant knot that was once my hair. Ugh!
♥
Breakfast: Diana's Pancake Place
Late lunch: Cafe 080
Dessert: Quinta del Carmen
Hotel: Coral Reef Beach Village and Apartments
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