4th Port - ARUBA

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya

Ah yes, the music is back!

And so apropos as we begin our visit to ARUBA 4th stop on our Southern Caribbean voyage.
{Tourist Board Site->ARUBA}

And truth be told [if you haven’t already figured it out] we’re back on land wrapping up the final few episodes from the safety of the Uncle Chuck’s BatCave as the last days on the ship were so hectic [Yeah… Right!]

And the internet connection, when functioning at all, was just too damn slow <- Now THAT’s the Truth.

This also allowed for adding Foto’s to the blog and Picassweb from the beginning of the cruise to present with more to follow...

But first…

Go grab something to drink or smoke or whatevah and get comfortable… this is sooooo long it's a 2 Part Post - and NOW -  
We set today’s scene…

Roll Call pals Brenda & Bob from B.C had volunteered to share a cab to Moomba Beach and the Jolly Pirate’s – soon to be the scene of one of Dragon Lady’s Great Adventures.  The night before we agreed to knock on their door, just down the hall from our cabin when we docked to get down to deck “O” ASAP so we could debark as soon as possible.  Moomba Beach was a half hour away from the port - the ship docked at 8AM and Jolly Pirates was due to ship out at 9AM – thus we had to hustle.  Which is exactly what we did, trotting off the pier to find… No Taxi’s!

Ok… Lets head to the street.  No Taxi’s! 

Oh Wait… there’s one and a Grinning Monty swung his shiny SUV into a snappy “Girare-U” {U-Turn for you NOWAT Novices} and we were “Doin’ the Moomba Mambo with Monty”… 
OK... OK we were on the way.

Early enough to avoid the “Heavy Traffic” predicted by our Pirate hosts, we were at Moomba with Mucho Time to Spare.  At Registration were directed to “step back outside and fill our the waiver”.  Say WHAT? 

Yup… Jolly Pirates wanted you sign a waiver to absolve them of:

“…any and all injuries – Potential, Actual or Imagined;  Pre/Post cruise or any other type injury that may or may not be incurred after consuming large quantities of “FREE” {her favorite 4 letter word} Fruity Rum Drinks while trying to keep your balance on a rolling, creaking old Pirate ship or while trying to Snorkel over a sunken freighter in rough seas and/or while swinging from a pretty worn looking rope hanging from the yard arm of said Pirate Ship - Etc...Etc...Etc.”

Yeah… Sure… Why not…

What could possibley Go Wrong… Go Wrong…. 
Go Wrong…?1?!?

{As Brenda Wondered aloud,

“Will My Workers Comp cover this?”}

After Signing our lives away, {we had to Pay Up-Front online}  and a Foto Op with HIS new Shipmate - we headed to the pier and waited… and waited… and… OK… it wasn’t that long.  But long enough for one shaky soul - who just might have sampled one too many Bloody Mary’s at his Hotel’s Breakfast Buffet – to lose his sandal off the pier, dive in, retrieve it and after 4 attempts, climb into a small dingy tied to the dock and spring back to his place in line. 

Pose – Grin – Click - OK

While watching one Pirate Ship undergo preparations, we were turned around to be Tendered {small boat} to OUR ship, anchored 100 yards offshore.  Loading the Tender was a session in Military Logistics, lost on the nervous group of Stark White Land Lubbers [Boy were these dudes gonna B U R N] but we made it to the Ship without anything {or anyone} going overboard.

Our Pirate Crew, consisted of 1^St Mate Daniel {he spotted my Jack Daniel’s Country Club Hat Thus naming me Captain-For-The-Day and who decided that “Jack Daniel” would be HIS name for this voyage – Say What?}, Real Captain= Hugo, Bosons Mate=Mongo – Really that’s his name – Bartender=Sergio – 
and the Rookie whose name probably ended with “O” but was so slurred we took to calling him Rookie for the rest of the trip.  All were a jovial frisky bunch that immediately took to getting us organized, outfitted with snorkels, fins and masks {we brought our own} and showed us where everything was – Especially the BAR {“FREE” Fruity Drinks} and how many times to push the Valve on the Sea Toilet {no papers ladies –use the bucket} and we were OFF.

“Arrrrgggghhh Maties!!!” -  SILENCE – Stares…

“I SAID – “Arrrrgggghhh Maties!!!”  

“Arrrrgggghhh Captain!!!”

“That’s Better”

First stop was over the Shipwreck of the SS ANTILLA a German Freighter, sunk by its own crew during WW II to keep it out of the hands of the Allies. Read the Story – quite gritty.

It was a Choppy day over the wreck so we anchored a bit to the windward side and “Jack Daniel” gave instructions to jump in ahead of the current and drift back, but with a 6 Knot current it was pretty tough keeping above the wreck.  Chucky went in first and after fighting the current warned DL but she came in anyway, lasting only a short while… it REALLY was choppy making it even harder to get back up the ships ladder. 

Chucky tried to make a video of the wreck but even at 55- 60 feet it was so choppy it stirred up the bottom that made visibility pretty murky – he may or may not post it here or on Picassaweb. 

Hey, there’s “Free” Fruity Drinks on the ship, why fight the waves…

Next stop was a much calmer shallow off Eagle Beach where the water was so clear you could see the bottom at 15 feet.  Much better snorkeling here and a box of Cheerios from the Lido Buffet did the trick to lure “Little Fishies” {not Fssshhh – These had 2-I’s} but the Camera was so hard to focus in the case AND handle the Cheerios , HE gave up and just fed them.

Once Again back on board the crew took to serving lunch, some well done Pork Ribs, Rubber Chicken, a large helping of Peas & Rice {an island staple} and more “Free” Fruity Drinks. 

Hey… what did you expect Emeril Lagasse’s Gourmet Kitchen?  
It’s a Bloody Pirate Ship for Gawdsake!

And then we moved to a little deeper spot for the REAL reason most of the folks came on this fun trip…

The Rope Swing from the Yard Arm.

B U T…. since this again is getting longer than HE Planned {Hey… He’s on a roll}

You'll just have to wait for the Next Episode for all the Fun…

Ciao 4 Now,

Uncle Chuck & The Getting Ready to SWING

Dragon Lady