Aruba: Eagle Beach and Beyond

December 30, 2024

Not really SAD, but

A lot of people are affected with Seasonal Affective Disorder in Wisconsin. We have many, many days without sun during the winter months. This year, we've had a string of days with heavy fog and unseasonably warm temperatures in the 30's and 40's. Personally, I can't claim that I've ever really felt the effects of SAD, but this year, knowing that we are likely moving west later next year, I've been very impatient and annoyed with Wisconsin weather. Sun trying to fight through the clouds It hasn't helped that my daily routine involves looking at the weather in Fort Collins and Tucson. Their weather has been spectacularly sunny and more pleasant this time of year. So, I haven't been blogging much because not much is going on. I've substituted indoor pickleball for hiking. The trails have been muddy and not much fun. For Christmas, we had my mother, Julia's brother and Allie here. I went and retrieved my mother from Cedar Rapids a...

During our second week in Aruba, our home base has been a lovely but economical Airbnb that is much larger than our first one. It’s a true one bedroom apartment with full kitchen and is about a fifteen minute walk to the beach. It’s also a five minute walk to Super Foods, the best supermarket on the island.

We have been taking advantage by preparing breakfasts and dinners in the apartment: The local eggs are amazing with deep orange yolks: For local fish, we have prepared grouper, red snapper and amber jack. I cook, and Julia does dishes. No complaints here.

Most mornings and evenings, we take long walks from Eagle Beach to Palm Beach—about a five mile round trip. Mornings heat up fast into the mid eighties with fairly high humidity. Evenings are delicious with cooling breezes and beautiful sunsets.

One day, we took the bus to the north tip of the island. Walking on the east side, we experienced more of the “Wild Coast” with big waves and rocky shores.