One Happy Island--Aruba

That is the motto of Aruba: "One Happy Island". Cool huh? Why "One Happy Island"? Well, if the majority of us only had to work 8-8 1/2 hrs a day, get up late (most places didn't open until 10am), I think we would all be happy too.

The government controls how late businesses stay open, how many hours one is allowed to work in a week and they even dictate vacation time.

Unless it has changed, workers in Aruba get 15 days vacation a year and 11 paid holidays.  AWESOME!

The first photo is of a beach along the southern tip of Aruba.  All the dark spots in the water?  Those are coral beds.  Snorkeling is awesome on the island!

Enough about their labor laws.  Would you like to see some pictures?  Enjoy and don't get too jealous!

Iguanas abound on this island.  Aruba has iguanas, like New York has rats.  They are so cool to watch; especially when they just sit there in the sun, soaking up the warmth.

This is the view you get driving down the main road on the west side of the island; heading into downtown.  Absolutely beautiful!

Vacation Time

Not sure how often I will be able to post the next week and a half, but I will try my best. Who knows, maybe I will get the chance to share some vacation moments with you.

I know, you are probably thinking...vacation? Now? Of course! I am lucky that my mom has a timeshare through Marriott and are able to travel to Aruba fairly inexpensively.

Basically, the cost of a plane trip (which she helped with)and food. If she didn't already have it monetarily figured out I wouldn't be going.

The whole, life get's in the way post. Remember? So...Saturday, May 8th (we come back May 15th) we leave for Aruba and it will be my first time out of the United States. I have driven across the US, but  never  outside of it, so I am very excited. Can't wait to share our trip with you and hope everyone has a good week while I am gone!

Apple Picking Weekend

My mother, brother and I traveled to Winchester, VA Saturday and came home Sunday; we had a blast.

On the drive we stopped at a winery and did a bit of wine tasting and had so much fun on the drive taking our sweet time, it took us double the time to get to our destination.

Sunday we picked Fuji apples and ate a few while we were at it. Oh my gosh, can I say how delicious these apples are? Well, I just did and they are! Not only sweet and extremely juicy, but BIG. I mean HUGE!


Here are some pictures from our trip. My brother is in a couple of the photos....enjoy!