I visited Aruba last week. On the first day, I mainly enjoyed comfortable sunshine on the beaches there. But I needed more than sunshine and sand to fill my week.
I rented a car the next day. One of my first stops that day was the Alto Vista Chapel, a historic north-side Roman Catholic churchy Just as I entered it, a colourful "party bus" filled with singing tourists pulled into the parking lot, ending the silence. So I left soon.
From the church I made my way to the California Lighthouse, named for the steamship California that sank nearby in 1891. After spending some time there, I went to La Trattoria El Faro Blanco, an Italian restaurant that sits on top of the hill and offers scenic views.
I love golfing, so I wasn't going on vacation without spending a day on the courses. The Tierra del Sol Country Club is for golfing on the islands located at its northwest point. Opened in 1995, it is a beautiful place with views of the sea and the California Lighthouse. I spent a full day there.
To completely escape from the other tourists, I booked a four-hour jeep tour for the fourth day. I went to the Arikok National Park, which covers nearly 20 percent of the islands I stood on a cliff and looked down on a natural pool that was formed inside volcanic rock (火山岩). It was amazing.
My final night was spent at Madame Janette Restaurant, Friends who had been to Aruba told me I had to go there. I dined there while listening to a local musician performing the Beatles' While My Guitar Gently Weeps. It was so good and the crowd demanded more.
