Marty Maynard: Honeymoon

I'm not quite sure how to summarize the honeymoon into one blog post, but we did keep "trip notes" as things went on...so I figured pasting those into this blog would be a good way to start...I've supplemented with some pictures. Bottom line up front - it was amazing, and I would recommend Aruba to anyone.

Honeymoon trip notes:

Sunday - flew to ATL. Got first free drinks for being on honeymoon during flight. Got to hotel, went to amazing seafood rest on recommendation of woman checking us in at Fairfield - Alaskan king crab, cajun shrimp and 33oz beers, done!

Monday - took most crowded shuttle ever to airport, I think one woman was literally standing on her suitcase. Got to Aruba with no issues. At least half the people on our flight were also on honeymoon...Bus driver told us to use lots of sunscreen and drink lots of alcohol, great advice...While checking in to resort, we are served drinks, this place is great...went to beach, cocktails on beach...

Decide to investigate resort casino...bad decision...Got shallacked in blackjack, really tough to teach someone to play while playing yourself. Dealer Justo was a machine for 14's...ate at Carribean restaraunt at resort...

Tuesday - tried to run on treadmill, treadmill broke after 2 minutes, I've now broken treadmills in 4 foreign countries. Went for run outside instead, sweated immensely, great run though...Went to beach with Nancy, I was way more relaxed than she was, that's probably the last time that'll ever happen...Once at beach, I walked a half mile too far to get to duncan donuts, which was actually 50 yards from beach...We tried to book a sunset cruise for Friday night, so confusing...We think we did reserve one, but are unclear on what company it's with, but think it leaves between marriot and holiday inn...had a good sunset walk on beach...

Wednesday - went for run on beach, did a few pick-ups which led to uncontrollable sweating (worse than previous day)...went to beach, tried to swim for 50 yards and had alternating thoughts of fear of sharks and drowning, decided triathlons are not for me, but Nance didn't make it as far as I did, so I'm still declaring victory...nothing else noteworthy...went to pool, while they were serving pallaye to everyone, a couple goes up the the bar and orders shots ot tequilla - strong move at 1145am, way to bring it...we can only tell time by the events going on at resort, must be noon, aqua aerobics started...pallaye is amazing...scalp totally sunburnt, go to search for hat, get sidetracked by belgian beer...

but eventually find great hat, not quite bonnaroo material, but legit...

go to pizza restaurant for app, end up chatting with a family from North Carolina for 2 hrs, told them all about biathlon and didn't even get annoyed when they asked me if I did triathlon (that's rare)...

Thursday - went for beach run again, sweated more than previous day, which was the most ever, how do people do marathons in this stuff, IT IS TOO HOT...this exchange happened at 11am:

Marty: should we do the water aerobics thing?

Nancy: only if we start drinking now

M: done, let's get some vodka to throw in our V8

N: I think they can make bloody mary's

M: but with V8 we get a full serving of vegetables

N: let's do it...

went to downtown area of Aruba and visited Iguana Joe's upon my buddy Scott's recommendation, where all drinks are made with 151 Rum...

(Believe me, they are not kidding when you read the menu and it says "Potent Potions")

Go to dinner across street from resort, had great seafood dinner and then the waiter came out for dessert orders, he instead told us that dessert was "tequilla time", did 3 shots of tequilla (first 3 since college) including one with the waiter...just goes to show that when the waiter says "it's tequilla time", it's tequilla time...nancy and I have nightcap while playing slot machines in casino, would have walked away with some money until nancy realized you could put the coins in one at a time...both of us need to go to bed...

Friday - watched usa-slovenia world cup game in pool bar, ended in tie, first usa goal (via Landon Donovan) was 'top shelf where mama hides the cookies' wish someone from buffalo was there to hi-five (we would have been hi-fiving for Rick Jenerett, not USA Soccer), US scored a go-ahead goal that was called back - epic fail ref, its all your fault...bartender luis seems high all the time, forgets drink orders, but does have a sharp sense of humor, one woman orders a rum punch and he replies with "do you like your punch from the left or right" (while mimicking muhammad ali)...new woman bartender just starts giving drinks before your previous one is half empty, she obviously wants us to party...watched england algeria game...went to liquor store to buy a gift for jim (who is covering for me this week at work), woman at check-out tells me she mixes the aruba-ariba with whiskey, I immidiately feel like less of a man (aruba-ariba is their local moonshine, which is like 100 proof)...went on sunset cruise...

turns out sunset cruise is not next to the "pirate shop", it's a pirate ship (English is not everyones first language), both of us did rope swing, forgot that credit card and $10 were in back pocket, both survived...