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Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao: The ABC Islands of the Caribbean

8/30/2014

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Sea turtle at Klein Bonaire
The ABC Islands of the Caribbbean -- Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao -- are a water lover's paradise. If you love snorkeling or diving, you're sure to see plenty of great creatures such as this sea turtle I spotted in Bonaire.
By John Roberts

Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao make up the ABC islands in the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean.

These islands located just off the coast of Venezuela (a bit north of the country) are part of the Netherlands. Several cruise ship itineraries make stops to these destinations, although Bonaire is the least developed and least visited of the three.

We have been to all three and thoroughly enjoyed them. All are watersports havens. Aruba would be my choice for lazy beach days and partying at night. It offers more of the typical Caribbean island experience you might expect. Curacao offers plenty of neat places to explore, such as forts and limestone caves, as well as shopping areas filled with local vendors offering handicrafts.

Bonaire is for the hardcore scuba diving crowds. The island has few beaches, but you step right off the shore into deep water filled with an array of wonderful fish and coral reef. We don’t even dive (we snorkel), but this island struck us as our favorite for its relaxed vibe. We had a great time drift snorkeling at Klein Bonaire, a tiny, uninhabited islet off the shore of the mainland.


I recommend that you look into a cruise that will get to at least two of these islands during your trip. The weather will be warm and sunny, and you'll never run out of fun things to do. Plus, you'll want to return often. Brush up on a few phrases in Papiamento, the native tongue in the islands. It's a mix of Portuguese and African languages, with English, Spanish, Dutch and American Indian influences, too. 

Try a wide-smiling "bon dia" (good morning) when you arrive, and you'll be warmly greeted and on the way to a wonderful adventure.

ARUBA
Baby Beach in Aruba
Baby Beach in Aruba has soft sand, and you can walk right in for some great shore snorkeling. Bring plenty of sunscreen and apply often! We got quite burned our first time.
Filling up on Balashi beer in Aruba
When the sun gets to be too much, make sure to take a few breaks for Balashi beer. So refreshing and cold, just what you want after a few hours in the sun and water.

BONAIRE
Drift snorkeling at Klein Bonaire
One of my favorite excursions ever was the day I spent drift snorkeling at Klein Bonaire, a spot off the coast of mainland Bonaire. We saw turtles rays and all sorts of reef and fish.

CURACAO
Curacao fort
In Curacao, we have snorkeled, shopped and done some sightseeing, like at this fort. You can venture to the high points of the island for great views of the harbors (picture below). The island has an arid climate, with scarce rainfall, and is home to curious whiptail blue lizards (picture at bottom).
Curacao
Curacao gecko
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How to Pack Like a Pro For Your Cruise

8/23/2014

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Picture
By John Roberts

Over our dozens of cruises we've continued to gain new insights and little tips and tricks for what to pack for our getaways. Over the years, we are constantly seeking ways to make our little cabins as comfy and efficient as possible.

Here are some of the top packing tips -- some less-than-obvious-items to bring along -- that can help you have a better adventure. Help out your fellow travelers by adding some of your best advice in the comments below.

1. Magnet hooks -- Did you know that the walls of your ship are magnetized? You can use this fact to carve out some more space in your quarters. Use magnets with hooks to hang wet clothing and hold other items so that you don't have to toss them on the floor, bed or chairs.

2. Over-the-door organizer -- Get a multipocketed shoe organizer than takes up little space in your luggage but creates a tidy look to your cabin. Don't fill them with shoes; there's plenty of room in closets for those. Instead, use the little mesh pockets to store all sorts of stuff that you don't want to lose but need access to quite regularly on your cruise. Sunglasses, lotions, makeup, cabin keycards, etc. We drape the device over our bathroom door so we can use it when we pass by on our way into and out of our stateroom.

3. Mini alarm clock -- We've never been in a cruise ship cabin that has had a clock. If you want to know what time it is if you happen to stir in the middle of the night in your dark stateroom, you're going to need a clock. You also need a way to wake up on time if you have plans for the morning. You could use your smartphone for these functions, but depending on your service plan, you might be wary of risking roaming charges at sea by keeping your phone on all the time. My wife likes having the mini clock so she can to roll over and glimpse the time without much effort.

4. Tiny flashlight/night light -- It gets really dark in your cabin at night. It can be very handy to have a night light or tiny flash light to give a little glow to find your way in case you have to get up and go. We also have left the bathroom light on with the bathroom door open a crack to throw us some light in the room, but perhaps you don't like even that much light when you sleep. This also is not the most energy-friendly option.

5. Post-Its -- These sticky note papers are useful for leaving messages on the cabin doors of your friends and family members who are on the cruise with you. Just stick up a note on your door or theirs to let them know where you are and for how long you'll be there. We also use Post-Its to leave messages for our cabin stewards if we have any special requests.

6. Clothes detergent -- Pack a travel-size package of detergent and give your socks, underwear or bathing suit a wash during your sailing. This is especially prudent during a sailing of more than a week. You will be able to pack your suitcases more lightly when you can wash some of your clothes items in the sink or shower during your trip. We also bring along a length of bungee cord (you can stretch it out anywhere to create a clothesline) and some clothes pins to hang the items to dry. All these sundries store neatly in the over-door organizer we discussed above.  

7. Well-packed carry-on bag -- On embarkation day, you might aim to get on the ship ASAP so you can start enjoying the buffet lunch, swimming pool, hot tubs and more. But you won't be lugging around all your luggage. If you leave your bags curbside before you enter the ship, you might not meet up with your suitcases for a few hours as they make their way to your cabins. Smartly pack a carry-on or backpack with sunscreen, camera equipment, bathing suits, book, magazine and anything else you might want as you pass the time on deck or in a lounge. This gives you a jump on your vacation. Hey, every moment counts. You deserve it!

Let us all know some of your tips and tricks in the comments section below.

As always, thanks for reading.

JR

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Exploring Philadelphia with "Free Tours by Foot"

8/14/2014

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Picture
By John Roberts

We have lived in Central New Jersey for about two years. Our home is just 45 minutes from Philadelphia, a city rich with restaurants, museums, history and more. Yet, we hadn't properly explored this gem until recently.

Needing a well-rounded tour, we searched online for possibilities. We found "Free Tours by Foot Philadelphia." 

Ummm, do I see the word free in there? On foot, too? Fantastic. That always is the most fun way to get around.

The program gets great reviews on TripAdvisor, so I knew we'd be in for some fun. Plus, we had almost nothing to lose because of the price. The idea is that you tip your guide what you think the tour was worth at the end.

We saw plenty of off-the-beaten path sights during our six miles and five-plus hours of wandering on a gorgeously sunny day in the City of Brotherly Love. Our guide, Jenn, led a group of 19 of us on the "Real Philadelphia" tour exploring historic cemeteries, churches and buildings as well as neighborhoods distinguished by their architecture, designs or planning by city engineers hundreds of years ago.

All that and much more! 


Free Tours by Foot in Philadelphia
Our tour guide, Jenn, explains how the day will play out as we make our way around the city.
Pennsylvania Hospital historic site in Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania Hospital was founded in 1751 as the nation's first hospital. It is a National Historic Landmark.
First Republican National Convention in Philadelphia.
Political history is on display throughout the city.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington Square Park in Philadelphia.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington Square Park.
Leaping kangaroos art sculpture in Philadelphia.
Art sculptures dot the city as part of a program to increase pride in the community.
Mural on side of Marc Vetri Italian restaurant in Philadelphia.
Murals adorn many buildings in Philadelphia, as part of a public-service program to channel the talents of graffiti artists. Each mural tells a unique story. This one called "A Taste of Summer" is on the side of chef Marc Vetri’s restaurant on Spruce Street.
Philadelphia building mosaics.
A South Street neighborhood has been rejuvenated by the work of mosaic mural artist Isaiah Zagar, whose works incorporate mirror, glass, tile and paint to decorate several buildings he owns or was commissioned to work on in the area.
Picture
Box pew at St. Peter's Church where George Washington would come to worship in Philadelphia.
This is the box pew where George Washington and his family would sit when they came to St. Peter's Church.
JFK Plaza, known as Love Park, in Philadelphia.
JFK Plaza, widely known as Love Park for the LOVE sculpture, is a hot spot for skate boarders and a constant hub for activity. The park was developed by former city planner Edmund Bacon, father of actor Kevin Bacon.

Bottom line: In The Loop Travel gives its enthusiastic recommendation of the Free Tours by Foot program.

As always, thanks for reading.

Travel fit. Travel happy.

JR

VIDEO: Visiting Philadelphia with Free Tours by Foot
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