Aruba - One happy Island
On the smallest and westernmost of the Antilles islands, we are only 30 kilometers away from Venezuela. To ensure that the slogan "One happy island" is also guaranteed in corona times, the ED form and a PCR test are required on entry, which was nothing new. What was new for us, however, was the cosmopolitan orientation of Aruba, which is divided into two areas - the high rise in Palm Beach and the low rise on Eagle Beach. The former can be seen from afar with the American luxury hotels Ritz Carlton, Hilton or Mariott, the stylish parks, hip restaurants and shopping malls. In the middle of it all, between hotel towers and the beach and nightlife of the Americans, lies the 18-hole championship course " Tierra del Sol ", designed by star architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. A resort with all the bells and whistles, a huge clubhouse with restaurant and a pro store for all eventualities. It's amazing that the course was so little frequented, but perhaps this was due to the strong wind and the short downpours. The "front nine" is an absolute links pleasure, even if the hilly fairways stretch between dunes, deserts and stony terrain. You feel like you're in Scotland or Arizona because of the cacti, battling with the wind that comes directly from the nearby sea and having quite a bit of trouble with the putts. The back nine is completely different, with velvety green fairways, exotic bushes, divi trees and numerous par and birdie opportunities. An exciting course right on the Caribbean Sea and a vacation treat for all levels of play. It's just a 15-minute drive to the low-rise Vietel, where we were staying, and here we are on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world - Eagle Beach. The powdered sugar beach stretches for miles along the turquoise-blue sea. In the middle of it all is the Bucuti & Tara Resort , which has just been named the world's most environmentally friendly hotel in 2020 by the United Nations. This is the first time in the ten-year history of the "Global United Nations Climate Action Award" that a hotel has won. All of this is the work of South Tyrolean Ewald Biemans. He has received almost all environmental certifications for his 104-room boutique hotel and has the largest solar power system in the whole of Aruba. Staying here means living directly on the powdery, snow-white beach, eating in the stylish "Elements" with fusion cuisine and staying in contemporary style with a view of the sea. It goes without saying that the best Caribbean cocktails are served at the expansive bar. What cannot be taken for granted, however, is the 5-star service provided by the staff, some of whom speak German, who anticipate your every wish. It's really hard to part with such trivial things as a round of golf at " The Links at Divi Aruba Golf Club " - a 9-hole resort club. We were unable to find out why a beautiful, almost manicured course is called "Links". In any case, it shines with its American charm, three tee boxes, well-defended greens and plenty of water. Like on the 4th (PAR 5), the most difficult hole with a 140-meter drive over the lake to the green, or on the 6th, a narrow PAR 5 along the water. Donald Ross is the German-speaking "Director of GolfSchool" here and knows his way around the German golf scene. Last but not least, there is the Aruba Golf Club, founded in 1941 as a 9-hole natural course - now without a clubhouse or driving range and all in all in a pretty desolate state. Pay & play is the name of the game here for a daily green fee of 25 dollars. We don't know whether you can somehow still enjoy the game among the goats, sheep and donkeys. On the other hand, the nearby town of San Nicolas was a real surprise when it came to street art. International artists have immortalized themselves on the walls of the houses here, which now gives the "ghost town" a tremendous appeal in times of pandemic. We did get a drink at Charly's Bar before heading back to the capital Oranjestad. With its brightly colored houses in the Wilhelminastraat, the Caya Betico Crues shopping street, open galleries and curved roofs in the Aruban style, the city is now a real eye-catcher and shopping hotspot without the hustle and bustle of cruise passengers. Here we also had time and leisure for an excursion to the Arikok National Park. Our German-speaking guide Rensley from ArubaTours -to -go took us on an adventurous drive through a landscape of bizarre caves and showed us the rock paintings of the Indians, which are at least 1000 years old. We passed huge cacti, former gold mines, wild goats and donkeys, green iguanas, rare birds and a natural seawater pool full of colorful fish. Incidentally, fish in all its variations is the best thing on the menu here too, alongside Creole dishes. In the "Flying Fishbones" restaurant in southern Savaneta, you can sit barefoot at tables in the sea or in the sand and enjoy the diverse creations of the trendy cuisine at sunset. Anyone staying at the small, fine boutique resort right next door has hit the jackpot. With her "Aruba Oversea Villas", design artist Osyth has created an exquisite little paradise among the mangroves. The four beach and three overwater bungalows are so sensitively and imaginatively furnished that you immediately feel at home. And that is also their intention: pure romance with a hammock, outdoor whirlpool, large dreamy terrace and personal service to literally convey the "One happy Island" feeling.
Further information:
www.aruba.de www.aruba-tours-to-go.de
Aruba Ocean Villas, www.arubaoceanvillas.com
Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, www.bucuti.com
Flying fishbone, www.flyingfishbone.com
Golf courses:
Tierra del Sol Resort & Golf, www.tierradelsol.com
Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort, www.diviresorts.com/divi-village-golf-beach-resort-aruba.htm
Aruba Golf Courses , www.aruba-travelguide.com/discover/activities/golf
