It was our 15th Wedding Anniversary and another relaxing day on the beautiful sunny island. We didn’t schedule any big tours for this day besides a romantic dinner at a restaurant on the beach.
We started our day with the breakfast at Diana’s Pancakes restaurant located near the Old Dutch Windmill, one of the most authentic landmarks and a historic reminder of the Dutch influences in Aruba.
Breakfast at Diana’s place was delicious as always. 🙂
After breakfast, we did some shopping and spent some time at Eagle Beach. Later, we decided to check out the Aruba Aloe Factory.
We were able to see the aloe fields right from the factory entrance.
Our guided factory tour started from this stand outside, where the tour guide quickly demonstrated the process of extracting aloe gel from the plant.
This part of the plant is used for the aloe products. A girl, our tour guide, retrieved it very quick. Then we went inside the factory see the production process firsthand from Aloe Vera leaf to finished Aruba Aloe lotions. The tour guide explained to us all about the aloe plant and its uses. Photography is prohibited there, so there are no pictures from the inside of the factory.
We learned, that the Aloe Vera plant was introduced in Aruba back in 1840, influencing everything from art and architecture to health and healing. Soon, two-thirds of Aruba’s surface was covered with aloe vera plants and Aruba became the world’s largest aloe exporter.
All Aruba Aloe body, sun and hair care products can be purchased at the factory store. We purchased some products as well. I heard that the prices were more reasonable at the factory store – not anymore. Prices in the factory store are pretty much the same as at the online store.
We took a break after the aloe factory tour and started getting ready for our dinner. Here we are on our patio, before leaving for the restaurant.
The Passions on the Beach restaurant is located at Eagle Beach, which has been recognized for various years as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. This restaurant is the most romantic dinner experience on the island and the most memorable one for us. It was so nice to dine and relax with our bare feet in soft white sand. We enjoyed delicious drinks and exquisite food while enjoying the calm sounds of the ocean and the soft light from the tiki torches, culminating in a gorgeous sunset. It was a very beautiful evening on the beach and we enjoyed every minute of it.
After our dinner we went to the Palm Beach district. It is a vibrant place, especially in the evening, with numerous shops, restaurants and more. Near Hard Rock Café.
A couple more pictures with the “I love Aruba” sign.
Chief Eating Grapes statue depicts a man wearing a toque (chef’s hat), a theater mask and eating grapes. This statue symbolizes the plethora of restaurant options available in Palm Beach. The cuisine and price ranges can accommodate any palate and budget. Entertainment selections are equally varied, from quiet bars, to rocking clubs and ten casinos. The two best retail experiences are the Palm Beach Plaza, an enormous mall, and the Paseo Herencia, a more casual shopping environment.
There are restaurants for everyone’s taste, from the upscale to the casual ones.
This statue is very similar to the Chief Eating Grapes statue.
On our way out we stopped at Gelatissimo for some dessert, which was really good. Gelatissimo has a cozy and comfortable lounge where we could sit back and enjoy the homemade gelato.
Inside, there was a cute Christmas Tree decorated with ice cream cones. We will remember this special evening for a long time.
