Aruba 2021
Day 2: Wednesday, July 28
Animals and a fish (or two) kinda day...
The hubby and I have become quite the morning people these days. I'm not sure why but over the last year, we have been getting up earlier than we ever have in the past. Are we becoming old? Maybe so, but I want to know where's my middle day nap if that's the case.
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We were both up at 6am while the not-so-munchkin continued to sleep. She needed her rest and since we were flying by the seat of our pants on this trip, we had nothing planned and decided we would figure that out after she woke up.
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As we were sitting outside, I hear a clump, clump, clump...and a guy all of a sudden appeared from the side of the house. He was pulling this large pump and hosing and I knew it had to be our pool boy. He acknowledged me and said "Hello, good morning". I responded back "Hello and good morning to you too." Then I said "Hey, do you know where the leaf skimmer is?" He smiled at me. Then I said "The owners said there would be one here for us to use to keep the pool clean when you are not here". I received another smile...and that was it. At that point I decided that during the training at his job, they had trained him 3 English words to address anyone he might come across while servicing houses and that would be Hello, good morning. I guess my thoughts of striking up a conversation about how he got into the pool business and how much he liked it wasn't going to happen at this point.
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It was already getting a little toasty out by 9am and I decided to go for a swim. That cool water had been staring at me all morning and I could hear it calling my name already! I quickly did a ninja move and darted in one door and out the bedroom door. The hubby didn't even know I came back outside until he heard the splash in the pool. Yep, there's another door in this house to exit...this would become a game during our stay. Can you say ring around the rosy? I might go in one door and out the other. He would go in looking for me as I can out the other. Oops!
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As I was swimming, I started hearing noises in the distance. I wasn't sure if it was my mind playing tricks on me or what. Then it was getting closer. "Do I hear goats???" I asked the hubby. He's hard of hearing so he thought I was insane at first. But on the other side of our fence...in our backyard of cacti, appeared an entire herd of goats all of a sudden.
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There were mommy and daddy goats and then there were 2 little baby goats. They were so adorable. I would practice my goat call and confuse them. They were fun to watch as they tried to make it over some large (and small) rocks.
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One of the mommy goats was very friendly and wasn't spooked by us at all. The daddy goat...he was a different story. He wouldn't get anywhere near us and the slightest movement would spook him.
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Daddy ran in to wake up Sakari. He didn't want her to miss this. She had slept long enough.
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Not bright eyed and very bushy tailed...she came out to inspect...Several came up to her...of course. She's such an animal person and I think every species out there can detect it.
She ran in to grab some bread and the mommy goat walked right up to her. The others weren't interested and when she would throw some to them they would scatter. When Sakari would walk away, the mommy goat would actually jump up on the fence and look at her. I now knew why they not only put a fence up out back but also a screen around it...to keep the goats out. But imagine how fun it would be to wake up and have them in your yard. hehe
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We decided it was time to make breakfast and I made egg omelets with bacon and toast. We sat at the table discussing what our plans would be for the day. I had ask Sakari if there were any of the places we had previously went to, on our vacations here before, that she would like to go back to: Ostrich farm, Butterfly farm, Donkey Sanctuary, Phillips Animal Garden...anything? She shouted "The animal garden!!! I want to see the howler monkey and birds!!! They are my favorite!" My next option was "Do you want to go there today or to a beach?" She said the animal garden.
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So, off to the Animal Garden we went.
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Now every vacation I always talk about how we need to get better with taking our videos. I've been enjoying putting together videos with music and I want to start to do more. I've been trying to figure out my issues with the GoPro the last several vacations and I think I have the problems solved. At least for now.
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I handed the GoPro to the hubby and told him it is his responsibility to do the videos. I told him to start recording as we were pulling in and to do a commentary as well. He froze, Sakari grabbed it... but then froze. Geesh! They were both being camera shy. Ok, JUST FILM!!! GEESH! So while we were there, we all managed to take turns with the GoPro but I tried to mainly stay with my camera. Taking videos have never been my thing. I manage to cut them off too quick but I did want to get better at that.
It will cost you $10 per adult and $5 for a child 2-13 years old. Sakari is right at the cut off. They are open every day from 9-6pm. It is about a 5-7 minute drive from the high-rise hotel area and on the way to the Chapel of our lady of Alto Vista. Super easy to get to (especially using mapsme) and there are signs.
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Now we've been here several times in the past, so I'm mostly going to just share our pictures of the day.
