@dswigle (Denise! That is me!) The bird, the truck, the people. Ah, yes. I must still be in Aruba. Feel free to wander about while I get in line to feed my hunger. The beach is nicely appointed with a restaurant, a few beach shacks and food trucks that have taken up permanent residence here and the random bird that calls out to you when you are standing within earshot.I just couldn't resist coming back for another smoothie or maybe a bowl. The Beach Shack serves everything from healthy vegan wraps to juice shakes or fruit shakes, poke bowls, acai bowls. The sky is the limit. I must say that I loved their protein balls and a dessert called Coco Whip, which is a frozen concoction that is non-dairy, 100% vegan, no sugar added. Need I say that it is totally delicious? They have such a wonderful variety of offerings and I was never disappointed.
Oh, just watch him split them in half, then fill them with rum - or not. After you drink the coconut milk and rum, he cleans out the coconut and then you get to eat it. I was told that someone had a hard time finding someone selling coconut water. I actually did not and there were plenty of opportunities to quench that thirst. Everywhere I went, someone was selling coconuts and coconut water, many had signs that said "awa di coco"
This coconut water vendor was at the side of the road and did a brisk business. Most of the food/drink trucks did. It was nice to see the small, privately owned businesses doing so well.
The California Lighthouse is located at the northwestern tip of Aruba. It has 123 steps to the top, by means of a spiral staircase. They do tours all day for a fee, which took me by surprise, but, it was definitely worth the climb. There are spots that are a little narrow and tight - and I am small. You can see the entire island from the top. I can only imagine how glorious it would have been at sunset. The lighthouse got its name after the steamship California, which was wrecked in nearby waters in September 1891.
Although the island's poor soil and low rainfall limit its agricultural prospects, aloe cultivation, livestock, and fishing contribute to Aruba's economy. In addition, the country also exports art and collectibles, machinery, electrical equipment, and transport equipment. Aruba's small labor force and low unemployment rate have led to many unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years. With such a large part of its economy dependent on tourism, the Aruban government is striving to increase business in other sectors to protect against possible industry slumps. Their current focus is on expanding technology, finance, and communications. You can find that source here.
The Faro Blanco Restaurant was a wonderfully romantic place to steal away the night. I was enamored with the scenery, and taken hostage with its sumptuous menu. You can peek at their menu here.
Fridays are all about the #MarketFriday Challenge! Looking to take part in it? Here is how:
How to Participate:
1. Go to the market! Any market will do! Food, Clothing, Plant or Animal, if you wish. You can go to the zoo or an art auction. Anywhere or anything that you pay money for a service. I once went to a nail salon.
2. Take pictures! Be creative (or not)
3. Tell us a little bit about the market, what brought you here?
4. Post the picture(s)
5. Don’t forget to hashtag it! #MarketFriday by
6. Drop the link to your post here so I can easily find them
It is always interesting to see the different markets around the globe! C’mon! Show me your market shots! I eagerly await them!
Just a hint: If you find someone serving such a drink in a coconut, be sure you watch them chop the top off a fresh coconut before taking part! Otherwise, they're using a coconut that's been used to serve one or a hundred drinks to I-can-only-imagine how many days/weeks/months. And that is just gross!
Please leave the link to your post here so it can easily be found by others. They will all be in one place!! Thank you! ❤
I hope you will join us as we share different markets. It has been such a pleasure to see markets from all over the world. Who doesn't love to see what they are selling? There is always a curiosity attached to foreign ingredients, different produce or any product sold. So, yes! I would love to see yours! So don't forget to take photos wherever you happen to be shopping - whether it be the grocery, art galleries, wherever money is exchanged for a service or for merchandise. Don't forget to use the hashtag #marketfriday and
As always, there must be a flower. Always. To color my world. This flower is dedicated to #FridaySkyBlue #ColorChallenge by @Kalemandra, who colors my world every day.
Can one conceive of any reason for a flower's beauty excepting our ability to enjoy their exquisite splendor? Oh, please! Forget-me-not! It has been a while, but, I finally made my way back home. Happy #MarketFriday! Tell me what YOU have been doing! You were missed!
And just like that, this post is done. I hope you had a good time! As always, I want to thank you for taking the time to visit #MarketFriday!! Thank you for supporting the challenge! Have a most fabulous day! Cheers!!
Let the sun shine in on your life
So the joy may touch your soul
@dswigle.Thank you for visiting my post 💖 Because of you, I come back to post again and again, I am encouraged by you, for the time you take to visit, comment or even upvote. For all of these reasons, I am eternally grateful. Don't ever forget what a wonderful world we live in, people. Some days, it is not as easy to see, how wonderful it really is. Kindness counts. Wherever you go, whatever you do.
I always post this poem down at the bottom of my posts. It is one that has become so near and dear to my heart.
they set my aunts house on fire
i cried the way women on tv do
folding at the middle
like a five pound note.
i called the boy who use to love me
tried to ‘okay’ my voice
i said hello
he said warsan, what’s wrong, what’s happened?
i’ve been praying,
and these are what my prayers look like;
dear god
i come from two countries
one is thirsty
the other is on fire
both need water.
later that night
i held an atlas in my lap
ran my fingers across the whole world
and whispered,
"where does it hurt?"
it answered,
"everywhere"
"everywhere"
"everywhere"
warsan shire
#Steemusa is a growing community of quality-content people from the United States or those living here. Check us out on Discord!