Page 31 - bon-dia-aruba-20200810

locAl Monday 10 august 2020
A31

“Every time that we come it’s always exactly the same and amazing”

ORANJESTAD —James Taylor and his fiancé Laura Smith from To-
ronto, Canada frequent the island a minimum of three times per
year and have become very close with people that live on the is-
land over the past seven years of travelling to Aruba. They have
so many stories to share from the island and would like to tell you
about some of their experiences on ‘Dushi Aruba’.

Turtle encounter
James: “One day Laura and I were swimming at Baby Beach and
when we were out into the ocean I noticed a giant turtle swimming
around us and close to Laura. You know we we're having a swim
and we had a great lunch and a few drinks so Laura wasn't taking it
too seriously when I said there was a turtle beside her.” She thought
James was just joking but then when they got out of the ocean
and walked to their chairs to sit down with their radio and have a
cold beverage the turtle climbed up on to the shore right in front of
them and began to dig a hole. “Once the turtle was up onto the
shore Laura started to feel bad for her as the turtles eyes were cry-
ing and Laura wanted to pour water on her eyes but we didn't and
the authorities showed up shortly after because the locals called
them and we're all saying that it's a very rare occasion to see what
we witnessed.”

Key case
Laura and James have been from one side of the island to the
other numerous times and always rent a Jeep so they can stop and
visit their friends that live there at their houses and move along the
island at their own leisure. “We participated in the party bus, Jolly
Pirates, ATV rentals, you name it we've done it and we love support-
ing any tourist attraction that is on the island as we know it helps
make the world go round. Last time we were down we actually
looked at a couple properties to purchase while we were there but
we are waiting for our Canadian currency to come a little closer
to par with the American currency.” He remembers one time they
were in the natural pool and there was an ATV tour where the tour
guide had lost his key. The entire tour was trying to help him find
the key and Laura and James had stayed back late. “We were the
only people in the natural pool and when we got out the gentle-
man asked us if we had seen his key. I said that we hadn't and in
return I asked him to take a picture of us and believe it or not my
sandal was standing on top of his key when he took the picture.
When I look down it was under my foot.”
Their favorite places to eat on the island would be the LG Smith
Steakhouse above the Renaissance Mall and Salt and Peppers in
the high-rise area and also the Italian Restaurant out on the tip near
the lighthouse, James says. “The night we went on the tour bus I
had to get up on the bar and be the cowboy from the village peo-
ple singing YMCA. Over the seven years of us travelling to the island
I have brought probably over 30 different friends to Aruba.”
They have also rented Harley's and even went on the massive bike
ride for the Camacuri Bike day. “We also love Baby Beach and eat
at the restaurant there where we have made good friends with the
employees over the years who we speak to on Facebook all the
time.” q

James: “Aruba is our home away from home and we have
been all over the world as far as north Iceland, Europe and so
on. We have never felt so welcome and safe at any other place
we have been and are very proud to be a part of your happy
island.”