Rudy’s Corner is a local joint in San Nicolaas, Aruba. If you’re on your way to Baby Beach, this place is easy to find. As you enter San Nicolaas, you come to a traffic circle, take the second road off of this circle and keep going straight. After the big sports park on your left, you’ll see an empty lot and then Rudy’s Corner. Here’s a shot of the exterior:

There are plenty of tables under the shade of the porch as you can see in the next photo:

Lots of foliage there and a nice breeze to keep you cool. Take a look at the menu below:

Regular readers of my blog will recognize many of those Colombian dishes. Don’t forget, those prices are in Aruban florins (1.75 flns. to the US $). You’ll also find the Sunday BBQ done here as well. So, when you’re passing through San Nicolaas you may want to stop here for a snack or a drink or both. The prices are reasonable, the people friendly, and the food filling. More than that, you can’t expect.

Bon dia.

The Christmas lights are going up all around Aruba. Some people go to great lengths to light up their houses and businesses. They have the old standbys as well as the latest and greatest when it comes to holiday lighting. Check out this guy’s place:

I like those bells and flowers. He also has the full range of colors. Here’s another example:

Wow, glad I won’t be paying that electricity bill. Still, it captures the festive spirit of the season. If you happen to leave the island via airplane, these lights would be a fantastic sight from the sky. I’ll have to give that a try before the First of the New Year.

Bon dia.

Snikkers is a cat who loiters at Buffam’s Tropical Haven, a bed and breakfast here in Aruba.

Snikkers ambled in one day and more or less comes and goes as she pleases. Of course, she’s a friendly calico who likes you to give her plenty of attention. Then, after a quick nap, she bolts after a lizard or some other unfortunate creature.

Be kind to animals, it’s one of the keys to Heaven.

Bon dia.

The Holiday Season is in full swing here in Aruba. Live music is a key element and there are many venues enjoy it. Last night, I stopped in at Zeerovers where a friend was celebrating his new job. There was an excellent band playing. Here’s a photo:

The music did get a little loud for my taste, but I went around the back, on the water side of the joint and relaxed with an ice-cold Coca-Cola, good friends, and a view of the stars that was hard to match.

Whatever holidays you’re celebrating, enjoy them responsibly.

Bon dia.

Tuxer is a stray cat that shows up here at my shack in Aruba from time to time. He’s a regular visitor on an irregular schedule. He likes to take a nap on my patio, a drink from the water I put out for him, and an occasional snack, too. From the photo below, you can see how he got his name.

His black and white coat is just like a tuxedo. Those white shoes would be a big hit at a wedding celebration near you.

I feature cats in all my novels. For An Island Away, it was Screwball. In Bonk’s Bar, it was Larry. And in Universal Coverage, there is one named Marvin. I haven’t settled on the name for the cat in the new book I’m working on. But it’ll come. Maybe it will be Tuxer.

Bon dia.

Here is an example of what not to do:

Toting a propane tank around in your trunk is a bad idea. Not securing it is a second bad idea. Keep the links out of the chain of disaster by using your head. Okay?

Bon dia.

I went for an early morning bike ride. Usually I roll around the northwest part of the island. This time I went south, parking at the entrance to the former Lago Colony then rode east around the edge of the island. Doubling back, I came across the entrance to the old Aruba Golf Club. In the background tower the new windmills. Take a look:

The photo above gives you an idea just how big those windmills are. At the same time, the Aruba Golf Club is looking rather sad. Time marches on is the old cliche.

Bon dia and Happy Thanksgiving to all.

One of the candidates running for the Aruba Parliament has sponsored a mobile health clinic. It’s built into an old VW bus and here’s a look at it:

Dig that groovy health bus, man. Anyway, the bus traveled around the island during the past month. At each stop, people were offered free services like blood pressure screenings, cholesterol checks, and advice on diabetes. This was a great idea, a good way to meet the people, and a very creative method of campaigning. My hat’s off to this guy. Here’s another look at the bus.

Given the big healthcare debate in the US, if I was running for office, I’d sponsor one or two of these things to drive around my district. The Aruba election is September 25, 2009. Good luck to everyone.

Bon dia.

Aruba’s Black Hog Saloon was a popular spot for drinks and hijinks. It burned down last night. Given that most of it was wood and the flames were fanned by a steady breeze, not much is left. Here are a few shots for the curious.

These Wild West fronts remain, sort of.

Well, so much for that. All gone now. But don’t worry. There are plenty of other places to enjoy a beverage and fun.

Bon dia.

Brasas y Leñas is an open air joint located on the Paradera Traffic Circle in Aruba, DWI. You can’t miss that sign.

Parking is a little tight, so be mindful of where you leave your vehicle. This place is worth a stop for lunch or dinner. It’s a meat on the grill type of place with cole slaw, potato salad, french fries, rice and other sides available. You can watch the man cooking your food before your very eyes. Check it out.

That guy stands over that hot grill all day long. He does a great job, too, constantly brushing on the seasonings and sauces. Sometimes there are stacks of takeout orders that he has to prepare and hungry people are standing by. But he doesn’t surrender to the pressure. He keeps his hands moving, rotating ribs, tossing on more chicken, or slicing up the steak. Let’s take a closer look at some ribs.

Those racks just hit the iron. In no time they were roasted to perfection, ready for your gnawing pleasure. Here’s a look at the menu so you can think about your selection prior to arrival.

Those prices are in Aruban Florins. If you divide by 1.75 you’ll have the cost in US dollars. The place is a great value when you consider the volume of food. A mixed grill is plenty for two people, maybe three, all for the equivalent of about $17-18. Not bad, my friends. Flavor is good, too. The ribs are more the “dry” style and all the steak is sliced thin. Sauces are provided on the side for you to customize your meal.

Enjoy.