Since the last weeks’s sunset was so much loved and it makes many think of the island. I’ll post another sunset shot.
This was taken from my back yard.
I must also add that this entire week we’ve been having superb sunsets. I’ll try and go out and play later today. I have an idea going around my head for some time already.
Enjoy your Sunday.
Blessings,
Bryan Morris
Scala is a restaurant that is now open a little over a year in the brand new Paseo Herencia Mall.
I’ve had the pleasure of repeating my dining experience there about a week ago. This was one of my first restaurant visits for the year. It then never crossed my mind to have a restaurant review on my blog so I did not take a good camera and the images were not of the quality accustomed to on the blog so I never posted them.
I’ve had this guilty feeling as this was a great experience and I didn’t get a chance to showcase it so I just had to rebound.
The second time around seemed even better than the first as I got to talk to Alex, the restaurant’s manager in person and he gave me the inside scoop.
The restaurant is great and big. You have the option of sitting inside in the AC, outside on the balcony or on the street side downstairs just like in Italy or France.
Service is awesome, you’re treated like the royalty that you are. Lila our waiter was exceptional, very attentive.
The ambience differ, due to the different levels. Inside and on the balcony in a private corner can be very romantic. On the balcony more open and downstairs on the walkway it can be very much casual. It’s amazing to see one establishment but it can still offer different ambience simultaneously.
Here’s is a more graphic view of the dinner that we’ve had.
Escargot a la Scala was for Shayenne, of course I had to taste it I’m going to give the review, right.
Seafood Chowder for moi
Reef and Beef for wifey, the traditional Surf and Turf but they came up with a funky name for it.
I’ve had the scampi stuffed grouper, Ooh La La…..
I’m not a drinker, I might have a wine or two during dinner but that’s it. We were just tempted to try the Baileys Martini after dinner, which we did.
A portrait of me, I told you Shay is starting to get a hang of the camera.
Shayenne all smiles after the Baileys Martini, happy as a clam!
Talking to Alex, I’ve learned that they have the have a Chocolate Martini, and urged us to try it. You would probably hear about a Chocolate Martini and envision a brown drink, well at Scala you’re wrong. He brought us a clear drink with 1 Kisses chocolate at the bottom. This drink was so chocolaty, that it amazes me.
You noticed I don’t have a picture of dessert, I did have desert, Brownie a la Mode. Deep in conversation it came to my table and I bit a few chunks of it. I’ve remembered the day after that I didn’t take a shot or two of it.
My general take of the restaurant is AWESOME.
* Disclaimer
All restaurant reviews on this blog are not funded by any of the restaurant, they are my unbiased opinion of the establishment.
Be blessed,
Bryan Morris
I wish you a blessed Sunday!
As promised here’s another view through my eyes. This is another view of the lighthouse.
Enjoy,
Bryan Morris
This is a new section/challenge that I’ve embarked upon. “Aruba through my eyes”
I’m twisting my own arm behind my back in order to get out and shoot for myself, well now not so true anymore as I’ll be doing it to display for you and have fun while doing it.
For those of you that know Aruba have seen images of the many landmarks but I’ll be displaying the landmarks but from a different perspective. I’ll start out with one from the lighthouse as I have quite a few different perspectives of this landmark
Every Sunday, look out for “Aruba, through my eyes”
Enjoy,
Bryan Morris
The experience that I’ve had yesterday caused me to come to this conclusion. I’m very sorry that I have to pose a rant but this serves for the both UPS and Directie der posterijen Aruba to get their act together as this is obviously not working out.
It never ceases to amaze me that we have multiple flights leaving Aruba to the US on a daily basis and it however takes a package 3 weeks or more to get to the my client. This is something that I certainly will have to investigate. I think if this mail leaves here in a canoe it would get there before three weeks, so there is a hold up, glitch, bottleneck, (Call it what you may) in the system somewhere.
I’ve sent a package a little over three weeks ago to the post office and to my surprise I’ve received an email from my client last week stating that she still hadn’t gotten my package.
When I taught “WOW, this is not good” and hoped for it to arrive to her soon, my kids went to get the mail yesterday and brought it in to me. Lo and behold what I’ve received in the mail…..
…..part of the packaging used to send the CD to my client with an apology letter.
It’s all nice and well to have an apology but who will have to cover the expense to resend this? Moi, of course!
I’ve resorted to offer another option which would definitely be costlier but I think you would get better service and I’m certain that it would take only a matter of days, three to the most to get your package to you.
End of rant.
Blessings,
Bryan Morris
This has been hinted quite a few times since I’ve been committed to blogging. I’ve dropped a post yesterday and the day before. The wait is over because Aruba is hot like the title says in our local language Papiamento.
Today marks our 5 year anniversary and to celebrate this with you I’ve created a video (Together with my assistant of course) and loaded it up to Youtube.
Sit back relax and celebrate with us.
Disclaimer: This was very difficult for me to do. I’m usually behind the camera and not in front so it felt strange.
I was nervous and excited at the same time.
I really wanted to make a professional cut to do this, I was promised by a friend to help me, which never showed up so I resorted to my good old faithful laptop.
Never mind the quality, just listen to the words. I’m sure it would make someone happy.
Blessings,
Bryan Morris
Thanks to my lovely wife, I’ve had the honor of visiting LG Smith Steak & Chop House in downtown Oranjestad, Aruba for dinner a couple of evenings ago. Am I not blessed to have a beautiful, influential wife like I have. Just take a look at the images below. Isn’t she cute?
I just had to say that because upon going through these images I was stopped in my tracks and started to think how blessed I am. I encourage you (especially the men) to stop from time to time and smell the roses and show and express appreciation to your loved ones. I know we are demonstrators by character, men but for some reason I’ve learn that they (women) know you love them but they still just want to hear you say it.
Let’s resume to our restaurant review. I love, love love the setting. The decor is absolutely fabulous. The food is great and the service is stupendous. Jean, a Haitian native residing on the island for 16 years really knows how to make your experience one of a lifetime.
Of course, I’ve had to have my other wife along (My Camera Bag), as my wife calls it. So following are a few images that I took in the restaurant.
My Beautiful wife.
Fried Calamari for Shayenne.
Aruban Seafood Chowder for Moi.
She does not eat much (but can always request my help), but could not resist the description given by Jean concerning this 20 oz Porterhouse steak with a choice of 8 sides of which Shayenne chose Creamed Spinach and Sauteed Mushrooms.
Surf & Turf with sides of Cream Spinach and Mixed Veggies.
Is that sexy Ice cream eating or what?
Sipping on some bubbly…….This was Chateau St Michel from California, soft and fruity.
This is Jean, our 5 star waiter. You’re the best.
Blessings,
Bryan Morris
Ring, ring…..
“Hello, this is Bryan Morris how may I help you?”
“Hi Mr. Morris…I have a guest here that will like some family portraits taken on the beach later today.
Are you available?”
This is the way I was connected with Family Rolo. Mr & Mrs Rolo have the cutest kids. Upon meeting them at the Aruba Westin Resort one of Starwood Hotels on Palm Beach, Aruba I could see they were very laid back. The day was a bit cloudy but I’ve asured Mrs Rolo that even though she preferred sunset that I would still work around the dark skies and create the best family portraits that I could amidst the circumstances.
Family Rolo consist of Mom (Ann) and Dad (Lou) and two beautiful daughters, Lucia and Antonia.
Lucia and Antonia are two little models. Don’t be surprised within a couple of years you see them on the runway. Mom informed me that Lucia used to model as a baby. She still has it in her as she strikes her pose.
It was an absolute pleasure for me to work with you.
Following is a few images of the shoot.
Blessings,
Bryan Morris
Blessings,
Bryan Morris
Yummy, yummy great for your tummy!
A few weeks ago was my wife’s birthday. This birthday seemed to be the best one ever. She received gifts like there was no tomorrow. On the day of her birthday she decided that we were not going to go anywhere as she wanted to spend some family time, kids included.
The day after her birthday was for us to celebrate together. As you can see from the title that we’ve been to Ventanas del Mar at the Tierra de Sol Resort, Spa and Country Club home of the famous Tierra del Sol golf course.
OMGosh! Superfantabulous!
Service 5 stars
Ambience 5 stars
Food 5 stars
They even have a musician either playing a flute or a saxophone enriching the experience.
This is the birthday girl. Ain’t she hawt. Taken in available light and used the 50 1.4 lens from Canon, therefore the soft texture of the image.
Seafood Cocktail Ventanas, this was for Shayenne.
Corn Crab Chowder, this was for yours truly.
Live entertainment. I like how the beginning of the flute is in focus and the musician is soft, almost out of focus. This is still all done by available light. I just love the effect from available light, it captures the moment. When you see it years after it gives you a nostalgic trip back to the moment and the ambience. Available light is my preferred shooting style. I use flash if I want to create a special effect or I’m shooting in a total dungeon.
Surf & Turf for wifey, doesn’t that look great!
This was the Crispy Whole Red Snapper, this fish was huge. Three people could’ve easily eaten from this fish with some veggies. I’ve honestly tried to down this, but it beat me to it. I just couldn’t.
This was the restaurant’s surprise (Tres Leche) as they knew it was her birthday. Does she look happy or what?
This was the Birthday Cake/ Dessert from up close.
Blessings,
Bryan Morris
This edifice was not constructed for the purpose it’s being used today.
This house was built by the great builder of that time Mer(d)ardo ‘Dada’ Picus. This project was most probably drawn up, supervised and built by him. This massive project for that time spanned 1545 m2 through three different streets, Wilhelminastraat, Schoolstraat and Oranjestraat.
This building was the home as well as the doctor’s office and pharmacy of Dr. Jacobo Eloy Maria Arends born on April 19th, 1893. It was built for the marriage to Maria Monica Lacle, born on May 4th, 1900.
She was the daughter of Adriaan Lacle, whom Adriaan Lacle Blvd was named after.
Back then it was imperative to have a new furnished house to put your wife in if you had plans of getting married. Construction commenced shortly after the engagement in 1922. Monica was not allowed to see the house so she was prohibited to come in close proximity of the house.
The home was furnished by the sisters of “Loy” as the doctor was lovingly called while they were on vacation, so Monica got to see her new house fully furnished upon return of her honeymoon.
Family Arends migrated to Aruba since the second half of the 18th century; the family was very affluent business people.
Dr Eloy Arends graduated in Amsterdam and became the first government’s physician on the island of Aruba, a very different career choice.
Even though Dr. Eloy Arends chose a different career choice, from a social point of view he was still following in his family’s footsteps. Many parties were hosted in this home.
After Dr. Eloy Arends’ passing in 1960, his son Jesus Eloy Maria Arends, dentist lived in the house, before renting it out as a restaurant, Oriental Restaurant. It also shortly functioned as a center for the political party, MEP. In 1986 he sold the house to the Aruban government because restoration would’ve been a task, way beyond his budget.
The restoration of the Eloy Arends building was the first big task that the monument bureau, the monument advisory board and the monument fund functioned as organizational framework.
Blessings,
Bryan Morris
Bad Behavior has blocked 69 access attempts in the last 7 days.
