We arrived the day before via Dubrovnik, where we collected the rental car. Budva, the famous seaside resort of Montenegro, will be the base for our short stay: a three-day weekend on site (to which must be added one day for arrival and departure, for a total of 4 days ).
The first day: we head to Kotor, with Sanja, a really nice certified guide. You enter through a small door in the thick walls which surround the picturesque old town. Throughout the visit, I thought about Game of Thrones. Kotor, where the Byzantines, Slavs, Venetians and Austrians succeeded one another. We continue to Perast, a village nestled in a superb fjord, where we take the boat to the islet Our Lady of the Rocks. The panorama of the Adriatic sea and its shores is simply magnificent! We have lunch at the Conte restaurant in Perast: delicious fish and seafood with a spectacular 180-degree view of the sea and fjord. Then back in Budva, we walk through the old town, one of its beaches and its walls. The setting is very pleasant and the late afternoon light gilds the old stones of the houses. Budva also has a very modern part, but we will have dinner near the old town by the water.
The second day: we head to the northern part of Montenegro, more precisely the Biogradska Gora National Park (about 3 hours drive from Budva). With Ivan, our guide who is passionate about botany, we visit the park and the surroundings of the lake. Then we head to Kolasin, the starting point of our buggy tour to Katun Vranjak. Sporty driving to the top of a mountain. Impressive courses in a setting at the end of the world, with a chairlift in the background.A break with a family of breeders: a lovely meeting, even if I didn’t want to ride horses. We take our buggy back for lunch in a neighboring property. On the menu: local specialties based on local products: the meat is excellent. The return to Kolasin is intense: it is raining and the track is slippery. If you have never ridden a quad or buggy, I do not recommend it. Otherwise it’s great! We still have three hours of driving to return to Budva, with magnificent landscapes.
The third day: mountain e-bike on the program! Suffice to say that I am averagely motivated (lololol!)… Let’s say, I like the mountains. And cycling. We leave Budva for Orijen. The two-lane road (the width of which can only accommodate one car), meanders happily and unconsciously in the mountain (we often flirt with the precipice). The low vegetation reminds me of the Corsican maquis: lots of stones and rocks, against a backdrop of the sea. Arriving at the starting point, we follow the young cycling champion who will be our bike guide. The track climbs gently but surely, then the difficulty intensifies with the small stones and inclination. So much so that at the last third of the trail leading to the summit, I turned back. In the afternoon, we visit the old town of Herceg Novi which extends over several levels (in stairs): from the Kanli Kula fortress built by the Ottomans, through Belavista square with its small church, to the pebble beaches. And it’s already the end of this exciting weekend discovering Montenegro! I’ll be back for sure.
The trip in pictures below
Day 1. Visit of Kotor, Perast & Budva
Day 2. Biogradska Gora National Park & Buggy Tour
Day 3. E-bike Tour in Orijen & Walk In Herceg Novi
It’s almost the holiday season, treat yourself to a weekend at De Witte Lelie: my favorite hotel in Antwerp! If you are a hedonist and appreciate the exclusive side of a confidential hotel with unique decoration, run by a refined Antwerp family, you will be in heaven! As soon as I entered, I felt elsewhere, in a world full of fantasy, cheerfulness and calm. While being in the center of Antwerp, near the shopping streets, trendy and luxury boutiques! The welcome is warm, you have the impression of staying with long-time friends.
The interior was designed by the talented Ann Dierick. It is a successful dialogue between tradition and modernity. I really appreciate her freedom, fantasy and Brit touch in combining very different textures with casualness. Her way of giving rhythm to the different spaces. It’s colorful, shimmering, sometimes a little rock’n’roll, but always with taste. Each room has a different decoration. My favorite is the one where I slept, with a rock star bathroom with a chandelier-shower (unheard of for me!) and Marylin on gold wallpaper. The bedding is impeccable, so I had a hard time getting out of bed and the room (photo montage below).
The other pearl of the hotel is the breakfast served in the interior courtyard by the very charming Tayla, the Manager. This small garden offers a touch of greenery in spring and summer. The table is set with care and the ingredients are of quality. Eating becomes a real pleasure as the setting is so pleasant! Here, we could also stay for hours, chatting, reading one of the art, architecture or Antwerp books taken in one of the lounges, or just daydreaming. Antwerp-farniente (relaxation Antwerp style)! Thank you to the entire De Witte Lelie team for this enchanting break!
If I tell you that the white sand beaches of Aruba are stunning! You will answer me: course, Aruba is a small island in the Netherlands Antilles facing Venezuela! OK, we agree! The color of the sea is between emerald, turquoise and ultramarine blue.
I recommend renting a car and bringing a beach map.Here are my favorites: Dos Playa, two beautiful beaches in Arikok National Park (the first photo above in this article) and Rodger’s Beach et Baby Beach in San Nicolas (second photo below). There is also Eagle Beach (with its Aruba emblematic fofoti trees).
Between two beaches, I visit the Aruba Aloe Museum & Factory, where I learn that the island is also renowned throughout the world for the quality of its Aloe Vera, initially imported and planted since 1890. During the visit, we let’s start with the plantation and witness the different stages of manufacturing cosmetics based on this precious plant in the factory.
2. My Must-Haves For Foodies!
Infini: The Gastronomic Restaurant Of Chef Urvin Croes
We arrive at Infini at the appointed time, around 7 p.m. because there is only one service. Book well in advance! I have no idea how this dinner will go. I discover step by step. Upon entering the only room, customers are seated along a U-shaped counter, around the central table where the Chef and his team cook. In the background, a modern kitchen and the directed lighting contributes to the scenography.
Twelve dishes will follow one another brilliantly prepared before our eyes, with the precision of a goldsmith (photo-montage above). The presentation of the dishes is polished and the flavors highlight local products. I particularly liked the meat and fish: absolutely delicious! The cooking!
Each dish is paired with a different wine. The Chef was kind enough to adapt some dishes for me, due to my allergies (I informed the team when booking). We leave around 11 p.m., really happy with this gastronomic odyssey!
The Other Restaurants Where I Really Liked To Dine
They are in photos in the montage below:
N°1 & n°2 : Olivia Aruba. Very good Mediterranean cuisine! Tasty and creative in a setting that reminds me more of Cuba than the Mediterranean.
N°3 & n°4 : Passions On The Beach. The most beautiful setting for dinner with a magnificent sunset. Our table on the beach was in the front row facing the sea! Simple and friendly cuisine.
N°5, n°6 & photo above : Papiamento Restaurant. The setting is very pleasant, we dine outside around the swimming pool of a 126-year-old manor house. I chose a very good dish of stone-cooked fish and vegetables.
3. Street Art, Gallery And Dream Beaches In The South-East of Aruba
In A Less Touristy Part Of The Island
San Nicolas experienced strong economic growth until the mid-1980s. Then the city fell into disuse. Today, we can discover its streets thanks to beautiful murals (photo montage below). A project initiated by Tito Bolivar, owner of an art gallery in San Nicolas and also guide of the Aruba Mural Tour. Allow at least a good half day.
Then we stopped at two very beautiful beaches, including one that looks like a Pink Floyd vinyl cover which is my favorite: Rodger’s Beach (picture above). The color of the water is incredible! One of the access points to the beach is a long staircase whose steps are covered with mosaic (in the photo montage below).
On the way back to Oranjestad, the capital of Aruba, we had a drink at Charlies’s Bar, an institution here! The decoration made up of thousands of eclectic objects from floor to ceiling included, is a must-see!
4. Explore the paths of the nature reserve
Arikok National Park
Absolutely worth discovering, preferably early in the morning when it’s cooler. We did it with a ranger of the park who is inexhaustible both about the fauna, flora and cultural aspect. A real pleasure! You can pick up a map of the park at the Visitor Center, with around 20 points of interest, including: Cunucu Arikok (traditional Ari Kok house, second photo below), Dos Playa and the Quadiriki Cave (cave in photos below). -above and below). There are different levels of difficulty if you want to hike around the park.
5. A Picnic Near Oranjestad, The Capital
Colorful Facades
I took a morning to wander the streets of the historic center of Oranjestad, the capital of Aruba with beautiful facades of Dutch architecture. If you like shopping, there is a choice: from luxury boutiques to fast fashion. All grouped together in a few streets.
For me, shopping gets boring very quickly. I prefer museums, cafes and restaurants. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to visit the archaeological museum. But I really enjoyed the marina area where our second hotel is located (photo below).
A lovey picnic awaits us at Surfside Beach (near Oranjestad), in the shade by the water (photo montage above). When we arrived, the table is already set. And soon as we sit down, drinks and food are served (raw vegetables, cheeses and fruits, the choice is yours). Everything is well presented, there is even a vintage radio. What a nice experience!
6. Bathing In Natural Pools
The Island Tour By Jeep
Or how to take a fun tour of the island without having to drive (especially when you didn’t to rent a 4X4)! On the program: a first stop at natural swimming pools (quite difficult to access for people with reduced mobility). Awesome setting! Followed by other stops at: Baby Natural Bridge (first photo below), Bushieribana Gold Smelter Ruins and finally at the California Lighthouse (the third photo below).
7. Where To Sleep
My Favorite : The Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba
We arrived in Aruba the evening, exhausted. And the Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba was such an amazing surprise! Everything I like: a small hotel owned by two Belgian sisters who grew up in Aruba and who have great taste! The hotel is both simple and refined!
From the reception, I was charmed by the interior design. The welcome is warm. We feel good there (photos above and below). The apartment is large and very comfortable, perfectly equipped with a pretty terrace which overlooks the lush hotel gardens. We are in cheerful calm coconl.
There are two swimming pools, outdoor showers, a restaurant for breakfast (portions are generous!). The team and the customers are pleasant. The dream, a true haven of happiness! I didn’t want to leave!
The Second Hotel In Oranjestad (photos below)
The Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort
The second hotel we stayed at during our trip was the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Ressort. The strong points of which are: its small private island (and its famous pink flamingos), its very convenient location in Oranjestad and the fact that the establishment is near the airport. The island is accessed by small boats which shuttle often and its two large beaches are pleasant.
A big masha danki to the Aruba Tourism Authority for this beautiful invitation. And massa danio to all the persons I met there! As always, these are my opinions.
