A harrowing sound lacerates the air and makes for a near cataclysmic cacophony with each thunderous wave that pulverizes the rocks in Noord on the temperate island of Aruba. Day or night the playlist seems to be on continuous shuffle but repeating the all-too familiar rhythm of the sea. The green from the near perfectly maintained (what I would assume is Tiff 419 Bermuda Turf) grass and the unmistakable elegance of the California Lighthouse are the only visual breaks amidst the cacti and brittle brush in this singed brown desert landscape that makes up this masterfully designed golf oasis. On this nearly barren northwest point of land the makeshift rock formations are only outmatched in arrangement by the impeccable estate homes, multi-bedroom villas and well-appointed condominiums that offer both opulence and clandestineness. For the first time in our nearly two decades of visiting our “One Happy Island” retreat, we left behind our part-time paradise in the pillowy sand of Palm Beach’s high rise hotels for a different, more affluent experience. 

There was reason for a change in our normal accommodations as well as cause for celebration – we were enjoying both our daughter’s high school graduation as well as our cousins’ 10th wedding anniversary and the renewal of their wedding vows. For all the years we have all been traveling here, we had only seen them once, by accident in the airport and heading in an opposing direction. We lucked out that day as we were the ones just arriving! 

One very considerate thought from these extended “honeymooners” that must be mentioned was that they had set their renewals well in advance to ensure that anyone that wished, could join them. They wanted to repeat their nuptials with everyone on the island where they had made so many great memories. I had looked forward to this event for well over a year and was so happy to be back on my island of solace.

The flight and airport transfers were completely uneventful except for seeing some celebrity chefs from the Food Network that were traveling to the Aruba Wine, Food & Art Festival. Speaking of uneventful, with an average daytime temperature of 82° Fahrenheit (27° Celsius) and the constant flow of the trade winds, there is something to be said about the predictability of weather for the local meteorologist. That has to be one of the most boring jobs in the world! After our direct flight across the Caribbean from New York and traveling through town, we finally arrived in Noord and at the rugged and picturesque 600 acre community. It was late in the day and we all had only two things on our minds – the pool and our first dinner destination an overdue return to the monumental courtyard dining at Quinta Del Carmen. 

A familiar flamenco guitar sound permeated throughout the property as we walked to our Allamanda estate home and we quickly recognized the familiar tune by Ottmar Liebert from our years of living in Arizona. It seemed every resort or new home community in and around Oranjestad (as in Scottsdale) embraced “Passing Storm” as part of their not so unique musical branding. 

The song was comforting as we proceeded towards our vacation rental with our small bedouin tribe. We were traveling with ten people so the four bedrooms and our own private pool were certainly exactly what the doctor ordered. As we approached the property I recognized what appeared to be a coat of arms – a modified version of the royal standards I had known for the Dutch Royal Family was secured to the door post and a man not much older than myself was relaxing outside. As we proceeded closer to the edifice, and to the man, four armed members of what appeared to be a well-trained security service seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Instead of reacting to this, I was fixated on the subtle change to the standard I had grown so accustomed to seeing with that of Queen Beatrix (and Queen Juliana). The rosette was missing.

The rosette in the ribbon of the Military Order of William had been replaced by a bow. This was the royal standard of the second youngest monarch in Europe after Felipe VI of Spain. Our traveling circus were all now looking at the man sitting in the chair – we were in the presence of royalty on our doorstep, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. He had recently ascended to the throne in 2013 when his mother Queen Beatrix abdicated after her reign of exactly 33 years. 

It was definitely one of those moments when you look back and think that it lasted for 20 minutes when it was really only maybe two. 

One of the members of the security service was asking me questions but I didn’t hear a word he said. I was clicking through in my mind all the answers in the Jeopardy category on the House of Orange-Nassau and running a parallel track about royal etiquette –

– Should my wife and daughters curtsey?

– Should I bow or genuflect? 

– Should I address him as “Your Royal Highness”? 

For a moment I felt (and probably looked like) Clark W. Griswold and his family in European Vacation. I came fast forward out of my dream sequence and back to reality blurting out – “Your Majesty, we just arrived from your Mom’s airport.” 

I could literally feel our entire family turn and stare at me with completely puzzled looks on their faces. The King turned away and laughed to himself as the security service motioned to us to continue walking down the path. One of them mumbled under their breath something about not knowing how to behave in front of royalty but I was still in a state of shock that the King was staying in what was clearly our vacation home. 

Where were we going to stay? When was His Royal Highness going to be checking out? 

Never mind those details, why were we now just walking down this path? 

As one of the King’s Netherlands ninjas promptly explained, they needed the four bedroom Allamanda estate home for the King for some security reasons and we were switched to stay at the five bedroom Allamanda estate home. We had not been on the island for two hours and we literally received a royal upgrade – wait until the rest of the family and our own royal couple hear about this! 

While we told our tale at dinner, we wondered if he was on vacation with his family or tending to some governmental affairs. Later that evening we returned to our vacation home to find a note affixed to our door. The envelope and letterhead bore the seal of the King. It was an invitation for our family to a gala reception – an exquisite five-course menu by some of the islands top chefs during the Aruba Wine, Food & Art Festival. The royal treatment would continue for this trip!