Here's one of many photos that I took of casinos in both Aruba and Curacao. I'll be making a page on my website where I'll post all of the pictures as well as some information them. Hopefully, this page will become a valuable resource to any chippers that may feel bold enough to visit some of these crazy places.

The Alhambra was one of the nicest casinos in Aruba. It was also one of the largest, although the Royal Cabana boasts of being the largest casino on the island, I think it's because of it being the largest facility in general, not the largest of the casinos in gaming space. I had the priviledge of going into the Alhambra Casino on my way back from downtown Oranjestad (the capital city of Aruba) where I spent the New Years Eve midnight madness. Firewworks EVERYWHERE!! I was at the Seaport Casino on the docks for a birdseye view. The Seaport had closed from 11:30 to 12:30 for the fireworks.

Anyway, I stopped into the packed Alhambra Casino at 12:45am and discovered that I had missed the New Years countdown and the champagne toast and confetti, but I was just in time for the scheduled "Balloon Drop".

The Casino had netting across the full length of both sides of the gaming table area.
These nets went from the balcony on each end of the gaming area. The nets were filled to the brim with hundreds of inflated ballons and misc items such as Alhambra logo T-shirts and logo wallets. Inside of the most of the Balloons were pieces of paper with a typed item number and description. These items were various logo items such as canvas bags, lighter, t-shirts, umbrellas, coolers, mugs, jackets, hats, clocks, cd players and then more expessive items such as dinner for two at the El Gaucho Steak House (excellent food, expensive price tag). There were also many cash awards as well ranging from $10.00 up to $500.00!!! At exactly 1:00am (remember Carribean time) they were to drop all of the balloons and all of the patrons were to all at once pounce on them, break them, and thus free the contained prize papers. Well right on time exactly sometime after 1:00am and closer to 1:30am the nets were released and the balloons and items were let to fly.

Well, i orginally thought that i was a very smart man strategically placing myself in the midst of some elderly women. My logical thinking led me to the conclusion that elderly women would be slower and not put up much of a fight when i pushed them down and took their balloons. Well, Terry...think again. The lesson of the day was never, EVER stand in the way of a little elderly woman with free stuff within her grasp! Neither myself, nor Kryptonite would effect her super human strength and agility.

Thinking ahead, I did manage to cleverly sneak into the bar prior to the balloon drop and snagged myself a prized toothpick which i guarded like a prized sword for my anticipated fast approaching swashbucking adventure! I kept the toothpick well hidden until just the right moment waiting until the final countdown before slyly pulling it out. Cleverness paid off for popping balloons. Yes it did. I popped many ballons. Lots and lots and lots of balloons. The only problem was that was all I did. I popped the balloons and saw nothing! I popped more and more ballons. I was a regular ballon popping maniac. I'm not sure, but i think I let out a maniacal laugh as i attached a few of the ballons. What I failed to logically think out was the fact that as the balloons popped the internal prize papers would go flying. I managed to pounce on a wallet and it went right into my back pocket. I thought no time to look inside now, there would be plenty of time later to count up all of my booty. So, toothpick in hand, I popped on. Until all of the balloons were mere limp pieces of latex laying there on the floor. Then...silence. Almost silence. Right there next to me was the little old lady with a hand full of prize papers...giggling like a little girl who just won the big stuffed rabbit at the carnival midway. I stopped myself from attacking her. Which was a good thing, because I think she could have taken me. I stopped and thought; its a good thing i spent all of those years in college! I pop the ballons, and the little old lady gets all of the prizes. Hmpf! Then I thought; wait a gosh darned minute here....the wallets!! I have two wallets in my back pocket and I bet they have big prize papers in them. After all, where would be a better place for the casino to put the big prize tickets? Nowhere! They had to be in the wallets...and I picked up two of them! I pulled the first one out and opened it. My heart sank. How could this be. It was empty; as was the second.

I saw alot of people walking up to the front casino desk with thier prize papers in hand. When I got up there the area was packed. there were people with easily 20 prize papers in hand. But you know what, it was fine. It was fine because i had a fantastic time. It was totally a blast and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I left the casino with my prized wallets and a huge smile on my face. So two thumbs up to the Alhambra Casino for giving me a wonderful and memorable time. Oh yeah, two wallets up as well!