Aruba

 

Aruba

If you’ve read these blogs in order, you have just finished Bonaire and will be unsurprised when I write that Aruba is the “A” in the ABC of the Antilles.  Today I learned that “Antilles” is a long ago mis-hearing of the original Amerindian word to describe the area…and thus the mis-designation calling these “the useless islands”.  Friends, we’ve been playing the game “Telephone” since the beginning of time.

We were in Aruba for two days.  We took a ship shore excursion on day one although it might have been better titled as a sea excursion.  We sailed on a catamaran for about 45 minutes to a snorkeling spot, snorkeled for about 45 minutes, then moved away from shore a bit and snorkeled over a wreck for another 45 minutes before sailing back to the boat.  It was a lovely day, and the sailing and snorkeling were great.  Arriving back on shore we decided to go shopping.  It was a surprise to find for the second day in a row that essentially nothing was open except restaurants.  This was very disappointing for Jen.  Much less so for Jerry.  We walked along the dock area, found an ATM that did not charge for a cash withdrawal, and headed back to the ship.  Maybe the stores will be open tomorrow.

A natural bridge

What used to be a natural bridge that has since fallen apart

Aruba is about 1/3 the size of Bonaire and has 110,000 people (compared to B’s 21k) from 92 nationalities.  It is 750 miles north of the equator, so the sun is INTENSE and the winds are everlasting, ever fierce, and taxing on the human body.  When the wind turbines are turned on, they furnish 22% of the island’s energy.  Aruba is divided into two cities and 8 districts each having its own school system and church, has a parliamentary government and now has a female prime minister whose uncle is a famous political freedom fighter in the island’s history.  The well publicized slogan is ”One Happy Island”  and our guide said that people live that way.  Hospitality, welcoming, and viewing all as the same is their mantra.  First to land on the island were the Spanish.  Gold was discovered in 1876.  Supposedly, the mother lode is still to be found.

Day two found us on a bench in the back of a four wheel drive tour vehicle.  This is a pretty standard tour vehicle on most islands.  They can fit six or eight people on two benches that run the length of the bed of the vehicle.  Really bumpy if the road is rough.  Our first stop was Arikok National Park which needed the four wheel drive.  Hang on tight.  We went across the park to the end of the road which led to a stairway made out of the natural stone down to a natural pool protected by the rock from incoming waves.  A little snorkeling then back to the truck.  

We were whisked all around-- to a natural bridge, the gold mine remnants, the first church built on the island in 1750—and then in 1760, malaria hit and the chapel was closed for 200 years.  It fell into disrepair then was lost.  When it was rediscovered they found the original Madonna and child statue which is now displayed in the chapel.  

                     

    

We also visited what looked like a fort but was one of the places they processed the gold.   The lighthouse was our final stop before we headed back to the ship, windblown and ready to go out for a quick 2 hours of shopping before the ship departed at 5:30.  The stores were open, except the number of permanently closed stores was shocking.  Two other large cruise ships caught up with us and overtook the city!!!  Perhaps with this sort of influx Aruba can start to make a comeback.  Time will tell.

The natural bridges were covered earlier in the post, now we have the natural fence. They take off the cactus arms, plant them in this way and create a living fence. Creative, and likely very... effective.