A Long Goodbye

On the southern edge of Aruba, beyond the famous Baby Beach, is an area where pets are buried. We all love our pets, think of them as members of the family, and treat them better than ourselves at times. It’s only appropriate they are buried respectfully. Here’s a view of the way it’s done on the island.

This is a solemn place. You can’t look at the makeshift crosses without thinking about your own pets, both past and present. I’ve seen people come here to place flowers and other offerings, which only proves how beloved these animals were. Some day I want to incorporate this scene into a story.

And yet only a quarter mile away you’ll find families frolicking in the water, people snorkeling, and others just working on their tans. In the distance, beyond that clear blue water, you’ll see super tankers and cargo ships passing by.

Life goes on, but it’s only right to pause once in a while to remember the ones we loved, especially our pets.

Published in: on June 17, 2008 at 4:26 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Too Much of a Good Thing?

Since so many people have messaged me to demand more beach and Aruba photos, I’ll bow to the pressure and put just two more up. Then, we’re going back to Spain. But we’re still in Aruba for now, going to one of my favorite spots to snorkel. This is an area known as Mango Halto (which can be spelled many different ways) also known as Spanish Lagoon. This area features a dramatic cliff that drops straight to the water. The ocean is buffered by a reef located about two hundred yards from the cliff. Some nice soul cut a stairway down the cliff to a spot where you can don your gear and get in the water.

The mast (flagpole) and landscaping here was installed by a local fellow who wants to keep the spot as a pleasant retreat for those who appreciate the opportunity to enjoy nature’s beauty. People respect this, leaving it as they found it, clean and tidy. That boardwalk leads to the stairs down to the ocean.

The snorkeling along the cliff is average. There are usually a bunch of fish but very few spots of coral. Nonetheless, if you go out toward the reef you’ll find all sorts of coral including fans. The fish swimming here are the brilliantly colored types that are never boring. Sometimes the choppy waves make the swimming a challenge. Early in the morning is the best time to go.

Then after some awesome ocean viewing, you come back up the stairs and take a seat here:

You can see this is a comfortable spot for two. Here you can dry off, relax, maybe enjoy your favorite beverage. Just one more reason why so many people love Aruba, and rightly so.

There’s a small hotel within a two minute walk of Mango Alto. It’s called the Sea Breeze, and it is a charming bit of Caribbean hospitality. They have a small swimming pool in the courtyard, a barbecue, and a bar. It’s the type of place to stay when you want to get away from the crush of the high-rise hotels, when you want to get back to the basics. Isn’t that why you came to a Caribbean island in the first place?

Published in: on June 17, 2008 at 12:57 pm  Comments (1)  
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