Aruba, Island Approach

Here is a photo taken from American Airlines flight 1047, MIA to AUA:

How about those blue waters below? Actually, I think they’re more turquoise than blue, but who’s keeping track of the colors. I’m on final approach to my favorite island, one that I’ve been visiting for about 15 years. It all started when a friend of mine invited me to Aruba to take a look at a business idea. From there, it become a regular pilgrimage to this place in the Caribbean.

Aruba is one of those mixed up places in the world. It maintains “status aparte” from Holland but is nominally a Dutch island. The people speak several languages, including Papiamento which is a combination of several others. The island is close enough to South America for there to be a large Spanish-speaking population, yet there are a number of Europeans in residence as well. And then there are the Americans, everything from expats who grew up there during the boom years of the Esso refinery to vacationers and pensioners simply looking for reliable sunshine.

Either way, Aruba offers the visitor fabulous beaches, excellent dining options, plenty of opportunity to do nothing or stay out all day and night. Thanks to its friendly people and the aforementioned activities, it has the highest number of repeat visitors in the Caribbean. And it should. I’ve been many places in this world, but few are as welcoming as Aruba.

Published in: on July 7, 2008 at 11:30 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Hurricane Season

Hurrican Season is off to a good start with two named storms already. Bertha is plunging across the Atlantic in search of a target. One of the reasons I like Aruba so much is that the island is south of the hurricane track. In a worst case, it receives the back spin of a storm passing to the north, as is illustrated in my novel, An Island Away. Even that is a rarity. Miami, on the other hand, gets hit on a regular basis, although not lately. Below is a photo from a hurricane that struck the city in September of 1926. The photographer jokingly calls the beach the new “drydock.”

That’s a decent size ship there on the left and a barge on the right. The motor launch at the far left does have the look of a rum runner, doesn’t it? I could see Hemingway on her, or maybe a bunch of guys steaming up from Cuba with cigars, bootleg booze, and a story to tell. Those were the days. And to think the smugglers of today think they invented something new. The only difference is they use airplanes.

Anyway, calm weather gives the good sailor a chance to repair. So be sure to keep an eye on the weather. Don’t ignore hurricane warnings. These storms are among the most powerful on earth and once they are upon you it is too late. There’s no place to hide. As far as smuggling goes, well, if it’s material for a good story, I might be inclined to listen. Send me a note about what you’ve been up to. Thanks.

Published in: on July 7, 2008 at 7:10 pm  Comments (2)  
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