Owls in Aruba

Given that Aruba is a desert island, the wildlife is limited as compared to more tropical locations. However, there are quite a few interesting birds to  be seen, including these burrowing owls. You have to look at this photo very carefully to spot the owl on the rock in the center of the photo.

The owls are very skittish. I took this photo from about 100′ away, which is why the resolution is poor. If you get much closer, they fly away. Notice the burrow beneath the rock in the lower left of the picture. That’s where they nest. I’m always extremely careful not to disturb the next or the owls themselves. There aren’t many of these guys left on the island. The good news is that conservation efforts are helping.

Published in: on August 30, 2008 at 11:33 am  Leave a Comment  
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Gold Mine Ruins, Aruba

There was a time in the early 1800’s when gold was mined in Aruba. It was nothing like the gold strikes in South America, but still, there were some thousands of ounces to be recovered. A massive stone building was constructed on the east side of the island. Here’s a look at what remains.

You can grasp the scale of the building by looking at the mini-van in the right hand corner of the photo. Those are big blocks they used. At any rate, these ruins are on the stop of most tours including the bus, jeep, and ATV programs that you will see advertised. This location is also not far from the natural bridge. Let’s have another look.

I’m not sure how that volcanic rock was cut. It must have been a difficult job. You can also see the size of the massive boulders on that pile of them to the right. Aruba is strewn with rocks like this, some of which are ten times the size of those. I’ll post photos of them later. For now, know that the gold has been taken from Aruba so there’s no sense bring your pans the way you might to Alaska. Still, the sun shines, the breeze blows, and the beaches are fabulous. Don’t forget your hat and sunglasses.

Published in: on August 2, 2008 at 2:27 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A Few Churches, Aruba

Many posts ago, I showed an image of a small Protestant Church located here in Aruba. This time, I’m going to show several Catholic Churches. Aruba, with is various cultures, hosts a number of religions. However, given the strong Spanish influence, many people belong to the Catholic faith. Here is one of the large churches located in the town of Noord.

As casual as the island is, many local people dress in their finest for Sunday services, including the children. This is a pleasant sight, as is the devotion they express when filling such large buildings. Here’s another church, this one located in Paradera.

Most all of these churches have schools attached to them. The children don uniforms and file into class carrying their books in “brief cases,” which may be a good thing in that it reminds them of the seriousness of education. Here is one more church, this time in Santa Cruz.

Of course, there are cemeteries beside these churches. In Aruba, just like New Orleans, the tombs are mostly above ground. We’ll take a look at some of those eerie spaces in future posts.

Published in: on August 1, 2008 at 1:20 pm  Comments (1)  
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Natural Bridge, Aruba

The natural bridge in Aruba, the one you probably heard of, fell down a few years ago. But don’t worry, nature is scarfing out another one that is destined to be just as beautiful. Here’s a look at the one that still stands on the eastern edge of the island.

The one that fell down was only a few yards away, and here is what’s left of it.

Luckily it fell down in the middle of the night, like so many things do, and no one was injured. This side of Aruba faces into the trade winds. The seas are driven on the shore with spectacular results, like these natural bridges that are cut from the rock. You’ll see water shooting straight up as it crashes over the rocks. The vistas can be striking, especially early in the morning. Most guided tours of the island bring you to this spot.

As you may have suspected, there is place to buy trinkets and use the toilet. It’s called the Thirst-Aid Station and I recommend you avail yourself of the facilities before you head on with your jaunt.

If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know that it is the perfect place for an ICE-COLD Coca-Cola. I’ve had a few here with friends and family and so should you.

Published in: on July 27, 2008 at 5:42 pm  Leave a Comment  
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