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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My Friend Rossy (Rosie)

Rossy likes to pronounce her name like “Rosie” as it would sound in English. She’s originally from the Dominican Republic, but lives in Aruba and works at a Dunkin Donuts shop. Here she is.

I’m looking a bit bedraggled after writing from the wee hours into the dawn. (Been working on the sequel to An Island Away at a furious pace.) I stopped by Rossy’s shop for a box of donuts to take to my friends who live in San Nicolaas. We hang out in the morning, usually between 6:30 and 8:00 when the breeze is fresh and the sun isn’t blazing.

Anyway, Rossy always has a smile for us. She’s also taught me a good bit of Spanish. Her good cheer is contagious and even if things aren’t going right, Rossy can put you in the right mood simply by telling you not to worry about whatever is bothering you.

So, let me say “thanks” to Rossy. You make the early mornings sweet.

Published in: on August 2, 2008 at 11:43 am  Comments (1)  
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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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Westin Hotel, Aruba

The Westin Hotel in Aruba was one of the first high rises on Palm Beach. It started out as the Concorde, and along the way has been a Hilton, a Wyndham, and now the Westin. I stayed here in the 1990’s and a friend of mine also did as recently as March of 2008. Here’s a look at the main building.

The rooms here were recently remodeled. Most have a great view either up or down Palm Beach. The balconies are little small but with room enough for two people to enjoy a beverage as the sun rises or sets. I enjoy coming to the lobby bar where the service is exceptional and the drinks spot on.

Normally, I don’t like television screens in a bar, especially a lobby bar, but thanks to the good company and service I manage to ignore these. There’s also a nice place for informal gathering as shown below.

There are several restaurants in this hotel including Pago Pago, Blossoms, and a breakfast buffet on the lower level. There’s also a slew of shops featuring everything from cigars to clothing to jewelry on the same lower level. Naturally there are a pair of large fresh water swimming pools as shown here.

There’s plenty of room to have fun with your friends and family. Plus, they host water aerobics, water volleyball, and things of that nature for the athletically inclined. For the rest of us, there are a pair of bars close by to ensure proper hydration. Then there is Palm Beach, just on the other side of the pool.

Pull up a chair, a good book, and enjoy the sun. The sand is powder soft, the breeze steady, and the possibilities endless for proper relaxation. Isn’t that why you came to Aruba in the first place?

Published in: on July 31, 2008 at 12:47 pm  Leave a Comment  
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