San Nicolaas, Old Days (video)

This video compilation of old photographs from San Nicolaas, Aruba, shows scenes from the 1930’s to 1970’s when Lago Oil was the biggest thing going on the island. Esso (Exxon) owned the refinery at the time and it was the largest in the world for many years. Stick with the video because regular visitors to Aruba will recognize some of the sights and areas.

It is amazing to see how much has changed over the years. The refinery isn’t what it once was, but it is still there, looming over San Nicolaas providing a diverse employment base and various other opportunities for the island.

I’ve been toying with the idea for a book that happens in San Nicolaas around the late 1950’s. The story would follow the character, Sam, from An Island Away. He was quite the wild young man, not so bad as rambunctious. One thing is for sure: There’s plenty of story material from Aruba at this time. We’ll see how it turns out.

The video was made by LilKing Productions, with which I have no affiliation, but I thank them for putting this up on YouTube for all of us to enjoy.

Bon dia!

Published in: on November 13, 2008 at 11:57 am  Leave a Comment  
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Writer Music

As stated in earlier posts, I enjoy writing in public spaces. I also do a bit of writing in a home office. The right music helps make the words flow and lately I’ve been listening to Alicia de Larrocha. Her recordings of the Mozart Piano Sonatas are nothing short of incredible. In the first place she plays them in what I would call a “clean” style, sticking to the score dynamics as penned by the composer. In other words, she doesn’t overdo it. Her phrasing is as crisp as good dialog and the subtleties of each piece are pleasantly accented without being intrusive.

If you like Mozart’s piano works, I highly recommend the RCA “Complete Collections” set by Señora de Larrocha. I found this on iTunes.

Finally, whatever piano she played to record this album should be in the world hall of fame for legendary instruments, or perhaps the Smithsonian.

Published in: on October 24, 2008 at 3:24 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Privateer Lynx

I was doing more research for my novel, MacMillan Judge, Privateer, when I came across a boat very similar to Judge’s Fletcher. The name of this vessel is the Lynx, and it is modeled after a privateer from the War of 1812. It was built in 2001. Here is the link to their website: PrivateerLynx.com. It is definitely worth a visit to see this amazing piece of American History in action. My hat is off to the people who make such things possible.

Enjoy and look for this novel in a couple of years.

Published in: on October 19, 2008 at 1:45 am  Leave a Comment  
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Creating Atmosphere, Part V

There’s more to atmosphere than moody old churches and damp ruins. At this time of the year, there is the fall foliage which signals the change of seasons, the coming of winter, and the harvest parties that have more elegant names to dress them up.

The photo to the left was taken looking down from a stretch of Route 6 in northern Pennsylvania. This vista has it’s own atmosphere, one that would do well in any story, fiction or not. Some views along this road seem hardly changed since the days of Daniel Boone. Now that’s an early American atmospheric setting if ever there was one.

It’s good to get out and see nature whenever you can. Living in a metropolitan area deprives people of the expansiveness of the areas beyond the metroplex. At the same time, I spend many months on a small Caribbean isle that has neither the lush green of the tropics nor the seasonal rotation of northern climes. Thus, a scene like the one at left is a real treat.

Get out and see something. It will enrich your life, calm your nerves, and do wonders for your karma.

Published in: on October 12, 2008 at 8:06 pm  Leave a Comment  
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