Ruins, Part 1

Ever wonder… what happened to the people who abandoned a house you’ve seen? Here in Aruba, I come across the ruins of old homes from time to time. Judging by the style of construction, they are at least 80 to 100 years old. And given the condition they’re in, they must have been forgotten for at least 30 years. Here is one particular example.

This old cunucu house has suffered it’s share of abuse. The roof is gone. The east wall is pitching outward. Even the wall of the cistern has a crumbling corner. Of course the windows have disappeared. But if you peek in, you’ll see remnants of life inside. Take a look through the wall.

There are shades of paint on those walls. The lower portion featured a different color than the upper, indicating someone had a sense of style. Further on, in the distance is yet another color. Seeing these details leaves me wondering what happened to the people who lived here. They invested their lives into this house, chose the colors, ate their meals, slept under its roof. And yet, at some point, they left, never to return, never to leave the place in care of someone else.

It’s easy to think that hard times befell the former residents, or perhaps a tragedy. However, it’s also possible they inherited a fortune and left for some grand residence in another part of the world. Or, maybe they found somewhere new to live, one which provided them with so much more that their beginnings became irrelevant.

Either way, it is fascinating to think that someone would simply walk away from a perfectly serviceable dwelling, leaving the elements of nature to ultimately reclaim it. I have more photos like this and a few stories to tell about them. Keep checking for updates.

Published in: on July 29, 2008 at 12:06 pm  Comments (4)  
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An Island Away, Excerpt 4

Below is the 4th Excerpt from my novel, An Island Away. Captain Beck has survived the sinking of his tug, Patricia, and has been adrift for several days… page 45 …

When he first saw land, Beck had thought it was an illusion. It was dawn, and a mile or two in the distance he perceived what seemed to be cliffs. They stood above the sea, brown blotches with streaks of black among them. He stared with his itchy eyeballs for what felt like hours. When the cliffs grew bigger, he realized they were real.

He felt a smile crack the skin of his lips. He was close enough to swim for land. His muscles cramped, but he couldn’t scream through his parched throat. Thankfully, his life preserver kept him afloat, or he would have sunk to the bottom like a rag-covered stone.

The wind lent him its assistance. It pushed him in the general direction of the cliffs. The waves steepened as they approached more shallow waters that led to dry land. As his body hopped along with the waves, he did his best to steer toward shore. 

Late in the afternoon, he was close enough to see the surf pour over the rocks. Whether it was a blessing or a curse, he wasn’t sure, but the currents pushed him parallel to the boulders. He heard the noise of rocks blunting the ocean. He saw birds playing in the updrafts at the edge of the cliffs. What he did not see was an appealing beach on which he could land safely. Those rocks would have shredded a man in excellent condition. After a week at sea, he would have felt only the first blow.

In the final light of the day, he realized he was passing by the tip of an island. It had to be Aruba because Curaçao had a lighthouse at its southern tip and Aruba did not. There was a beach in the distance, but it was tucked behind that fringe of nasty rocks. He drifted along, unable to swim against the current. Salvation had come and now it was going. The devil was laughing into the wind. He could hear his cackle echoing over the deserted beach.

Published in: on July 28, 2008 at 5:09 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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Charlie’s Bar, Book Signing Event

Wow! What a turnout for the official launch of my novel, An Island Away. There was only one place where this could be held, Charlie’s Bar, Main Street San Nicolaas. I want to start by thanking Charlito (aka Charles III, that is Charlie, Jr.’s son) and Mr. Speziale for making the event a huge success. The bar had to be rearranged a bit, a steel band brought in, and everyone pitched in to get things ready. By 11:00 am people were literally waiting for the bar to open, even though things weren’t scheduled to begin until 12:30. The doors opened at 11:30 and the party began. Here are a few photos:

That’s Mr. Speziale and I, just before things got crazy. And here’s how people lined up.

I’m signing on a table we put on Main Street so there would be room for more people in the bar. In the photo above is my friend from college and her mother. Like so many people who love Aruba, they visit the island at least once a year. Then there was this lady, who reminded me of a character from the book, but she insists it wasn’t her.

It was tons of fun to meet people who have heard about the book and wanted an official “Aruba” copy. I want everyone to know I sincerely appreciate their support and look forward to hearing from all of you about the story. Yes, I am working on the sequel (with brief breaks to hang out at Charlie’s). Here’s a look at the band.

Their music kept everyone entertained. And here’s a few random shots of me with some readers.

One more for the fun of it.

You can find more photos and details on my website, http://www.danielputkowski.com, under the news heading. Or you can simply click HERE (yes, on the word “HERE”). Once again, many thanks to everyone for coming to Charlie’s as well as the staff at the bar who did a yoeman’s job of keeping everyone happy. I can’t wait to do this again. Don’t forget to email your comments about the book to my website.

Published in: on July 24, 2008 at 12:24 pm  Comments (3)  
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