Aruba > Aruba, One Happy Island

During breakfast, we dock at the port of Oranjestad, Aruba. Because of the later arrival time, everyone heads to breakfast at once. There are lines at the buffet counters, and it takes a while before I’ve gathered my breakfast. After eating, we walk into Oranjestad. Here too, we first have to make our way through a maze of tourist shops. Aruba is the smallest of the three ABC islands. It lies just thirty kilometers off the coast of Venezuela. The island itself is thirty by nine kilometers. During one of the Spanish exploration voyages in 1499, the island was ‘discovered’ but considered of little value. In 1636, the Dutch took over the island to better defend the South American continent. Later, when gold was found on Aruba, the island gained more significance. In the second half of the last century, Aruba gained more autonomy and became an independent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Although there were plans for full independence, these were abandoned in the 1990s. The center of Oranjestad is small. An open tram transports tourists through the town. The streets alternate between old Dutch colonial buildings and modern glass office towers. We pass the Protestant church.

Aruba - The colourful houses of Aruba

It’s closed, but the small church right next to it houses the Bible Museum. We step inside. When they hear we’re from the Netherlands, we receive an extensive explanation about the church in Dutch. Unprompted, we’re also given an opinion about modern-day Amsterdam, where hardly any Dutch is spoken anymore. A street further on is Fort Zoutman. The clock tower was added in 1844. It was opened on the birthday of King Willem III and bears his name. Along the coast are large shopping centers with luxury brand stores. Behind them lies Wilhelmina Park. A statue of former Queen Wilhelmina stands prominently in the park. Wilhelminastraat is the oldest street in town and features most of the historic buildings. Some of them are in serious need of restoration. Main Street is the luxury shopping street, where the tram travels between the palm trees. We return to the ship for lunch. There's still time for a drink as well. At two o’clock, we check in for the afternoon excursion. Richard welcomes us from the front of the bus.

Aruba - The Zoutman Fort in Oranjestad is now a museum

The first stop is the Aloe Vera plantation. Originally, we were supposed to visit the Alto Vista Chapel, but due to renovations it is temporarily closed. It’s interesting to see how the aloe vera plants are sliced open, but the group is too large for the explanation in the small factory, making it hard to follow. The second stop is on the rugged eastern coast. Here, the waves of the Caribbean Sea crash against the rocks. The rocks are made of lava and coral. The lava erodes more quickly than the coral, causing the coral formations to overhang. The water even formed a natural bridge thirty meters wide. In 2005, this bridge collapsed. A smaller natural bridge can still be seen. We also watch as the water repeatedly crashes against the rocks and splashes high into the air. In the center of the island lies the Casibari Rock Formation—large rocky outcrops surrounded by numerous cacti. From the top of the rocks, we have a view across the island. I can see the “Haystack,” an extinct volcano, and in the distance, the cruise ship. On a clear day, Venezuela would also be visible. As we descend, a local man waves us over. He’s out walking his dog. “There’s an owl in the trees here,” he says.

Aruba - The natural bridge over the sea in Aruba

The small creature sits calmly while we watch it. The man shows us photos of boa snakes. The boa is not native to the island and has become a pest. Whenever one is found, it is killed to protect the bird population. His dog is trained to detect boas, the man says proudly. The final stop is on the northern tip of the island, where the California Lighthouse stands. Aruba’s iconic lighthouse was built in 1914 and is about 30 meters tall. Around six o’clock, Richard drives us back to the ship via the western side of the island. The large, luxury hotels of Aruba are located here. “Only tourists come here,” Richard tells us as we pass by. Back on board, the sun is just setting. We order a drink. At eight o’clock, we have a reservation at the Casa Nova restaurant. Although the menu is the same as on previous visits, there are still delicious starters, mains, and desserts to choose from. We finish with coffee. Due to the later dinner time slot, the evening show in the theater has already started. A German drag cabaret performer is on stage. We only catch the final part of the show. We order a drink and wait on the balcony until we set sail. The captain announces over the speaker system that departure has been delayed. At 10:30 p.m., Enya’s song plays, and we leave the harbor of Aruba.