Last Updated: 25-DEC-2018
Majority of the photos and movies were taken with a Samsung Galaxy 9 note with a 12-megapixel camera with a variable aperture (f/1.5 + f/2.4).
All telephoto shots were taken with a Canon EOS-80D DSLR 24.2-megapixel sensor camera with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens
All underwater photos & videos were shot with a 12-megapixel GoPro Hero 4 Silver camera.
REASON for this trip - Like the last trip to Aruba in 2015, we chose Aruba because Southwest Airlines continues to offer a non-stop flight from/to BWI. It makes it an easy decision as we fly SWA many times a year and Ken has considerable amount of frequent flyer miles (used 52,000 R/T for both of us).
Like everywhere else, Aruba has had a wet year so it was interesting from our prospective to see it so green. This came at a cost as unlike the last visit, we did have some Mosquito issues right around sunset most nights and flies during the day at the house.
Mary found a "Home away" (VRBO - 3606576) house to rent, which was $1475.00 for 10 nights and had a pool. In addition we had to pay two taxes, A tourist tax for $141 and Environmental tax for $30. This property offered a rental car. A Toyota Yaris and the cost for that was $225.00 for the 11 days. More on the car later.
Because I changed jobs back in March 2018 and the fact that retirement is looming for both of us, (Mary has 3+ months) (Ken at 6+ months), we did not take our usual 2-3 big vacations this year. We were happy to go to a warm place and trips like this only re-enforce our desire to move to sunny Arizona quickly after retirement as not to waste away another winter in nasty SE Pennsylvania.
Again, like the 2015 trip, many of you know that we travel to look for places for possible retirement or extended stays. Aruba is not on any of our places for retirement and after spending 11 days here and seeing how when you go outside of the tourist areas, it's not really that nice I would probably not want to stay here more than a couple of months to hide from winter weather.
Again, we used Mason Dixon Dog Walking. They came every other day to check on our three inside and one outside cats. As like before, we had no issues at all with the service and they sent us a report and photos of each visit. We will continue to use and recommend the great trustworthy service that they provide. Dave and Monika came over one weekend to play with the kitty's too.
What we liked about the house
Location - In the image below, the house is under the gray dot (across the street from Aruba Studios & Villa Tibushi) The location in Nord, Aruba at 12.5918N 70.0358W (about as far east as Portland Maine) We did not know the exact location till we arrived as the owners of these rentals are not that reveling to where the house actually was. I knew that the house was in this immediate area but was not sure on the exact home.
A larger view, again the gray dot
We like dead end isolated neighborhoods as they are more secure. Bad guys don't want to get stuck in a dead end. Also, much less traffic.
Pool - A very small adjustment but one of the better pools we have had in many rentals.
Patio Area - Nice. Very comfortable and was out of the sun & weather
Cats - We saw five or six cats. We think they lived across the street. From the first evening, a small female hung out with us every day. We (or Ken) grew very attached to this kitty. I now regret not bringing her home. (yes, I know many issues with doing that)
What we did not like about the house
No hot water system - Generally not a problem and we got used to it as the days went on but, I must say it was a bit chilly in the morning. Like most tropical areas the water lines are not that deep and they heat up
from the sun. But, at this time of year the sun angle even in Aruba is low and they have had more clouds than normal. We learned that the best time for warm water was dinner time. This was not in the write-up and it probably comes as a surprise to most people
that come from northern areas. Would this have been a reason not to rent this house ? Perhaps.
Not the best house supplies - We rent a number of these types of houses each year. Its interesting on how some are very well stocked and some are not. Here we got a kick out of the wine bottle opener as it was rusty, bent and we had no choice than to use it. Ken had to buy
wash cloths, charcoal, dish soap, (we did had a good supply of toilet paper)
House condition - The owner said it had just sold so I would bet that this was one of the reason for no investment in the house.
Charcoal grill - Funny, I have tossed much better grills out than this one. Oh well, it worked.
Refrigerator - Very strange. No ice maker and I can understand that, but any time you would put something new in it, a river of water would run out of the front of the unit. It cooled ok but we had to keep a towel on the kitche floor to stop the flow of water.
Lighting - Probably the worst house I have even been in. I travel with a Streamlight "The Siege" Lantern and a number of LED flashlights. Wow were these needed. This was the darkest house we have even been in and as our time went on it became a joke. I bet if I looked, I would have found some 15 - 25 watt bulbs in the house. I guess Aruba does not know about LED bulbs yet. Yes, this is one of my things... My house is very well lit so it may just be me.
Security - Like on the last trip here, outside the tourist areas I continue to see a cause to be concerned. We made sure we were not out and about after dark (heck we practice this at home most of the time). This house was less than a mile from the last house we rented and I felt safer here than the last place as we were in a mix of rentals and native residential units. Unlike the last house manager telling us to keep the place locked up and with an alarm, Here, we were not told to do anything and the windows were open 24/7. The locks on this house were a joke (Kwikset low end) and I actually had to adjust the front & back doors so they would work better. Again, with all the windows open it really did not matter. Unlike the last place we did see the police drive thru twice so this was probably a good thing
We only ran the AC in the bedroom and left the rest of the house open. I did put all of our valuables in the master bedroom at night so we could provide some accountability at night.
WI-FI. at the house was excellent, unlike other places we have rented we had no issues here at all.
Cell Phone - Service was thru SETAR and with a cell-site close to the house had no issues. Added the ATT international plan onto my phone for unlimited everything at $10 a day. A good deal. Also, Google maps, traffic and all other services work here just like in the USA.
Beach Items - Every house we have rented had beach had chairs and other beach related equipment. Not here. The owners were very nice and dropped off two chairs the following day (These chairs were very light weight and one was already coming apart). In the end Ken just rented a lounge type chair at the beach for $5 a day.
Photos
Monday - DEC 03 2018
Southwest Airlines Flight WN6558 from Baltimore (BWI) to Aruba (AUA) Oranjestad, Reina Beatrix.
Large Quarry NE of the MD Rt.32 / I95 intersection. Belongs to Savage Stone.
Downtown DC below the end of the wing. You can see Andrews AFB.
Gonave Island, Haiti.
Leogane Arrondissement, Haiti
We got in appx. 30 min early and had to wait for a gate to become free. The flight was not full and we had an empty middle seat so a perfect flight. We did have a small issue with Aruba customs / immigration as we did not know the address of the house we rented so we could not use the quick automated system. It caused a 10 min or so delay and the 2nd official did not really care we did not know the address. In the future we will just make something up. The owner of the rental house was waiting for us and he and his wife drove us to the house appx. 30 min away. As always, the traffic around Oranjestad and the airport is really bad.
First sunset from the pool area. One of the better ones.
Shortly after dark, a small female cat showed up on the patio area. Did not realize at the time that this would become our vacation pet.
Tuesday - DEC 04 2018
House & Boca Catalina Beach day. Nice to be 4 minutes away from a very nice beach.
Sad as we did not see any of these critters.
We would see these every day at the house as well as out on hikes.
North America's littlest falcon, the American Kestrel packs a predator's fierce intensity into its small body. It's one of the most colorful of all raptors: the male's slate-blue head and wings contrast elegantly with his rusty-red back and tail; the female has the same warm reddish on her wings, back, and tail. Hunting for insects and other small prey in open territory, kestrels perch on wires or poles, or hover facing into the wind, flapping and adjusting their long tails to stay in place.
They are common in Aruba and we saw a pair of them daily at the house, often sharing lizards.
The Tropical Mockingbird is the neotropical counterpart to the Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottus), replacing Northern Mockingbird south of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The two species are similar in appearance, but Tropical Mockingbird has less white in the wings, lacking the white primary coverts and white bases to the primaries of Northern Mockingbird. The distribution of this species is discontinuous. The original range was southern Mexico south to Honduras, and again in northern South America, but with a gap from central Honduras south to Colombia. In the 1930s, however, an introduced population was discovered in central Panama. Tropical Mockingbird occupies open habitats with scattered shrubs and trees, and readily colonizes towns and gardens. It often perches in exposed sites, such as along telephone or electric lines or in the tops of shrubs. This species is primarily insectivorous, but also consumes small vertebrates and small fruit. The song of the Tropical Mockingbird is a long musical series of phrases, many of which are repeated several times. Unlike the Northern Mockingbird, however, the Tropical Mockingbird is not reported to mimic other species. (I think these were making various calls so not sure if that is true)
The cell tower visible from the rental. Nice to have good strong service.
Our favorite beach in Aruba - Boca Catalina Beach - Coral shelf with easy access to the water. Less sand = better clarity for snorkeling.
The chair guy told us that the area we were sitting was all sand, but tropical storms removed the sand, perhaps in September 2017, Hurricane Irma or the tail of Hurricane Matthew, 2016. Aruba is south of the hurricane belt, making direct hits from hurricanes rare. The last hurricane to even touch the island was Hurricane Felix in 2007, which was a cat 2 hurricane causing minor damage.
This bulk transport ship was off the coast the entire visit.
Off Boca Catalina Beach a number of tour companies come to snorkel in this area.
California Lighthouse - originally erected between 1914-16 to warn ships away from the Northern tip of Aruba. In 1892 a wooden sailing ship, the "California," wrecked on the nearby reef with one loss of life. Originally the area was known as Hudishibana but renamed California in honor of the ship. The nearby restaurant was once the lighthouse keepers home. A plaque at the restaurant provides a brief history of the area.
Vacation Kitty.
Another good sunset.
Starting to sneak in the house. She would stay on the floor and never go in the bedrooms. We could tell she had been in the house many times before from where she would sit.
Wednesday - DEC 05 2018
The plan today is a hike and spend the day at the house enjoying the pool.
The house is near the pink pin labeled Aruba Studios. Aruba is developed on the west side as the winds always come from the east and because of this the East side is so rough you can't use the waters for any type of recreation. So, it's a fun place to hike & explore. We hiked on a road till it ended and then found a number of developed trails in this natural area.
We figured this would happen, a male cat showed up. He was probably the alpha and would try to run off our friendly kitty. I poured water on him and after a few days got the message and we did not see him again. He was very well fed so we assume he gets fed first.
Kitten girl using the basket on the patio. I think she probably utilizes this all the time
Views of our rental located at: 39 Caya Tibushi, Noord Aruba. Well-kept area. Some puddles because of the frequent rain.
We think the cat belongs to the green house behind the flag pool.
So, out on our hike to the Caribbean Sea. Aruba is a very arid desert-like island.
Barrel cacti
This area underwent significant disturbance and I figure they were mining gold here appx. 100 years ago. Some small ponds were made where we saw birds, Turtles and Mary saw an Iguana.
Looks like a version of our milkweed.
This bird was a challenge to ID. We did not see it in flight, nor did we see the color of its legs. I was pondering between Solitary Sandpiper and Stilt Sandpiper, but went with Solitary Sandpiper, partly due to the fact that it was alone.
The Solitary Sandpiper is commonly seen in migration along the banks of ponds and creeks. While not truly solitary, it does not migrate in large flocks the way other shorebirds do.
Although the Solitary Sandpiper was first described by ornithologist Alexander Wilson in 1813, its nest was not discovered until 1903. Until that time, eggs and young of the Spotted Sandpiper were misidentified as those of the Solitary Sandpiper. The Solitary Sandpiper lays its eggs in the tree nests of several different song birds, particularly those of the American Robin, Rusty Blackbird, Eastern Kingbird, Gray Jay, and Cedar Waxwing.
We came across another American Kestrel eating a lizard. We were amazed that it did not flee from us even when we were standing 20 feet away.
A maritime radar facility with the California Lighthouse behind it. Also, we were looking across the Tierra Del Sol Golf Course.
Mary enjoying the hike. That would change as we took no water or food. You can see across the entire island.
The hotels on the west coast.
Lighthouse in the distance.
Small Dove.
Caribbean Sea. The wild side.
Mary resting from the hike.
MOVIE - 318 meg Wild Side Hike
Bulk ship on the east side
Ken on his rock Saved all four photos as not many photos of Ken exist
Looking southwest to downtown Oranjestad and the cruise ship port. This is only 5.4 miles away. We were happy to be far away by Aruba standards.
Mary looking for birds.
Another Tropical Mockingbird
The Orange trupial (Icterus icterus) has a striking appearance. The trupial is first recognized by its color: the body is mostly bright orange. The head, wings and tail are mostly black. Together with his loud sound this bird is recognizable at a great distance.
The orange trupial is also called the Venezuelan troupial. That is no coincidence: the orange trupial is the national bird of Venezuela. The orange trupial can be found in this region like Venezuela, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Colombia and Puerto Rico.
The trupial does not make its own nest. Instead, they use an existing abandoned nest. They can also take the place of an existing nest. They may eat any eggs or young nestlings remaining in the newly acquired nest. They breed from March to September and they will defend their nest fiercely.
The bird is certainly not shy and can be seen regularly. They mostly feed on insects and fruit.
Back to the road part. We were looking for Natalee Holloway as this was a remote place that had many excellent places to hide a body. Nothing was found.
Back to our house with the Spanish washing machine. We figured it out.
Besides mosquito and flies we did not see many bugs here. Some type of stink bug.
One of the issues with our house. A big mess by the pool. Being OCD I had to clean this up. Also the kitten girl was drinking this water and I figured some of the mosquitos may be from this area. I guess our cleaning fee that we paid was not enough
Mary lacking a suit in the pool.
These were above our area most ever day.
We ate at Red Fish. Very good but Shon Gecko (in the same area) was much better!
We both got mojitos. Mary ended up drinking both as Ken did not like it.
Ken's shrimp.
Mary got fish filet & shrimp.
Thursday - DEC 06 2018
Another easy day. Boca Catalina Beach and the afternoon / evening at the house.
Waiting for breakfast.
Brown Pelican. We saw these every day.
Fighting the crowds at Boca Catalina Beach.
Back at the house. The pool was cool but you quickly adjusted. Every time we go on these trips I want to buy a cheap pool thermometer and I always forget. I would guess low 80's.
Various views around the house.
Kitten Girl awaits dinner.
We find it interesting that you can get these here. They are only frozen as they probably come via. ship. The Chorizo flavor is very good.
Ok sunset. Then again its 87 degrees on 06-DEC so what is not to like.
Underwater GO-PRO photos
Some type of ray. I kept my distance as I did not want to go out the same way as Steve Irwin.
Friday - DEC 07 2018
The plan today is to hike up to one of the highest points on the island called the Hooiberg then spend the rest of the day at the house enjoying the pool and the beach.
Below is from the Aruba webpage. Couple of things I have noticed. The step count changes. Not sure anyone knows. I have seen it listed as 2nd highest, 4th highest so not sure on that. and the gazebo is NOT 1/2 way up. Its perhaps 1/4 the way up.
The Hooiberg - which translates to Haystack - is a volcanic formation which 165 meters above sea level, and is located at the approximate center of Aruba. Although Hooiberg seems like the highest point of the island it is in fact the second highest. Jamanota, a hill located in the Arikok National Park stands at 189 meters above sea level, and is the true highest point of Aruba.
Although the exact origin of its name is not known, it is believed that Hooiberg came by its name due to its resemblance to a "hooiberg" the Dutch word for haystack. One of the contributing factors to Hooiberg's popularity, and the often mistaken belief that it is the highest point, is the fact that it stands out as a solitary mountain surrounded by a flat landscape. A depiction of Hooiberg can be seen on the Aruban Coat of Arms. It symbolizes Aruba rising out of the sea.
Rock Composition - Geologists have discovered that the Hooiberg is made up of a distinctive variety of quartz diorite only found on Aruba. Due to the fact that Hooiberg is made up of this distinctive rock, this variety was named Hooibergiet.
The Famous Steps - In 1951, Mr. Eduardo Tromp built a staircase on the Hooiberg consisting of 900 steps. Due to erosion and an imminent danger to anyone using them, in 1990 after 35 years, the government decided to renovate of the steps. By this point almost all of the steps had been worn away. The renovation project was completed in 1991. The stage has been somewhat extended at the foot of the mountain and the steps are now wider and longer. There are now approximately 587 steps. A gazebo has been built halfway up the stairs for as a rest stop. It is also an excellent spot to relax and enjoy of the view.
Top of the Mountain - At the top of the mountain you will find two small buildings and some radio antennas. One of buildings belongs to a radio station and the other to the local telephone company SETAR. All cellular phone signals are sent through SETAR building as well as the radio or television broadcasts from other countries.
Try to reach the top of Hooiberg and you will have a nice view over the island and the sea. On clear days you can even see Venezuela to the south.
Hooiberg is covered with cacti, divi-divi trees and some Kibrahacha trees that will flourish and decorate the mountain with beautiful yellow flowers after a heavy rainfall.
Our house rental car. I have read that the parking here is probably the most dangerous car theft areas in Aruba. The bad guys can watch you walk up the steps and no way you can get back to your car. Here is where having a crappy Toyota Yaris really pays off. We left nothing in the in the car (here or any place else) and we had no problems.
View from the car. Looks easy
View from the gazebo. No way we are at 1/2 way.
At the gazebo it starts to get steep.
Would not be good to trip.
Says 300. Now with a railing. Steep.
Getting higher.
Very steep. Up to 400.
No more railing.
We made it. No road here so all this had to be either carried up here or a helicopter was used.
Looking north at the lighthouse.
Looking at the international airport then up towards Oranjestad.
Looking at the shipping port and the electric and desalination (WEP) plant.
Looking south.
Looking across to Venezuela. The white area is a salt evaporation pond called Salinas de Bajarigua which is located in the Municipality of Falcon, Falcon State, Paraguna Peninsula. The center of the white area is 27 miles away. The distance from Aruba to Venezuela across the water is only about 20 miles here.
Oil platform 1/2 way between Aruba and Venezuela. They store these rigs here waiting for better oil / gas prices. They should be drilling as Aruba needs the $$$
The Freewinds ship operated by the church of Scientology. Its always in port when we come here.
Citgo Aruba Refinery - currently closed but hopefully will be soon to refine diluted crude from Venezuela.
Again looking across to Venezuela. The part of Venezuela across from Aruba is the Peninsula of Paraguana which is very flat. Could be interesting in the future as Western news sources point to Paraguana as being an ongoing construction site for launch purposes in connection with Iranian-manufactured and imported ballistic missiles to the Bolivarian Republic under agreement of the late president, Hugo Chavez
Couple more views to the west.
Rare photos of Ken & Mary.
Looking north at the California Lighthouse 7.65 (12.32km) miles away.
The ABC Cacti - There are three cacti species that dominate the landscape of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao: Stenocereus griseus, Cereus repandus and Pilosocereus lanuginosus. Most people group them under the term "columnar cacti" as they are hard to tell apart at first glance. However these magnificent cacti species, which can grow up to 10 m (32.8 ft) tall, deserve a closer look. Here are a few tips to help you identify each one of them: Stenocereus griseus, known locally as Yatu, grows straight up and branches out close to the ground; its thorns make up neat rows of rosettes. Cereus repandus, known locally as Kadushi, is the largest of the three cacti species and looks more like a tree as it branches out further from the ground; its thorns form dense rows that stick out in all directions. Pilosocereus lanuginosus, known locally as Kadushi di Pushi, has long white hairy spines and yellow prickles on the top of its branches.
California Lighthouse (at 400mm)
Various views from The Hooiberg of the hills we have been hiking in near our house.
On the right side of the photo is the Alto Vista Chapel. We will visit it in a few days.
Good place not to fall
Nurse tree ? - In the Sonoran desert, Palo Verde, Ironwood or mesquite trees serve as nurse trees for young saguaro cacti. As the Saguaro grows and becomes more acclimated to the desert sun, the older tree may die, leaving the saguaro alone. In fact, as the Saguaro grows larger it may compete for resources with its nurse tree, hastening its death. Consequently, young saguaros are often seen near trees
Seems to be the case here
Only 5 deaths. Amazing considering how they drive.
Today we went to a swimming beach, Arashi Beach which is located just above Boca Catalina Beach. Ken rented an umbrella and a chair for $25 (Cheap) The Arashi Beach Shack has food & drinks here if you so desire.
Every day someone flies a rather large kite near the horseback riding place just north of our house.
American Kestrel time. Yup, I took lots of photos of these birds but it was so easy and the light angles were so good.
These were in the palm trees by the house. They would catch & kill lizards and cache them in the top of the palms.
The Bananaquit inhabits a variety of habitats from scrubland to tropical lowland forest edge, from the Antilles and Mexico south to Paraguay and northern Argentina. Bananaquits are distinctive birds with down-curved bills, black upperparts, bright yellow underparts, and a conspicuous white eyebrow. Across its broad distribution, however, Bananaquits exhibit considerable geographic variation, with no fewer than 41 recognized subspecies; these differ in features such as the color of the throat (white, gray or black), the presence of absence of a white spot on the wing, the length of the bill, and the extent of yellow on the underparts. In addition, on some islands in the West Indies an entirely sooty color morph is frequent. Bananaquits are bold and active feeders, and most often are encountered in pairs or in small family groups. With a diet of nectar and fruit, Bananaquits frequent flowering trees and shrubs where they often cling to flowers.
Vienna sausage time. Happy kitty.
Underwater GO-PRO photos
Looking back at the beach. Its easy to go out far here because it's so shallow. Nice view of the lighthouse
Not sure what these small crabs are as they will come after you and attach to your clothing.
Saturday - DEC 08 2018
On weekends we usually stay at the house. So, today we went for a longer hike to the Caribbean Sea. This time we would take water and food. Later in the day, I surprised Mary by driving 4 minutes to Arashi Beach to watch the sunset.
So, back to our wonderful house with the super dim lighting. But I ask, what the heck is this ? I assumed that at any moment this would fall down and kill one of us. Also, it probably had a 15 watt light bulb in it.
Off for our walk. Our pool from the street.
A turtle ?
Nice ankle exercise kind of trail.
Mary with her backpack this time.
Views along the trail.
I am not a geologist, but I would guess that this area gets slammed by huge tsunami's every few thousand years. There is evidence of these on Bonaire, which is not far from here. The Caribbean tectonic plate is near here, and these rocks seem to have a pattern, and we stand a hundred feet above sea level.
Mary enjoying a rock. We did look for The Aruba Island Rattlesnake (Crotalus unicolor), known locally as the Cascabel, is one of the world's rarest species of rattlesnake and occurs only on Aruba.
A group of off road vehicles went by. Probably from the cruise ships. Very dusty but looked like fun.
We made our own trail down the hill.
Along the road. The Jeep group is now down the road stacking stones. I get a kick out of all the warning I see about this road. This does not look that bad. I would not hesitate to take the Prius on this.
Rugged coast.
Interesting crabs. Very hard to hold the camera steady here as the winds were probably 30+ mph.
Back up on the hill and Mary back on her rock.
California Lighthouse (400mm lens).
California Lighthouse (Cell Phone) major difference.
This bird was a challenge to ID. We did not see it in flight, nor did we see the color of its legs. I was pondering between Solitary Sandpiper and Stilt Sandpiper, but went with Solitary Sandpiper, partly due to the fact that it was alone.
The Solitary Sandpiper is commonly seen in migration along the banks of ponds and creeks. While not truly solitary, it does not migrate in large flocks the way other shorebirds do.
Although the Solitary Sandpiper was first described by ornithologist Alexander Wilson in 1813, its nest was not discovered until 1903. Until that time, eggs and young of the Spotted Sandpiper were misidentified as those of the Solitary Sandpiper. The Solitary Sandpiper lays its eggs in the tree nests of several different song birds, particularly those of the American Robin, Rusty Blackbird, Eastern Kingbird, Gray Jay, and Cedar Waxwing.
A dove the size of a sparrow, the Common Ground-Dove forages in dusty open areas, sometimes overshadowed by the grass clumps it is feeding beneath. Its dusty plumage is easy to overlook until the bird springs into flight with a soft rattling of feathers and a flash of reddish-brown in the wings. These small, attractive doves are common across the southernmost parts of the U.S. from California to Florida.
In Arizona a Crested Saguaro is very rare. Here its very common with these cacti.
These are great. Chocolate covered Waffles. We are always impressed with the variety of pastries they have here at the Super Foods market.
The almost empty box of matches left for us to light the propane range at our house. I bought a grill lighter. But, the match box is cool.
They allow you to climb to the top of the California Lighthouse for $5. We did not.
The Southern Lapwing is a conspicuous inhabitant of grasslands and pastures from Panama and northern South America south to Tierra del Fuego. A large, crested lapwing, the Southern Lapwing has gray brown upperparts with a bronze sheen, a black breast band that extends up to the bird's forehead, wing spurs, and a white belly and under tail coverts. Southern Lapwings feed mainly on insects, as well as small fish and aquatic invertebrates. Southern Lapwings are largely sedentary, but populations in the extreme south of their range migrate to warmer areas in the winter. These large plovers are well adapted to human disturbance and are increasing their range in response to deforestation and cultivation.
The southern lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) is a wader in the order Charadriiformes. It is a common and widespread resident throughout South America, except in densely forested regions (e.g. most of the Amazon), the higher parts of the Andes and the arid coast of a large part of western South America.
While waiting for the sunset Ken is making beach mushrooms.
Sunset time. Aruba is 863 miles north of the equator. Baltimore is 3,504 miles from the equator. Because Aruba is so much further south, sunsets are much quicker than it is in the north. Also, the length of day does not change as much as it does in the north. Twilight is much faster here too.
No green flash.
Kitten Girl told me we had a visitor to the patio.
Great Land Crab Cardisoma guanhumi
Cardisoma guanhumi, also known as the blue land crab, is a species of land crab found in tropical and subtropical estuaries and other maritime areas of land along the Atlantic coast of the Americas from Brazil and Colombia, through the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, to the Bahamas, and north to Vero Beach, Florida and Bermuda. The species varies in color from dark blue to brown or pale grey, and may grow to 15 centimeters (6 in) in carapace width and weigh over 500 grams (18 oz.). This purple color crab may be a juvenile.
Sunday - DEC 09 2018
We usually don't go out on the weekends. But, we spent the AM at home house / pool and went up to Boca Catalina Beach at lunch time. We were both surprised that it was very quiet and generally less people than we had been seeing during the week. Strange but we had a great day at the beach.
A very happy Kitty. As I type this all up two days after we have returned, I regret I did not bring this cat home. Very sad.
Back to Boca Catalina Beach. Mary going in.
Still off the coast. It does change position on anchor.
Mary exploring.
A male Magnificent Frigatebird - are a family of seabirds called Fregatidae which are found across all tropical and subtropical oceans. Able to soar for weeks on wind currents, frigatebirds spend most of the day in flight hunting for food. They are Ken's favorite bird as it is a symbol of being where its always warm.
Sunday at Boca Catalina Beach. Shocked at how deserted it is on a weekend.
Ken holding his vacation kitty.
For a outside cat, she sure is a sound sleeper.
The Kite.
Another nice sunset
The bright dot is Mars. Looking for Neptune. Need to research.
Looking at the light shadows caused by the craters on the moon. The light from the one on the left is very cool. This was using the 400mm lens.
Happy kitty.
Underwater GO-PRO photos / Movies
Mary sitting on the posture correction chair.
Misc underwater photos.
These fish are fed many times a day by the tour boat operators. So, if you don't have food they bite you.
A drone flew over. I should have splashed it.
Monday - DEC 10 2018
Today we were going to explore. First we drove over to Bushiribana Ruins then to the Natural Bridge Aruba. On the way back we stopped at Alto Vista Chapel. We spent the afternoon at the house & pool. For dinner, we went to Shon Gecko and a quick stop at Super Food. Busy day by vacation standards.
Kitten Girl waiting for breakfast.
Bushiribana Gold Smelter ruins. Constructed in 1872 an used until 1882 for smelting of gold ore from surrounding mines in Ceroe Plat and Ceroe Crystal. Sometimes referred to as the Pirate's Fortress or stronghold. But because of the lack of materials to refine the ore during world war I, the gold digging was stopped in 1916 and was never resumed afterwards.
Cool place. Going EARLY is a good thing. It was packed when we left.
Looking north at the low hills that we have been hiking in.
Various mill views.
We climbed up on top of the mill. Various views.
Our wonderful house rental car made it out on the dirt roads.
Food truck and for a dollar, a toilet truck.
Aruban Whiptail (Cnemidophorus arubensis) These were everywhere and came in various sizes.
California Lighthouse 6.5 miles away (400mm lens).
Large waves.
The Hooiberg where we hiked on Friday.
Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway) -Related to the typical falcons, but very different in shape and habits. The Crested Caracara is a strikingly patterned, broad-winged opportunist that often feeds on carrion. Aggressive, it may chase vultures away from road kills. Widespread in the American tropics, it enters our area only near the Mexican border and in Florida. "Caracara" comes from a South American Indian name, based on the bird's call.
Crested Caracaras are black and white with yellow-orange legs and yellow-orange skin around the bill. Their black cap contrasts strongly with their white neck and cheeks. In flight the under tail and outer flight feathers are white. Juveniles are brown and white and lack the adult's yellow-orange legs and facial skin.
Looking back at Bushiribana Gold Smelter ruins.
Other ruins.
Mary hiking in her leisure pajamas.
Back at Bushiribana Gold Smelter ruins.
More people...
We checked out Boca Mahos which is a area that the waves come into. Translates to Ugly Mouth. Site long ago where waste was dumped into the sea which gave rise to the story that they fed sharks on this side of the island to keep them away from the resort area. You can see where we just were at Bushiribana Gold Smelter ruins above the waves.
Mary walked out to the point.
On Aruba, everywhere the cliffs are an incredible fossil history of the coral reefs that laid below the water until volcanic rock pushed them above the water.
Aruba's Natural Bridge collapsed on September 2, 2005. Aruba's stunning geological formation where years of erosion from the sea has carved its way through coral rock forming a 100 foot bridge, 25 feet over the sea, which is the largest of its kind in the Caribbean. Next to the collapsed bridge is now the Baby Natural Bridge which offers great photo opportunities. The site also offers a bar, restrooms (for $1) and shopping. The area is beautiful for walking or cycling.
Yes, its a tourist trap.
The part that collapsed.
We were last here with my parents back in FEB-2000. Here is Mary standing on the bridge. We were in Aruba to start a 7 day cruise. The good old days.
Next to the collapsed bridge is now the Baby Natural Bridge.
It was fun watching the waves. Various views at Natural Bridge.
Directions to the Natural Pools. We did not take the car to this. Perhaps next time.
Not sure what this was at Natural Bridge.
So it was time to head to our next stop. Aruba has many goats walking along the roads.
Alto Vista Chapel - The chapel was built in 1952 on the site of the original, and first, Catholic church built in Aruba in 1750 by a Spanish missionary, Domingo Antonio Silvestre. The bright yellow chapel is reached by a winding road lined with white crosses marking the stations of the cross. It is a special place for peace and contemplation, surrounded by the Aruban countryside.
As many of you know I am not religious but I do enjoy looking at the architecture and grounds of churches.
Peace Labyrinth - The labyrinth is built based on the Chartres Labyrinth. Its distinguishing features are; 11 circuits, the turns arranged in four quadrants, 85 lunation's around the perimeter, and a 6-petal rosette in the center. Modern "pilgrims" walk the labyrinthine path as one of many tools to enhance prayer, contemplation, meditation, and/or personal growth. The labyrinth walk is popular with a growing number of people because of its simplicity and the ability to approach its paths on your own terms. There is no right way to walk a labyrinth. You only have to enter and follow the path. It may be joyous or somber. It might be thoughtful or prayerful. You may also use it as a walking meditation.
We walked a bit north on the Altovista trail.
This was the only grave we saw.
Back at the house. American Kestrel Time.
A different angle. I walked out to the front of the house and shot to the south.
Another Kite.
Kitten Girl.
Tuesday - DEC 11 2018
Today we are driving down to Oranjestad to go out for our second time on the Tranquilo. Then we spent the rest of the day at the house & pool.
Most of the photos today were taken with the go-pro on the Tranquilo.
Views from downtown Oranjestad of the cruise ship area. This is where you can find many Iguanas.
We passed a refrigerated container ship "Italia Reefer" with a Bahamas registration.
The wonderful burning trash dump.
Surprised they don't recover this. I assume its leaking oil.
We passed under the approach to Queen Beatrix International Airport. Interesting angle from the boat.
Nice. A nativity scene on a government facility. I guess the people here don't care. The US could learn from this.
Relaxing back at the house.
Sunset.
Underwater GO-PRO photos / Movies
Tranquilo - ARUBA'S BEST FAMILY OPERATED SAIL AND SNORKEL CRUISE SINCE 1977
From his web page.
Tranquilo was founded by Capt. Mike Hagedoorn whose passion for sailing was legendary. It was only natural to make of his hobby, his day job. And so he started taking guests out sailing on the Tranquilo along the coast of Aruba. He did so for 20 years before Capt. Anthony, his son, took the helm and kept the tradition alive till present day. Tranquilo means Tranquility and that is just what we invite you to experience with us. Choose from our Famous Lunch Cruise to the south side with mom's delicious Dutch pea soup and drift snorkeling at our secluded reef island "Mike's Reef". Or choose one of many Private Sailing trips or Dinner Sails we have to offer.
Capt. Anthony grew up on Spanish Lagoon. Sailing, snorkeling, windsurfing and diving were daily routines and no one knows the area better than Anthony. The sailing trip to Spanish Lagoon is off the beaten path and drift snorkeling along the magnificent coral formations is a unique experience not to be missed.
So we took the Famous South Side Lunch Cruise - Tuesdays, Thursday and Friday - $ 85 per person.
This is the cruise that made us famous, thanks in no small way to Mom's Dutch Pea Soup, but also the fact that you will sail to places you will never see on other cruises. We reach the snorkel site in just over an hour allowing plenty of time to play in the water. Waist deep snorkeling from our Reef Island and drift snorkeling on our breath-taking coral reef are two of the unique attractions you can enjoy. A delicious lunch is served before we let go of our mooring lines for the return trip. We set sail for a relaxing, "Blue Water", downwind sail with fishing lines trolling and drinks flowing often accompanied by flying fish and the occasional pod of dolphins. A stocked open bar is provided during this lovely five hour cruise.
We did this in 2015 but it was so windy that Mary asked if we could return under a guarantee. (I did not agree with this so I gave the guy a very good tip)
We met some nice people and had a great time.
The photos below are in the order taken. No edits.
Out at a platform located at: 12.464399, -69.975173
Various views from the first part of the snorkel. Clarity here is very good compared to Boca Catalina Beach as we are far away from any sand.
Looking back at the platform with the Tranquilo sailboat behind it.
Only 18 miles to Venezuela. I think I will pass.
Lots of fun walking down / up these slippery stairs.
Back on the platform.
Drift snorkeling part of the cruise.
I found some ocean bread.
Back to the sailboat. Ken had a fun time getting on to this small boat.
Wednesday - DEC 12 2018
Last full day. We spent a long day at Boca Catalina Beach then back to the house / pool and dinner at the Shon Gecko for the second time this week.
One of the cool things that you can see in the sky this far south is the southern cross. At this time of year its up during the day but if you look around 5 am you can see it.
Marked in red.
Un-marked. You can only see this from extreme southern Florida in April.
Back to Boca Catalina Beach.
Mary dressed for another office meeting.
One of Ken's classic feet shots - Only 204 days till retirement and this will happen every day (mentally)
Happy dog.
Another male Magnificent Frigatebird.
Close beach parking in our wonderful Toyota Yaris. Funny... Not true in my opinion - The name "Yaris" is derived from "Charis", the singular form of Charites, the Greek goddesses of charm and beauty.
Back at Shon Gecko. Mary had a very good rum drink Called "free ride". Ingredients include Myers Rum, banana, strawberry, ponce kuba cream liquer, grenadine. Don't know the quantities. It is a frozen drink and made in a blender. Shon Gecho gives you the drink and the rest of what is left in blender, so 2 for 1!
Happy Kitten Girl.
Yes, we filled up the car. 1.99 Aruba florin per liter. 3.785 liters per gallon. Gas was $4.20 a gallon. Cheap. Which it was that here.
This is probably the worst parking surface ever put down. Coral. All of these move when you drive in. This would be instantly replaced if I owned this house.
Last sunset of the trip.
Kitten Girl.
Underwater GO-PRO photos / movies
My guess is Green sea turtle in this photo and in the video. However on a boat trip to Spanish Lagoon, we saw a smaller turtle which looked like a Hawksbill, but we don't have a photo.
The Green sea turtle is easily distinguished from other sea turtles because they have a single pair of prefrontal scales (scales in front of its eyes), rather than two pairs as found on other sea turtles. Head is small and blunt with a serrated jaw. Carapace is bony without ridges and has large, non-overlapping, scutes (scales) present with only 4 lateral scutes. Body is nearly oval and is more depressed (flattened) compared to Pacific green turtles. All flippers have 1 visible claw. The carapace color varies from pale to very dark green and plain to very brilliant yellow, brown and green tones with radiating stripes. The plastron varies from white, dirty white or yellowish in the Atlantic populations to dark grey-bluish-green in the Pacific populations. Hatchlings are dark-brown or nearly black with a white underneath and white flipper margins.
All sea turtles are endangered worldwide, and Aruba's shores have become a favorite nesting place for the Leatherback, Hawksbill, Green, and Loggerhead species. Fundashon Turtugaruba, established in 2003 and a member of the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network, is the local foundation that protects the four endangered species of sea turtles nesting on Aruba. These turtles invariably return to their natal beach to lay their eggs, and Turtugaruba volunteers know exactly where to patrol in order to spot, monitor, and protect turtle nests on the Island, primarily at Eagle Beach, Boca Grandi, and Arikok National Park.
The French angelfish lives on coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea and adjacent waters. Its thin, disc-shaped body makes it difficult to see head on but very easy to see from the side. They are black and gold and closely resemble their close relative, the gray angelfish (Pomacanthus arcuatus), which also has the same geographic range.
French angelfish are foragers and eat a variety of sessile invertebrates and plants, including sponges, algae, soft corals, tunicates, and others. Juveniles clean parasites and loose scales off of large fishes, including some that are predatory. French angelfish typically forage in pairs. In fact, they are almost always observed in pairs, which they form for mating and to jointly defend a feeding territory from other fishes.
This species reproduces via broadcast spawning, where the female releases her eggs and the male releases his sperm, in the water column above the reef, at the same time. This method increases the likelihood that eggs will be fertilized and that fertilized eggs will not be eaten by egg predators on the reef surface. Unlike some broadcast spawning species, French angelfish do not form large aggregations to spawn. They reproduce only with their partner.
The striped fish with vertical black stripes are Sergeant majors, who follow you closely hoping you will feed them. Individuals of this species form aggregations of about several hundreds of individuals. Sometimes, they get cleaned of parasites by fish species such as gobies in the genus Gobiosoma, Bodianus rufus, Elacatinus figaro, and Thalassoma noronhanum. Sergeant majors also clean green sea turtles with Acanthurus chirurgus and Acanthurus coeruleus.
Thursday - DEC 13 2018
Very sad. The last day. The owner will come and pick us up at 11 am. Not looking forward to going back to the dark and cold. This was another re-enforcing trip to make us realize that we will NOT stay in the mid-Atlantic.
Happy Kitten Girl.
Kitten Girl in the Palm tree.
Last look at the house.
Content in her chair.
The strange back door that allows anything to come in.
The Queen Beatrix International Airport.
You can see the cruise ships from the airport.
On Southwest Airlines Flight WN1805 from Aruba AUA Reina Beatrix (AUA) to Baltimore BWI.
Looking where we were snorkeling on Tue (Lower left)
Southern end of the island. You can see Venezuela off in the haze.
Flying over Dominican Republic the salt lake is Laguna de Oviedo.
Baoruco Mountain Range - Part of the area is protected within the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park. Its on the border of Dominican Republic & Haiti
Lake Enriquillo - is one of only a few saltwater lakes in the world inhabited by crocodiles. Lake Enriquillo is located in a rift valley that extends 79 miles from Port-au-Prince Bay in Haiti in the west to near Neiba Bay in the Dominican Republic in the east. Its' surface can be as much as 148 feet below sea level.
Tortuga (on the left) - is a Caribbean island that forms part of Haiti, off the northwest coast of Hispaniola. Its name in both Spanish (Isla Tortuga) and French means "Turtle Island" or "Tortoise Island", In the 17th century, it was a major center of Caribbean piracy.
BWI Approach. Looking up I-95 towards Baltimore.
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