Oranjestad, Aruba

Aruba: "sheltered west coast." Cruise ships and Palm Beach resorts bring in the money, but backpacker tourism also finds a place along the island's coast. The campground at Surfside Beach is within walking distance of the airport and the cruise port. [2017]

Oranjestad, Aruba

Aruba: "small-island ambiance with European overtones." The island is only as large as a small U.S. county and has only a single tram line, which links the cruise port with Oranjestad's central shopping precinct. Oranjestad? With a name like that, why isn't anything orange?  An orange tram would be a nice Dutch overtone. [2017]

Oranjestad, Aruba

Aruba's cruise-industry advantages: warm breezy climate year-round, location south of the hurricane belt, exotic small-island ambiance with European overtones, sheltered west coast. Aruba's cruise-industry disadvantages: farther from the market than its competitors, no natural deep-water harbors, unapproachable east coast. [2017]

Oranjestad, Aruba

"Life's a Beach." Did you recognize the slogan as a metaphor? Truly, life is not a beach, but you may gain some perspective on life if you think about it as a beach. And, as this Aruban tableau suggests: Life is a Rainbow (think: diversity), and Life is a Bus (think: road trip). [2017]

Palm Beach, Aruba

Faux Human Characters: Captain Morgan was a Caribbean pirate and folk hero, who now makes it his life work to peddle his eponymous rum. He may have a Dutch name, and Aruba may be a Dutch island, but we are told he is Welsh! [2017]

Oranjestad, Aruba

Game board or relief for the bored?
"A striking chord!" or "Good Lord!"
Looking for fame or architectural shame?
Oh-so lame or entirely new frame?
Tic-tac-toe or or just pixels aglow?
Package sans bow or morceaux de gâteau?
As for the palms: They, too, have their qualms.
[2017]

Oranjestad, Aruba

From his campground on Surfside Beach, he could watch the Eurodam pull into the Cruise Terminal around 7 am and leave late in the afternoon. Ready for a walk into town? Consider the 2,000 passengers that will disgorge from the ship and another 2,000 from the Tui Discovery. But, don't wait until tomorrow: Four cruise liners will be in port! [2017]

Oranjestad, Aruba

Today, Oranjestad is a cruise port. The street sign tells you that the shops here are an easy walk from the ship. For centuries, however, the harbor brought horse traders because the island was a breeding ground for caballos. The only ones left are Caribbean blue. Any questions? Just ask Rosalinda. [2017]

Oranjestad, Aruba

Probably more people in Aruba than in the United States know that today is World AIDS Day. Little countries know their well-being is determined by international forces. Americans seem to think they alone are in control. In fact, AIDS has practically slipped off the radar screen in the U.S. Perhaps the American landscape needs some red ribbons. [2017]

Oranjestad, Aruba

Oranjestad is not a big city, but there is still a parking problem. Here's a self-service solution. Punch in the right code, and the platform your car is on descends to ground level. What do you think about this car elevator's contribution to community aesthetics? [2017]

Oranjestad, Aruba

Taoist Tai Chi Societies have become avenues for spreading one element of Chinese culture around the world: a balance and movement regimen that strengthens both body and mind. The roots of Tai Chi go back to the 4th century B.C. and the teachings of the Chinese 'Grand Master' Lao-Tsu. Recognize yin and yang? [2017]

Palm Beach, Aruba

Bo por papia papiamento? If you do, you know the word dushi. Here it is used to tell buyers that the bagels are really good. It may be just the word you need to describe the eatery's yarn bomb. If you can say dushi, you can speak Papiamento, the native tongue of Aruba. Bon dia! [2017]

Oranjestad, Aruba

A is for Aruba, one of Holland's ABC islands in the Caribbean. Aruba is a country of its own, albeit not an independent state. Hence, two languages are official in Aruba: Papiamento, the native tongue, and Dutch, the colonial tongue. Now, look at the picture again and identify the language that is on display in front of the Parliament building. [2017]

Oranjestad, Aruba

He is helping to beautify the urban landscape of Oranjestad by painting one of the city's newest buildings. The architect will get all the credit, though, and he will remain nameless. On this day after international Labor Day, think of the manual laborers that make the world a beautiful place to live. [2017]

Palm Beach, Aruba

A soothing sunset marks the completion of every day in the ABC islands: Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. As they say: You never get a second chance to make a last impression ━ or something like that. [2017]

Oranjestad, Aruba

The Dutch built Fort Zoutman (see the cannon?) in the 1790s. Around it developed the town of Oranjestad, the island's capital, which was named after the House of Orange. The tower was added to the fort in the mid-1800s and once served as a lighthouse. [2017]

Palm Beach, Aruba

Don't worry. Green iguanas are entirely vegetarian and good-tempered. This one is a male: See the spiny back ridge and the dewlap under his chin? Fortunately, green iguanas and their lizard cousins, the whiptails, seem entirely happy to share the island with 100,000 homo sapiens. [2017]

Palm Beach, Aruba

The colors suggest Caribbean. The mill suggests Holland. The conch suggests seaside. Where are you? The Dutch Caribbean 1499. Here in Aruba, they like to add 1499, their year of founding. Aruba is a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. [2017]