Oranjestad, Aruba Day 4
Windmill Oranjestad, Aruba
Approaching Aruba we sailed along the coastline, until we arrived at the pilot station. The local pilot expertly guided our big vessel into the dock at 11:00 AM, right on time.
According to records , human beings first reached Aruba some 4,500 years ago. Little remains of that era, although from fossilized stone implements found we know their roots are traced back to Dabajuro, Venezuela, long before Hugo Chavez.
Obviously the early communities were small, can't get many people in a canoe! The people survived on collective hunting and fishing as well as fresh fruit that was abundant on the island.
From those humble beginnings Aruba has blossomed to the thriving resort area it has become today. Besides all of the shopping and dining available within walking distance of the pier, ( a large mall is located across the street), A large variety of attractions are available just a short drive away.
Casa Bari, a large climbable rock formation is a must see, The California Lighthouse, Aruba's oude molen ("old windmill"), a gold smelter, and The Numismatic Museum which features coins that were cut with a guillotine!
A hard day of sightseeing, shopping and dining awaited us! Not wanting to leave a stone unturned a group of us rented a private bus and ascended upon the island, with all the veracity of Blackbeard.
After rumbling about the desert countryside and shopping til our credit cards exploded, we humbly crawled back to the our humble abode, dressed for dinner and settled in for the evening.
Our 11:00 PM departure time quickly arrived and we set an Easterly course for our next port of call Willemstad, Curacao.
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