FTV 12/17/2013 Visit to Oranjestad Aruba

Hey FTVer's!

I'm on my first day of liberty in sunny Aruba! I bought some cute souvenir magnets. The Main Street is a great spot, especially for some expensive shopping! I had some nachos from Mojito's Bar and Grill for dinner and got some more souvenirs. Caya G.F. Betico Croes, or Main Street, runs roughly parallel to the waterfront several blocks inland; it's a major shopping venue. 

L.G. Smith Boulevard, runs along the waterfront and abounds with marinas, shopping malls, restaurants, and bars. The harbor is packed with fishing boats and schooners docked next to stalls, where vendors sell fruits, vegetables, and fish. 



On the other side of the Seaport Marketplace shopping mall, Queen Wilhelmina Park, named after one of Holland's longest-reigning monarchs, features manicured lawns, views of colorful fishing boats, and luxuriant tropical vegetation. 

Fort Zoutman, Aruba’s oldest building, was built in 1798, and, due to commercial growth, Oranjestad was named Aruba’s capital. It is proud symbol of Aruba’s national heritage.

After sightseeing on Main Street we headed for the beach. The beach was absolutely beautiful! The sand was soft and light. 

Aruba is gorgeous, except for the little bit of a cool breeze...I'm not a huge fan of the cold! (haha not trying to be mean or anything!)  Hope it warms up soon back at home!  Aruba is definitely a great vacation destination.

Try these beachy activities
Why do some sand beaches have fine grains of sand and others have coarse grains of sand?
Sand is a sedimentary rock
Where's the beach?
A beach crime scene 

Captain's Blog 2/17/13

We sailed away from Aruba this morning at 0930. A little late as we gave Father Jim the opportunity to celebrate another mass before he climbs aboard a jet to head for the cold and snowy New England weather. According to the long-range forecast we'll also be heading into a snowy Buzzards Bay in another week. But we have a lot of miles between the Caribbean and Cape Cod Bay, and plenty of weather in the way. It is not looking like a comfortable ride, but we'll do what we can to find holes in the fronts and storm centers.

Today is an unusual Sunday at sea - first day out of port. This oddity to our schedule occurred back in November when Aruba Port Authority told us we could not come in for a three day stay unless it was the 14th. So, instead of sailing Aruba on the 15th, we left today. It will be interesting to watch the consumption of burgers and dogs as many cadet will likely take advantage of the day off to sleep after stretching the envelop in port.

So we say farewell to Father Houston and our Chief Steward, Fritz. Thanks for making our trip more enjoyable in two different ways, and have safe travels home.