Our stop today was on the island of Aruba. It's average temperature was 82 degrees. It was a small island at 19.6 miles long and 6 miles across at its widest point. Aruba was the 'A' in the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. The population was about 67,000 on the island. About 10,000 people lived in the capital, Oranjestad. The official language was Dutch, Engliash, Spanish, and a local dialect, Papamiento.
We got off the boat at Oranjestad and took the Aruba Town and Country tour from 8-11 a.m. On our drive, I noticed this island full of cactuses. It was a pretty dry island. We stopped at an aloe vera factory. This was one of their biggest industries. We stopped at Aruba's Natural Bridge, carved by the surf from solid rock. Then, we made a stop at the rock formations of Casibari. Our last stop was at Santa Anna's Church. The altar was made with beautiful solid oak. The altar was completed in 1850. Afterwards, my mom and I took Grandma Thomas back to the boat.
Then, we went back to town and took a taxi to San Nicholas to Charlie's Restaurant and Bar. Harold Klee said we had to go there as it was a hole in the wall. It cost us $20 for the cab ride there. This restaurant was all that there was in this town. Inside the restaurant, there were tons of memorabilia from tourists. You could post something anywhere in the restaurant, so I posted my transit card with my name and city up on this lantern above the first table as you walk in. They had delicious food. We were so surprised to see Kelsey and Matt come. Kelsey and Matt took the bus and it was only $1.75 each, so we waited with the locals for a bus back to the big city. It was pretty interesting taking the bus with the locals through the towns on the way to Oranjestad. As you got on the bus, there was a turnstile. The seats were hard as a rock. Mom and I got an ice cream cone at Baskin Robbins and then went shopping.
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