Tad is an engineer, Carla works in an office as a receptionist and the couple met in a karate class.  On February 22, 2008 just a week after Valentine’s Day, they got engaged during a cruise to the Bahamas. The wedding plans ensued and both preferred an intimate and romantic affair.

When asked why they choose Aruba, the newlyweds replied, “We had heard how beautiful Aruba was from many friends. Aruba is the perfect setting for a beach wedding” Mr. and Mrs. Bohlen expressed thanks to Nashette Wouters, Bucuti’s wedding planner and the entire wedding team of the resort. “The Bucuti was exactly what we were looking for our wedding. Nashette did an outstanding job. Our wedding was everything we dreamed it would be. It was beautiful, elegant and perfect.”

Mr. and Mrs. Bohlen celebrated their honeymoon in one of Bucuti’s award winning Tara Beach Suites.

Contact: Nashette Wouters - weddings@bucuti.com

Photos by Victor Winklaar

In the deep recesses of rock along the island’s windward coast, shallow cave formations intrigue visitors, who, in seeking to penetrate its damp chambers, are rewarded with mysterious views of rock drawings, the sudden, flapping wings of a nervous bat and nature’s artwork of stalagmites and stalactites.
There visitors will find the bat-filled Quadirikiri, Fontein, and Baranca Sunu or better known as Tunnel of Love. Taking in consideration that those three caves are main attractions of the Island, Post Aruba decided to issue a set of 3 stamps with this theme.
Stamp 175c: The Baranca Sunu Cave or also known as Tunnel of Love, is 300 feet long and is located on the Northern part of the island. In English “Baranca Sunu” means Naked Rock, but the origin of this name cannot be traced. Baranca Sunu has five chambers and in one of them there is a Virgin Mary that is shown in one of the natural rock formations.

The name Tunnel of Love offers more adventure than romance. The entrance of the cave has steep and narrow stairs downwards into the cave. In this tunnel the visitors will have to bend in some of the parts to discover its mysteries and to go through it. The exit is a little more challenging because you have to climb up a small stairs carved in the rocks. The tunnel is closed at the moment to preserve it and to make sure that the resident bat population reestablishes itself. The two bat populations are better known as Long Tongue Fruit Bats and Insect Eaters Bats.
Stamp 200c: Located about 100 meters from Aruba’s natural Fontein is the Fontein Cave situated in an escarpment of a terrace of coral limestone and it has an airy and easily accessible entrance of 3 meters broad and 2 meters high. Inside, the first vestibule is 4 meters high by about 50 meters, so it can be visited by the public.

The Fontein Cave is the most popular of the caves as it is the only one that has the ornamental drawings of Arawak Indians, providing a real sense of island history to this cave. These drawings are located in the flatter part of the ceiling and on the walls. These drawings have a particularly brownish red, reddish brown or more purplish color. It is also believed that in that cave the Arawak Indians celebrated rituals and ceremonies typical for their tribe.

Stamp 225c: The entrance of Quadirikiri Grot (Guadirikiri Cave) is located at the base of a cliff and is famous for its two chambers, illuminated by the sunlight, shining through holes in the roof of the cave which is 98 feet (30m) long. The cave is inhabited by hundreds of harmless bats. For this reason it was decided to have it closed starting at the second room to make sure that the bats could reproduce.
This emission is available at the post offices in Oranjestad, San Nicolas, Santa Cruz and Port of Call starting on April 01, 2009 until March 31, 2010 for all our clients who would like to have this special issue.

These stamps can be ordered as well via email: philatelic@postaruba.com

Aruba, known for its white-sand beaches, near perfect weather and warm hospitality, is proud to announce that the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) Engineering Conference will be held on the island from July 27-29, 2009.  The conference will take place at the Renaissance Convention Center Aruba and will be co-hosted by Aruba’s water and energy plant WEB Aruba N.V.

This year, the CARILEC commemorates 20 years of service to Caribbean Utilities, and the three-day conference is expected to attract over 300 delegates from a diverse audience of engineering practitioners, academia, industry professionals and vending companies.

The event is attended by engineering professionals from the Regional Utilities, North America and Europe. It also attracts participation from manufacturers, suppliers of equipment and materials and other industry service providers. The conference serves as a forum to facilitate networking, the exchange of ideas and exposure to new developments, technologies and products both through presentations and a trade show.

The CARILEC is an association of electric utilities, suppliers, manufacturers and other stakeholders operating in the electricity industry in the Caribbean. The Association is made up of 33 electric utilities from Bermuda in the north to Guyana in the south, and 62 associate member and three affiliate member companies involved in different aspects of servicing the electric utility business.

For more information and registration please visit  www.carilec.com.

click

De gelukkige winnaars zijn, van 1 t/m 4:  W. Cheng, K. van Rinsum, H. Smeeman, A. Arends. Zij mogen deelnemen aan het Aruba International Pro Am Tournament van 20 tot 24 augustus. Voor de golfers die geen reis wonnen, waren er informatie-leaflets verkrijgbaar over hoe er toch deelgenomen kan worden aan dit toernooi op Aruba (zie bijlage), daarnaast waren er uiteraard verschillende brochures over Aruba en haar golfbanen Tierra del Sol en Links at Divi te verkrijgen.

Over Aruba BurgGolf Tournament
De Aruba BurgGolf Tournament wedstrijden zijn door het hele land gespeeld van 14 maart tot 1 juni, op de golfbanen Gendersteijn, Haverleij, Emmen, Zoetermeer, Wijchen, St. Nicolaasga en  Purmerend. Het Tournament was toegankelijk voor zowel clubleden als LoyalTee leden en er werd gespeeld met een maximale handicap van 24. Per wedstrijd gingen de beste vier spelers door naar de finale. Jaap Ellis van het Arubaanse Verkeersbureau: ‘Ik ben zeer tevreden over het verloop van het toernooi en ik ben ervan overtuigd dat de golfmogelijkheden op Aruba nu nog beter bekend zijn onder de golfers doelgroep’. Het is nog mogelijk om met het Nederlandse team mee te reizen naar Aruba, ABC Travel is de officiële touroperator voor dit toernooi.

Voor meer informatie: www.burggolf.nl/aruba en www.abctravel.nl

Aruba Airport Authority N.V. (AAA) has received word that it has been awarded second place in Skytrax’ World Airport Awards - Best Airports in the Category for Central America and the Caribbean for the second consecutive year. First Place went to Panama City and third place went to Mexico City. Aruba is the only airport in its category that appears in the top three airports in both 2008 and 2009. Awards like these have special value as it is the traveling public who determine the winners by completing the survey. The World Airport Survey is conducted by UK-based aviation research organization, Skytrax.

The World Airport Survey™ is the Airport Survey that guarantees independence and unbiased impartiality. In its 11th year of operation, the study is respected for its transparency and authenticity. The World Airport Awards™ are based on the results from 8.6 million questionnaires completed by airline passengers in 2008/09, covering more than 190 airports worldwide. Passenger interviews include a detailed appraisal for more than 40 categories of product and service quality from check-in to departure, from arrivals to baggage collection - including terminal cleanliness, staff efficiency, staff courtesy, terminal signage, security processing, immigration and customers, walking distances, as well as features like shopping, dining options, and internet services.

“This award is a reassurance that our entire team’s hard work and efforts in upgrading our facilities and maintaining a constant quality product does pay off and that it’s recognized by the traveling public”, Peter Steinmetz, Managing Director AAA said. “Being a tourism destination in such a delicate period, we are very aware that every single part of the experience is of vital importance, having a good experience upon arrival and departure is the key focus of our success”.

“Traveling to the Caribbean is one of the most idyllic ways to spend the holidays,” explains Francis Purvey, director of sales and marketing for the resorts. “We are seeing strong interest at Radisson Aruba and Radisson St. Martin Resorts, so we encourage guests to make reservations soon.”

Aruba and St Martin are serviced by direct flights from major U.S. gateway cities including New York, Boston, Miami and Atlanta. Guests can explore the crystal-blue waters of the Caribbean through snorkeling, sailing, diving, or kayaking. Both resorts feature comprehensive spas, a complimentary kids club, an array of diverse cuisine options in several on-site restaurants and cafes, and other amenities special to each property.

Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa is a perfect warm-weather locale to celebrate with family and friends and many guests have been making the resort their holiday home since its opening. Located in the picturesque cove of Anse Marcel, the Radisson St. Martin Resort, Marina & Spa also makes a great December vacation. With the average temperature around 78 degrees this time of year, along with all of the activities and unparalleled service the resort offers, it’s sure to be a holiday to remember.

For information and reservations, call Radisson Hotels & Resorts toll-free at (800) 333-3333, visit www.radisson.com or contact a travel agent.

“Margo Esposito will be a valuable asset to Radisson resorts in Aruba and St Martin,” explains the resort’s Director of Sales and Marketing Francis Purvey. “Our work with travel agents is vital and Margo will play an important role in strengthening these partnerships.” Esposito comes to Radisson with over 20 years of hospitality sales and marketing experience, representing preeminent resorts in the United States, Central America and the Caribbean.

The Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa is situated on Palm Beach, encompassing the best 14 oceanfront acres on Aruba. The AAA Four Diamond-rated property features a white sandy beach, lagoons, waterfalls, manicured gardens and 353 guestrooms including 30 luxurious suites and exclusive Plaza Club accommodations. The resort also features sumptuous cuisine, two free-form pools, a 16,000 square foot casino, the 13,000 square foot award-winning Larimar Spa, PADI watersports facility, and over 15,000 square feet of meeting space.

Radisson St Martin Resort, Marina & Spa recently completed an $80 million transformation, opening December 16, 2008. The luxurious oceanfront property is the quintessential St. Martin getaway, comprised of several Caribbean plantation-style buildings featuring 189 rooms and 63 suites. Radisson St. Martin also features a 93-meter signature zero-entry infinity pool, lush garden areas and suites adjacent to the property’s 150-slip, full-service marina. Guests can enjoy gourmet dining at C Le Restaurant, a chic, open-air beachfront venue showcasing Executive Chef Bruno Brazier’s contemporary-Caribbean/classic-French cuisine.

For information and reservations, call Radisson Hotels & Resorts (800) 333-3333 or visit www.radissoncaribbean.com.

Above: Margo Esposito

Flea Market
In front of the Talk of the Town
July 5, 2009 from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
There will be entertainment, activities for kids etc…

click to enlarge

Bucuti Beach Resort in Aruba is inviting travel agents to experience its celebrated romantic ambiance at special rates now through December 22, 2009. Agents can check out the couples-only resort, named one of the top 10 most romantic resorts in the world by TripAdvisor travelers, at rates starting at just $167 per night, based on double occupancy in the Superior Gardenview room category. The announcement of these rates comes on the heels of an island-wide travel agent outreach program launched by the Aruba Tourism Authority.

Agents specializing in romance, couples travel and destination weddings and honeymoons can confidently recommend Bucuti after experiencing the intimacy this eco-chic resort offers. The resort welcomes couples for sunset weddings, vow renewal ceremonies, intimate honeymoons, same-sex weddings and even simple beach vacations for two. Bucuti’s award-winning staff gets consistent high marks for ensuring a personalized romantic retreat for each couple.

Guests will also feel good knowing they are staying at a leader in environmentally responsible tourism. For more than 30 years, Bucuti’s owner, Ewald Biemans, has set the standard for green hotels in the Caribbean and beyond. The resort is ISO14001 certified and has been recognized by Green Globe, American Express and ISLANDS magazine. Bucuti gives guests the chance to pitch in with recycling contests, a sea turtle protection program and beach cleanups.

A new highlight at this 104-room European-inspired resort includes a stylish transformation of the outdoor space, which now has a lounge-like atmosphere with infinity pool, contemporary Kettal and Dedon furniture and romantic lighting. Bucuti was the first resort in Aruba to mature from the traditional, tropical Caribbean style to a more modern yet functional look, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

For an added taste of Aruba, agents can participate in a Dine Around program for $38 per person, per dinner, during their stay. Eighteen nearby restaurants have special three-course menus as part of the Dine Around, including Bucuti’s oceanfront Pirate’s Nest Restaurant featuring fresh seafood, prime steaks and vegetarian options.

The $167 travel agent rate includes all taxes and a daily American breakfast buffet for two and is valid through December 22, 2009. To make reservations, agents can e-mail info@bucuti.com, call 1(888) 4-BUCUTI or visit www.bucuti.com/en/travel_industry where they can login and make online reservations and view a FAQ page. (Login: Travel; Password: Industry). Agents are eligible for 10 percent commission on all bookings, including oceanfront wedding packages.

Tijdens het onderzoek is uiteenlopende data bekeken, van U.S. State Department meldingen van criminaliteit tegen Amerikaanse inwoners in het buitenland en de laatste United Nations enquete over wereldwijde criminaliteitstrends tot de resultaten van het onderzoek van Mercer. Daarnaast is er gekeken naar andere ‘fear factors’: natuurrampen, sociale of politieke onrust, oorlogen en terrorisme.

De statistieken liegen niet als het om de ABC eilanden gaat; de criminaliteitscijfers zijn laag, er is nagenoeg geen politieke onrust, de eilanden liggen te zuidelijk voor orkanen en in 2008 telde het trio de minste cruiseschip gerelateerde misdrijven. Aruba scoorde zelfs een ‘perfecte score’ in de cruiseschip criminaliteitsenquête. Bovendien is het opvallend dat de meeste veilige bestemmingen die uit dit onderzoek naar voren zijn gekomen een homogene bevolkingssamenstelling hebben, maar de gemengde bevolking van de ABC eilanden bewijzen het tegenovergestelde.

De 10 veiligste bestemmingen zijn: ABC-eilanden, Bhutan, Cyprus, Dubai, Singapore, Ierland, Ijsland , Mauritius, Nieuw-Zeeland en Zwitserland.

Voor meer informatie klik hier.

Naar verwachting zal de 23ste editie van de Aruba Hi-Winds nog meer te bieden hebben dan de afgelopen jaren. Met deelnemers vanuit de hele wereld, goede surfcondities en een gevarieerd programma moet de Aruba Hi-Winds 2009 een groot succes worden. De Aruba Hi-Winds organisatie is er helemaal klaar voor.

De deelnemers van de Aruba Hi-Winds worden onderverdeeld in de volgende categorieën: mannen, vrouwen, masters, jongeren en kinderen. Binnen deze categorieën kunnen mooie prijzen gewonnen worden in de volgende disciplines: course racing, freestyle, slalom en lange afstand wedstrijden.

Naast entertainment voor de echte waterliefhebber laat Aruba zich uiteraard van haar gastvrije kant zien door de toeschouwers een keur aan lekker eten, muziek, dans en show te bieden, om volop te genieten van de 23e editie Hi-Winds.

Voor meer informatie: www.aruba-hiwinds.org
Voor meer informatie over Aruba: www.aruba.com

The Hi-Winds competition includes races for windsurfing and kite boarding. Categories featured are long distance, course racing, slalom and freestyle for windsurfing; and course racing and freestyle for kite boarding. Each category is open for men, women, masters, juniors and kids.

In addition to enjoying the competitions during the day, the Hi-Winds organizing committee has put together fun festivities to entertain all participants and guests in the evenings. Celebrations include a welcome party at Moomba on the first evening, followed by an elegant dinner on the beach hosted by Divi Resorts. On Saturday, dinner will be served at De Palm Island, and Sunday’s party will take place on the beach with live music.

This historic event dates back to 1987, where the Hi-Winds competition was the first event dedicated to hosting world champions and professionals in the windsurfing community. In 1997, the organizing committee turned the Hi-Winds from a top race to a fun, amateur event appealing to all kinds of audiences. In recent years, Freestyle Windsurfing was added to the program and freestylers now compete for the coveted crown of “King of the Huts.” The event’s latest addition to the program is kite boarding, which has turned the competition into an immediate success with all audiences.

To view a full event schedule, entry fees and competition requirements for Hi-Winds, please visit www.hiwinds-aruba.com.  For more information on travel to Aruba, please visit www.aruba.com.