What To Do When Lost On Aruba?

[charles]

While Aruba is relatively small, people get lost here all the time, including locals by the way. I used to carry little maps and all sort of stuff to get me back on track and then it dawned on me that it is really pretty simple to get back on track.

If you are on the populated (Southern) coastline and can't figure out which way is the hotel zone just point the car to the ocean and drive to the right. That will get you back. If you are on the north coast and cant figure it out then just drive until you hit a road that goes to the inland and take it. Once inland then look for our only large mountain - Hooi-Berg' - drive towards it and look for main roads. They HAVE TO BE THERE since the cross both sides of the Hooi-Berg. This area of the island is higher and you will be able to see the hotels from here. Just point yourself in their direction and go go go .

However, I recommend staying lost. It is a delightful experience.


be well
charles

[Andrea J.]

great advice.

[sherryf]

charles, the last paragraph was the best part of your advice. our 'let's get lost' days are the best of all days for us on aruba. peaceful, beautiful, and the people we meet plus the scenery we see remind us of the beauty and wonder of aruba before tourists. it truly must have been magical.

[Windy]

charles, the last paragraph was the best part of your advice. our 'let's get lost' days are the best of all days for us on aruba. peaceful, beautiful, and the people we meet plus the scenery we see remind us of the beauty and wonder of aruba before tourists. it truly must have been magical.

Have to agree with you!:) If we end up back in familiar territory, we head back into the "bush"!!!! lol

[ArubaDolores]

A couple of years ago, I took a group of friends on a tour of Aruba. Even though I was born in Aruba, I get lost occaisonally, but usually can find my way back to the timeshare by just heading west or the wind blows. Coming upon the round about to take us to the "fallen natural bridge," it was closed for road repairs so we had to detour. Came upon some men rennovating a house and I stopped and asked for directions. As I tried to repeat the directions, he could see that I was confused. He proceeded to climb down off his ladder, get in his car and took me to the road that lead to the fallen natural bridge. This is so typical of the people of Aruba. Need I say more? And if this happens to me again, which I sure it will because I get adventureous at times, I know I will come upon the same type gentlemen, or lady, that will direct me to wherever I am going. That's the Aruba people for you.

Does anyone on this Board, other than Charles, remember what occurred on February 16, 1942?

[Andrea J.]

would that have been the ANTILLA?

[ArubaDolores]

No, the Antilla was scuttled on May 10, 1940. On February 16, 1942, the German U-boats attacked Aruba at 1:30 in the morning, so this will be the 69th anniversary. A dreadful night but a lucky one for Aruba. One of the German submarines was given orders to strike the refinery, but failed because the stopper was not removed from the barrel of the gun, and it exploded and ended up killing two of the Germen seamen manning the gun. This mishap alerted the refinery so all lights were extinguished immediately. The stopper was used to prevent sea water from getting into the gun. The U-boats did sink several tankers, one being the Lake Tanker Oranjestad, which sank in 225 feet of water about 500 yards off the reef in front of CocoBeach on the southern end of the island. It was just last year that one of the propellers from the Oranjestad was brought up by a number of divers and will be mounted and placed somwhere in The Colony if I can remember correctly.

Sorry everyone, I sort of got off the subject of getting lost in Aruba. Looking forward to my next adventure of getting lost in Aruba while I am there for three weeks in June.

[charles]

Dolores,
You are cool.

The only thing that keeps history alive is repetition of the history itself.
be well
charles



No, the Antilla was scuttled on May 10, 1940. On February 16, 1942, the German U-boats attacked Aruba at 1:30 in the morning, so this will be the 69th anniversary. A dreadful night but a lucky one for Aruba. One of the German submarines was given orders to strike the refinery, but failed because the stopper was not removed from the barrel of the gun, and it exploded and ended up killing two of the Germen seamen manning the gun. This mishap alerted the refinery so all lights were extinguished immediately. The stopper was used to prevent sea water from getting into the gun. The U-boats did sink several tankers, one being the Lake Tanker Oranjestad, which sank in 225 feet of water about 500 yards off the reef in front of CocoBeach on the southern end of the island. It was just last year that one of the propellers from the Oranjestad was brought up by a number of divers and will be mounted and placed somwhere in The Colony if I can remember correctly.

Sorry everyone, I sort of got off the subject of getting lost in Aruba. Looking forward to my next adventure of getting lost in Aruba while I am there for three weeks in June.

[corona]

I have always believed the only way to get to know a place to get off the beaten path. We've done that in the past when we've rented a car, and sometimes, although my husband might not admit to it, we were not off the beaten path on purpose. Had I been alone, I would have stayed hopelessly lost, and possibly stranded on Aruba (darn my h and his amazing sense of direction). Seriously, I love these tips on how to find one's way back when off exploring. I'm going to save the post to my computer for future reference when we're back to Aruba, and off exploring. Thanks, Charles.

And thank you ArubaDolores for that WWII from Aruba's past. That's really great that divers were able to retrieve one of the propellers from the Lake Tanker Oranjestad. That's a great tangible reminder to the very scary event.

[AndyM]

We always do a little exploring when we visit Aruba. We've found some nice spots as a result.
With my absent sense of direction, getting lost is always part of the adventure. Fortunately, my wife is more geographically grounded than I so we always find our way back.

[CK1]

Great advice, Charles.

What I do when being lost on the island: look for the trees. As the wind always blows from the north side and the trees are pointing in the direction where the ocean side with the hotels is.

[danadog56]

While Aruba is relatively small, people get lost here all the time, including locals by the way. I used to carry little maps and all sort of stuff to get me back on track and then it dawned on me that it is really pretty simple to get back on track.

If you are on the populated (Southern) coastline and can't figure out which way is the hotel zone just point the car to the ocean and drive to the right. That will get you back. If you are on the north coast and cant figure it out then just drive until you hit a road that goes to the inland and take it. Once inland then look for our only large mountain - Hooi-Berg' - drive towards it and look for main roads. They HAVE TO BE THERE since the cross both sides of the Hooi-Berg. This area of the island is higher and you will be able to see the hotels from here. Just point yourself in their direction and go go go .

However, I recommend staying lost. It is a delightful experience.


be well
charles


Charles,
we have been going to aruba for about 13 years now and the first 2 years got lost all the time, however, we were usually trying to find things/places that we found the year before and never seemed to be able to find them.
Those are some of our best memories of the island....laughing about being parched and finding a little local bar, stopping and eating and drinking for awhile and then going out and getting lost again....the arubans are such a welcoming group of people and that is how I fell in love with it and them....never worried about getting lost and having a problem with the locals....we were and are always welcomed with open arms.....
each year, even though I actually know my way around, or at least how to get to all the major towns and sites, we just drive and end up where we end up....those are still the best part of our yearly vacations to the island....this past year we ended up somewhere....and stopped to have a beer, ended up eating pestachi (YUM) and then the bartender brought out some local musical instruments, put some music on and we all danced and laughed for hours....that is why I LOVE YOUR ISLAND !!!!!!

[ArubaDolores]

Thanks Charles. I always delight in bringing up some history of "The Rock" as we called Aruba when we lived in The Colony.

Getting lost in Aruba is a treat in itself. Who would venture or even know some of the places where we have been lost? So it is an adventure for everyone to enjoy part of the island you probably would never have visited; I know I do and I was born and raised in Aruba. So everyone who has gotten lost in Aruba, enjoy it. Take in everything you see, because you may not find it again. I return on June 11 for three glorious weeks at Playa Linda, along with children, grandchildren and friends. And yes, some of them have gotten lost with me. So I will again venture back to the gold mines, fallen natural bridge, Ayo, Casibari, Boca Prins, Boca Brandi, Colorado Point, The Colony Seroe Colorado), snorkeling at Baby Beach and finally ending up below Colorado Point enjoying the waves as they spray us with salt water. Does not get any better.
Dolores

[ArubaDolores]

Charles, I forgot to tell you how much I enjoy your stories and hope that you will continue posting them for everyone to enjoy.
Doloes

[charles]

Thank you for the lovely compliment. I will continue to write up until someone sends me Death Threats. I like doing it and (in general) the readers are kind to me regarding my grammar and spelling. Good match.

be well
charles

[CK1]

Great and heartwarming stories! Thanks Everyone.

[Ariel]

23 days of being lost hahaha. I cant wait.