Recommend December 2011 - (Page 49)

Resurrected in 1942 and inaugurated in 1952, the Chapel of Alto Vista may not seem all that storied—until you learn that it stands on the site where the island’s ﬁrst Roman Catholic Church was built in 1750. Visitors to the Chapel of Alto Vista can see the former church’s Spanish cruciﬁx. Perched at the top of a hill, this is an especially popular church for weddings. Every Easter, churchgoers stage a pilgrimage along the Stations of the Cross that line the road leading up to the chapel. Of all Aruba’s attractions, Lourdes Grotto best combines the cultural and the natural. Here, visitors can see a Roman Catholic shrine built into the rocks of a grotto in Seroe Preto. The shrine, featuring a 700-kilo statue (approximately 1,500 pounds) of the Virgin Mary, dates to 1958. Every February, faithful Arubans celebrate the feast of Lady of Lourdes with a procession from the nearby St. Theresita church to Lourdes Grotto, culminating in a Mass. Aruba’s Gold Mill Ruins are another frequent stop on bus and Jeep tours. Though adventurers sought gold in Aruba as early as the 1400s, the island’s gold rush took place when gold was discovered during the 19th century, and the island eventually produced about three million pounds of gold. Today, visitors to the Bushiribana ruins on the north coast can witness its abandoned gold mill, once used to process the precious metal from the surrounding hills. At the Balashi Gold Mill ruins, remnants of the mill still stand at the tip of the Spanish Lagoon. The Aruban capital of Oranjestad serves as a hub for travelers who want to learn more about the island’s history and culture. At the Historical Museum, clients can explore Fort Zoutman which, dating to the late-1700s, is the oldest building on the island. The structures were built to battle the pirates who used Aruba’s harbor as a base. The Willem III Tower, the island’s ﬁrst public timekeeper, is also part of the Historical Museum. Dating from 1868, the tower was restored in 1980 and contains many of Aruba’s most unique and precious cultural pieces—furniture, clothing and other artifacts that showcase the history of the island. In addition to touring the museum itself, guides here also offer walking tours through the city of Oranjestad. To learn more, visit http://www. aruba.com/thingstodo/attractions/fort_zoutman.aspx. A renovated historic building also houses Aruba’s Archaeological Museum. Within the walls of a traditional cunucu house dating The Archaeological Museum in Oranjestad. to 1870, the Archaeological Museum displays artifacts from as far back as 2500 BC, as well as tools and ornaments of the Amerindians and a scale hut replicating the homes of Caquetio Indians. Many of the original aspects of the cunucu home have also been preserved, including the rainwater cistern once used by its owners. Visit http://www.aruba.com/thingstodo/attractions/archaeological_ museum.aspx to learn more. The island of Aruba isn’t just a tropical paradise. It’s also the world’s largest aloe exporter. At the Aruba Aloe Museum & Factory, travelers learn the story of aloe in Aruba, from its introduction to the island in 1840 (shockingly, it’s not an indigenous plant), to the modern-day success of the Hato aloe plantation. Visit http://www.arubaaloe.com to learn more. These are just a handful of Aruba’s museums. For more, visit http:// www.aruba.com/explorearuba/culture/museums.aspx. december 2011 A15 http://www.aruba.com/thingstodo/attractions/archaeological_museum.aspx http://www.arubaaloe.com http://www.aruba.com/thingstodo/attractions/fort_zoutman.aspx http://www.aruba.com/explorearuba/culture/museums.aspx

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend December 2011

Sabre Travel Network
Rail Europe & Hertz Rental Car
Southwest Airlines & Delta Air Lines
Florida
Hawaii
France & Italy
Tahiti
Thailand
China
Cancun
Riviera Maya
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Aruba Certified Expert Specialist Program
Saint Lucia
South Africa
Israel
Isram
Abercrombie & Kent
Globus
Goway Travel
Travel Impressions
Avanti Destinations
GOGO Worldwide Vacations
Apple Vacations
Tauck
Marriott International
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Sandals & Beaches Resorts
AMResorts
Best Western International
Cruising to the Top

Recommend December 2011