Aruba 2024
Last summer I got to spend a week in Aruba with my parents. Here is a quick recap of the trip!
DAY 1
Whenever my family goes on vacation, we love to walk along the beach and watch the sunset every night. This is one of my favorite family traditions.
My sweet parents.
A sunset stroll between Palm Beach and Hadicurari Beach
Tranquility
DAY 2
The next morning, we went to the Aruba Butterfly Farm. The exotic species of butterflies were so different from the ones I see in my Tennessee garden.
The Zuleika (Heliconian hecale)
giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
blue morpho (left) and malachite (right)
blue clipper (Parthenos sylvia)
My favorite butterfly :)
DAY 3
This morning we went to Seroe Colorado Community Church in San Nicolas. We listened to the ocean through the open windows as we heard the gospel preached from the pulpit.
The open doors of Seroe Colorado Community Church
Afterward we went snorkeling at nearby Baby Beach. The beach was aptly named; I felt as if I was in a scene from C.S. Lewis’s “Perelandra.”
The warm, clear water at Baby Beach
DAY 4
This morning I went trail riding along the Noord coastline with Rancho Notorious. Jorge, the trail guide, didn’t speak much English, but we got along famously.
Most of the time, the only sound was the soft thudding of our horses’ hooves in the rocky sand. Occasionally a whiptail lizard darted across the path.
The windswept trail along the coast.
The wind picked up as we approached the coast. I could feel my horse’s urge to run, so we took off at a canter. Oh, what joy!
Fresh sea breeze
As we headed back to the ranch, Jorge asked if I wanted to go faster.
“Gallop?” he said.
“Oh yes, please!” I responded, affirmatively.
Jorge kicked his horse into a canter, and then to a gallop. I encouraged my horse to follow suit, and we were off. I soaked in every moment as the wind unraveled the last of my braid.
Outside The Butterfly Farm
The afternoon found us back at The Butterfly Farm in Noord. The sugar feeders and tropical flowers outside the garden were teeming with bananaquits.
tree nymph (Idea leuconoe)
DAY 5
I convinced my parents to go to the Bubali Bird Sanctuary this morning. We saw green herons, bare-eyed pigeons, and yellow warblers, to name a few species. I also saw this giant milkweed.
giant milkweed (Calotropis procera)
This afternoon, we drove along the northern coast to the iconic California Lighthouse.
Taking a leap of joy at the California Lighthouse
We also visited Arashi Beach, one of the most popular beaches on the island.
Arashi Beach is very popular for swimming and snorkeling.
Turquoise waters
Another Aruba sunset
DAY 6
Our first stop this morning was, predictably, The Butterfly Farm. We went early to watch the chrysalises hatch.
postman (Heliconius melpomene)
Next we headed south to Spaans Lagoen (which translates to “Spanish lagoon”). This coastal wetland sits next to Arikok National Park and provides habitat for a rich diversity of birds.
Mudflats and shocos (Aruba burrowing owls) next to their burrows at Spaans Lagoen
We got to see the endangered Aruba burrowing owl (locally known as the shoco), which is an endemic subspecies of burrowing owl.
The Red Anchor
Before leaving the south side of the island, we stopped to take a picture of the famous Red Anchor.
Espresso and a fruit pastry from the deli at Super Foods
We also stopped at Super Foods for a light treat. :)
Looking west
The sunset tonight was particularly magical. I love experiencing the colors, sounds, sights, and smells of new places… but what I am most grateful for is time with my parents. These are the moments to savor.
