Saturday, January 21, 2017
Today we found 30 Topaz, the apartment we will rent for 16 days when we return from Bonaire before returning to the US. Then we went to Alto Vista Chapel. It is a small, bright yellow chapel reached by a winding road lined with white crosses marking the station of the cross. It was built in 1952 on the site of the original, and first, Catholic church built in Aruba in 1750 by a Spanish missionary.

We went along the coast to the Bushiribana Gold Mine Ruins. This mill once processed ore from mines in the nearby hills during Aruba's gold rush of the nineteenth century. In 1824, gold was finally discovered in Aruba, and eventually produced 3 million pounds of gold.

Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruin

Rock Statutes by the Ruins

Stan creating his statue

Finished statue

The ocean was beautiful along the coast.

We stopped at the Natural Bridge. Only one remains because the waves knocked one into the sea.

Remains of the other bridge.

We also drove to the visitor center of the Arikok National Park. We decided not to pay the $11 each to go inside. The roads were very poor.

Inland we came to the Ayo Rock Formations.

Pretty lizard

Hiding nearby

We found the Casibari Cafe for lunch. Had the grouper dinner that included rice and salad. 

We got directions to the Hooiberg Lookout. There are 600 steps to the top for a great view. We did not go up, however.