Steve's Genealogy Blog

Natural Bridge was one of Aruba’s most popular tourist attractions until Mother Nature had her way with it and it collapsed on 02 September 2005 .  Still, there is another, smaller, natural bridge nearby .  From the beach at Natural Bridge one can enjoy the beautiful, intense blue of the Caribbean .  Lizards are common on Aruba .  In particular, the Aruba Whiptail Lizard (Cnemidophorus arubensis) can be seen around Natural Bridge .  The male Whiptails are blue and the females are brown.

Ruins of the Natural Bridge

SOURCE:  Ruins of the Natural Bridge (Aruba, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 29 March 2011.

Baby Bridge

SOURCE: Â Baby Bridge (Aruba, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 29 March 2011.

A View to the Sea

SOURCE: Â A View to the Sea (Aruba, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 29 March 2011.

Aruba Whiptail Lizard (Cnemidophorus arubensis)

SOURCE: Â Aruba Whiptail Lizard (Cnemidophorus arubensis) (Aruba, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 29 March 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

After leaving Curaí§ao, I arrived on the neighboring island of Aruba .  The first place I visited was the Casibari Rock Formations .  From the top of the rock formations, one can see for a great distance, although much of the vista is occupied by acacia, cactus, and rocks .  In the distance, the Santuario Santa Filomena, a Catholic church, can be seen, as can the volcanic structure, the Hooiberg (Haystack) .  Around Casibari are many flowering trees, including a species of Robinia.

The Casibari Rock Formations

SOURCE:  The Casibari Rock Formations (Aruba, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 29 March 2011.

View to Santuario Santa Filomena

SOURCE: Â View to Santuario Santa Filomena (Aruba, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 29 March 2011.

Hooiberg

SOURCE: Â Hooiberg (Aruba, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 29 March 2011.

Robinia sp.

SOURCE: Â Robinia sp . (Aruba, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 29 March 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

There was much to see and much to photograph in Willemstad, Curaí§ao .  The Queen Juliana Bridge, one of the highest in the world, dominates the skyline in Willemstadt .  As a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Curaí§ao pays homage to Queen Wilhelmina with a monument in Willemstad .  In addition to the various queens of the Netherlands, Curaí§ao also reveres Nena Sanchez, a local artist who was Miss Curaí§ao in 1966 and was the island’s representative in the Miss Universe Pageant that year .  Nena Sanchez is known for painting images of “The Blue Goddess” and street art near Nena’s gallery in Willemstad bears striking resemblance to Nena’s “Blue Goddess” .  Finally, the Rif Fort, with walls 1.5 meters thick, was one of several forts built to defend Curaí§ao.

The Queen Juliana Bridge

SOURCE:  The Queen Juliana Bridge (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 28 March 2011.

Queen Wilhelmina

SOURCE: Â Queen Wilhelmina (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 28 March 2011 . 

SOURCE: Â The Blue Goddess (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 28 March 2011.

The Rif Fort

SOURCE:  The Rif Fort (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 28 March 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

I’m not much of an expert on birds, but I enjoy photographing them when I see them .  Unfortunately, I know even less about how to photograph birds than I do about the birds themselves .  Nonetheless, I’m determined to learn .  In Curaí§ao, I saw a Greater Flamingo (Chogogo in the Papiamento language of Curaí§ao), a Bananaquit (Barika hel in Papiamento) hiding in the shrubbery, a Tropical Mockingbird (Chuchubi in Papiamento), and an incredible 3-D chalk painting with two Troupials (Trupial in Papiamento) and another unknown bird .  Whatever you do, try not to fall into the painting!

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)

SOURCE:  Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 28 March 2011.

Bananaquit (Coreba flaveola)

SOURCE: Â Bananaquit (Coreba flaveola) (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 28 March 2011.

Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus)

SOURCE: Â Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus) (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 28 March 2011.

3-D Street Art with Troupials (Icterus icterus)

SOURCE: Â 3-D Street Art with Troupials (Icterus icterus) (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 28 March 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

Willemstad, the capital of Curaí§ao, is a tourist’s delight .  The streets are clean and bright and the buildings beg to be photographed . Â A canal splits Willemstad in half and, along the canal, Handelskade Street is home to brightly colored buildings with red tile roofs .  Many of the buildings are very old and have been repeatedly renovated through the years .  The Governor’s Palace faces the canal .  A short distance away, De Tempel, the former Tempel Emanu-El, now houses the Counsel for Prosecution .  Opportunities for shopping abound in the neighborhood, with the electronics store Boolchand’s and La Casa Amarilla, purveyor of fragrances and cosmetics, just two of the choices.

Handelskade Street

SOURCE:  Handelskade Street (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 28 March 2011.

The Governor’s Palace

SOURCE:  The Governor’s Palace (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 28 March 2011.

De Tempel

SOURCE: Â De Tempel (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 28 March 2011.

Boolchand’s and La Casa Amarilla

SOURCE: Â Boolchand’s and La Casa Amarilla (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 28 March 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

Being an island, Curaí§ao’s coast is dotted with beautiful beaches .  Knip Beach on the north side of the island is graced with white sand, blue water, and interesting rock formations .  I was taken by the beauty of the underwater rocks and coral in the shallows and snapped a photo of it .  Like my previous attempt to photograph fish swimming in the waters in San Juan, Puerto Rico, my rocks and coral photo looks like abstract art .  It’s still beautiful, though.

Knip Beach

SOURCE:  Knip Beach (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 30 March 2011.

The Blue Lagoon

SOURCE: Â The Blue Lagoon (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 30 March 2011.

Underwater Rocks and Coral

SOURCE: Â Underwater Rocks and Coral (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 30 March 2011.

A View to the Sea

SOURCE: Â A View to the Sea (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Felipe Carneiro on 30 March 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

Upon arriving in Curaí§ao, my first view was of a lush, verdant coastline with well-maintained houses sheltered by rocky outcrops .  Traveling across the island, however, my preconceptions about Caribbean islands as tropical rainforests were quickly shattered .  A visit to the Shete Boka National Park on the north coast of the island revealed the true nature of the island, much of which was dotted with cactus!  The rocky north coast was magnificent with spectacular views of waves crashing against the rocks.
 

First View of Curaí§ao

SOURCE:  First View of Curaí§ao (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 28 March 2011.
 

Landscape at Shete Boka National Park

SOURCE: Â Landscape at Shete Boka National Park (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 28 March 2011.
 

Rocks and Waves

SOURCE: Â Rocks and Waves (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 28 March 2011.
 

Steve the Explorer

SOURCE: Â Steve the Explorer (Curaí§ao, Lesser Antilles); photographed by Felipe Carneiro on 28 March 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

While my time in San Juan, Puerto Rico was brief, it certainly was pleasant .  I stayed at the Caribe Hilton which has a beautiful property on the sea with a private beach, swimming pools, and lots of recreational options .  I could see Fort San Gerónimo from my hotel room and, down by the beach, I could see beautiful vistas out to the Caribbean .  I tried to take a photo of a school of fish in the water, but the photo looks more like abstract art than fishes .  All in all, a relaxing visit to San Juan.
 

Fort San Gerónimo

SOURCE:  Fort San Gerónimo (San Juan, Puerto Rico); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 26 March 2011.
 

All the Little Fishies

SOURCE:  All the Little Fishies (San Juan, Puerto Rico); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 26 March 2011.
 

Looking Towards the Sea

SOURCE: Â Looking Towards the Sea (San Juan, Puerto Rico); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 26 March 2011.
 

Genealogist on Holiday

SOURCE: Â Genealogist on Holiday (San Juan, Puerto Rico); photographed by Felipe Carneiro on 26 March 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

Welcome to San Juan!  My spring vacation began in San Juan, Puerto Rico .  My first order of business was to take a nap, but an evening stroll around the area of my hotel allowed me to take a number of interesting pictures .  My stay in San Juan was brief, barely over 24 hours, but it was long enough for me to realize that I might have to return to Puerto Rico for another visit!

Twilight Over the Caribbean

SOURCE:  Twilight Over the Caribbean (San Juan, Puerto Rico); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 25 March 2011.

Sculpture at La Ventana al Mar

SOURCE:  Sculpture at La Ventana al Mar (San Juan, Puerto Rico); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 25 March 2011 . 

Public Art by the Sea

SOURCE:  Public Art by the Sea (San Juan, Puerto Rico); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 25 March 2011.

American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus)

SOURCE: Â American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus) (San Juan, Puerto Rico); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 26 March 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko