INTRODUCTION The Monuments Guide Aruba guide will introduce you to the cultural history of Aruba in a leisurely and recreational way. It is the perfect way to discover the true nature of this island. The rural car route will take you around the island, and the two walking routes explore Oranjestad and San Nicolas. You can also make your own excursions into nature. Along the way you will encounter the most important cultural heritage on the island, including important historic buildings, and archaeological and natural sites. You will see everything from traditional cunucu homes and industrial heritage to modern shopping meccas and many churches. For Arubans, they are beacons in society; for travellers, they are markers in the landscape. Additional texts scattered throughout the book explore specific subjects in greater depth. Accessibility was an important criterion when selecting historic buildings for this guide. It is for this reason that the countryside route mostly follows the island’s sign-posted main roads. We recommend that you do not to enter private land or premises, or impinge on the privacy of the occupants. While there are no rules to prevent you from photographing buildings from the public highway, if you see that a local person has noticed you, they will greatly appreciate a word of explanation. In contrast to the hustle and bustle of Oranjestad, it is still pleasantly tranquil throughout much of ‘inland’ Aruba. It is not always easy to find specific addresses on Aruba. Many houses have no number, and it is not uncommon for buildings here to be repainted in a different colour. However, local people will always do their best to help you find your way. Readers should be aware that although Oranjestad and San Nicolas do have clearly defined city centres, one should not expect to find traditional village squares elsewhere on the island. This is because, historically, the Aruban landscape was dotted with cunucu houses. Although some were built closer together than others, there were no real population centres to speak of. The population did grow gradually, however, and family members leaving the parental home would often settle nearby. Sometimes they would build a house on the same land, sometimes on adjacent land. Over time, this led to family enclaves growing in ever expanding circles that ultimately merged with others. When walking on Aruban paths and fields, one should be aware of a few minor hazards. The chance of being bitten by a rattlesnake in Parke Arikok is very small, but nevertheless slightly greater out in the open than on the road. The boa is larger than the rattlesnake, but of no danger to people. Contact with some plants may cause itchiness or blistering. Some plants are poisonous if eaten, so one is well4
monuments guide aruba