the-mango-vol-1-issue-6

Do Your Research Before You Go

I’m ready—how do I get there? Flight to Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) in Oranjestad What papers do I need? Passport; Embarkation/Disembarkation card (ED-card); valid return ticket; check for update on covid requirements if any Where can I stay? Hotels, resorts, all-inclusives, apartments, vacation villas, condos, timeshare Can I drink the water? Yes! Tap water is distilled in a saltwater desalination plant and meets the highest standards of the W.H.O. What if I have an emergency? Dial 911. Police at 100. A well-equipped hospital near Eagle Beach

What about money? Currency is Aruban florin. Dollars are widely accepted. Exchange rate: 1.75-1.80 florin for 1 U.S. dollar. Do I tip? Not obligatory, some establishments add 10 to 15 percent to bill. Extra can be added for exemplary service. Shopping Most stores close after 6 p.m. and on Sunday. Grocery stores open Sunday afternoons. What time is it? Atlantic Time Zone (Eastern Standard); Daylight Saving Time not observed • Weather tip: More rain falls October- January

Island treasures you should see: • Alto Vista Chapel, 1750s, known as “Pilgrim’s Church” • 1872 smelting works ruins at Bushiribana, used for gold mining • Balashi Beer factory tours • 90-foot California Lighthouse, 1914, named after steamship California, wrecked in 1891 • Santa Anna Church, 1770s, known for its carved oak altar • Fort Zoutman, oldest building of 1796 Dutch settlement, built for protection from pirates and enemies

The Mango

16

N o v / D e c

2021