Sunday, 31 January 1999
Alongside in Oranjestad, Aruba. As of 0800, the Empire State is moored port side to with 3 head lines, 4 breast lines, 4 spring lines, and 3 stern lines. Taking water and telephone services from the pier. The air temperature is 76 degrees this morning, with a forecasted high of 86. Water temperature is 81 degrees. It is partly cloudy with a strong breeze out of the east at 20 knots.
CAPTAIN'S LOG:
It's Super Bowl Sunday and there are many excited football fans on this ship. It works out pretty well this year. We are in port and the advances in the satellite television system aboard will enable those not on watch, to see the game. That is far better than last year. If you remember, no one saw the game. We were in the Pacific Ocean, near the Equator, locked in the grip of "El Nino"
The game is scheduled to begin at 1900 (7:00 pm) Atlantic Standard Time and it will be shown at many hotels, restaurants, and casinos. Given the large numbers of American tourists who are here, Super Bowl parties are considered something of a requirement. In fact, most cruise ships plan events that keep their passengers on board during the peak of the play offs. Some of the cadets will have hard decisions to make. Liberty expires at 2100 for the 4/C and at 2200 for the sophomores, right in the middle of the festivities. Ouch!
Many of the cadets might want to watch the game later this evening, but they aren't interrupting afternoon beach and sightseeing plans for it. With the choices they have, who can blame them.
For example, many of our Marine Safety Environmental Protection (MSEP) students will undoubtedly visit the Cunucu (papiamento for countryside) and Arikok National Park. The park surrounds the 617 foot tall Mt. Arikok. It is near the center of the island and boasts some of the oldest Arawak Indian drawings known to exist. Cadets can also walk nature trails and see the large variety of plants and animals such as exotic cacti, aloe, flowers, birds and iguanas. There's also an old Aruban "cunucu" house, "cas ditorta," made of mud and grass. Coupled with the Coastal Protection Zone, Arikok National Park covers approximately 25 percent of Aruba.
The engineers might find Balashi of interest. It used to be home to a gold smelting plant. Today it produces "gold " of a different kind, water. The island's desalination plant, located there, produces all the drinking water or "Balashi Coctail" as the locals call it.
Bushiribana is an attraction on the northern coast. It is the site of abandoned gold mines which fueled Aruba's gold rush in the nineteenth century. Cadets will also see the ruins of an old pirate castle here that may date to 1499, when Alonso de Ojeda landed. Daimari is another nearby attraction that is sure to interest some. It is a functioning coconut plantation with horseback riding and paint ball games.
Aruba is a wonderful place for our cadets to visit because there is something for everyone. They can go dune sliding at Boca Prins or spelunking at the Fontein and Quadiriki Caves. The highlight of the caves might be encountering some of the hundreds of bats that live there. The active fishing village of Savaneta is located on the southern coast. It was the original Capital of Aruba and home to the oldest house on the island (150 years old). It is made of mud.
From Super Bowl to bird sanctuary or sand dunes to shopping, we have so much to choose from. Whatever they pick, I think the cadets will call this stop, the Empire State's "most excellent adventure".
Most, but not all, cadets are aboard TS Empire State now. Some are serving co-ops or working aboard commercial ships around the world. Cadet 2/C Cindy LeBlanc is doing an internship in Valdez, Alaska. I received this enlightening message from Cindy's supervisor, this morning. "I have been following the Sea Term on the "Net."and drooling over the warm temperatures that Captain Bushy has been reporting. However, I just want to contrast the Sea Term Daily Updates with what 2/C Cindy LeBlanc has been experiencing, here in Valdez, while completing her MSEP co-op with Alyeska Pipeline. There is over three feet of snow on the ground. For the past few days, the wind has been blowing at a steady thirty knots with gusts over sixty. The wind chill has been thirty to forty degrees below zero! In some parts of Alaska, the wind chill has been more than one-hundred degrees below zero. I kid you not. A little different from Aruba; I think you will agree. Best Regards, Gregg Knutsen. (Gregg is MMA, class of '96.)
Don't we just love it!