Oranjestad – Charlie Ratcliff is a special Aruba visitor. In his own words he explains it the following: Friday, November 17th was my 50th birthday. On this date in 1956, I was born in the Lago Community Hospital in Seroe Colorado. I lived here on Aruba until 1972, when my father retired from Lago. I have not been back to Aruba since then until now. I wanted to come back many times over but there was always a reason why I couldn’t. Mostly it was because I couldn’t afford the trip. But now things have worked out and I am here to celebrate my birthday on the island of my birth.I guess I should talk about how much things have changed. To say Aruba is all grown up would be an understatement.
The west end of the island is hard to recognize. The last time I was here, the airport terminal was on the south side of the runway and the bridge over Spanish Lagoon that replace the low bridge has just opened. And I miss the banana boats on the Oranjestad waterfront. But I am proud of the progress. The island looks great! 
And I walked around Oranjestad yesterday (after the rain quit and the water in the streets went down) and I knew exactly where I was; I was home! I can’t tell you how good it is to hear Papiamento being spoken after all these years. I was never fluent in the language but I used to be able to understand it a bit. If it’s true what they say about use it or lose it, well, I lost it. I couldn’t make out a word of it but it was still music to my ears. I recognized stores as I walked down Caya Betico Croes (which was Nassaustraat during my first go-round) and Wilhelminastraat looked very familiar. No doubt about it, I am home.Yesterday I was lazy and did nothing at all. But today or maybe Tuesday, I’m going to San Nicolas and Seroe Colorado and spend the day. That is going to be a very emotional day for me. I have talked to some friends who tell me that the house I used to live in is still there. And of course Rodgers Beach is still there.
So if you see a middle aged man with a big smile on his face wandering aimlessly around San Nicolas and Seroe Colorado 
(away from the tourist sites) over the next few days , come say hello, it’s probably me.I return to the States on Wednesday. I presently live in (of all places) Birmingham, Alabama. But I’ll be back. In the meantime, you can know that Aruba has an outspoken ambassador in Alabama. Until my next trip home, Aruba, dushi tera!Charlie is seen here with his internet bulletin board friends, at the Waterfront Crabhouse in town where he experienced some Aruban hospitality and deliciously fresh coconut crusted mahi mahi, chased by a to-live-for key lime pie.Charlie whose internet BB handle is Charlie Rat, is active on www.visitaruba.com and www.aruba.com answering questions about the island and being helpful in general. His patriotism was sparked, he admits last year when ArubaÂ’s name was smeared in the international media. He was one of the island’s loudest and most-active defenders.Have fun on your native island! We can’t wait to read your trip report.
