The California Lighthouse

The California Lighthouse sits on the northernmost end of Aruba.  Immediately below the lighthouse is Faro Blanco Restaurant.  Last night, we enjoyed a sunset dinner at the restaurant as a way to close out our last full day on the island.

Faro Blanco Restaurant is mostly an open terrace providing an expansive view of the ocean and the setting sun.  The establishment also features a small bar with a very gregarious bartender.  According to information provided on the menu, the restaurant started life as a dwelling for the lighthouse keeper.    

The California Lighthouse stands 100 feet tall, is 25 feet in diameter, and is made from stone blocks.  Lighthouse construction was completed in 1916.  The lighthouse (and the northernmost point of the island) is named for a vessel that shipwrecked off the coast of Aruba not far from where the lighthouse now stands.

The S.S. California was a wooden steamship.  She ran aground at midnight on September 23, 1891 on her way from Liverpool to Central America.  According to all accounts, the passengers were having a pretty big party onboard when the vessel wrecked.  As the ship came apart on the shores of the island, the crew pitched cargo overboard so it might be salvaged and sold in the city of Oranjestad on the island. 

All of us greatly enjoyed our meals at the restaurant, while only slightly annoying the people sitting near us.

Sunset was spectacular.

Each of made some horrendous attempts at pronouncing what we wanted from the menu (the waiter loved that).  And my hair was the worst it been because the wind was working me from the wrong direction (Bill loved that). 

When we left the restaurant after our dinner, we found the moon and the lighthouse side by side against the cobalt sky.

-- Mitchell Hegman