The Truth, Natalee Holloway and Aruba: You've Got Mail!

From Island Hopper - who I banned yesterday because they looked like they needed a break.

I have given this considerable thought and after reading through the messages last night I see that you would prefer to have Roger "Natalee is a child molester that attacked Joran", blacklable (racist and bigot to the core) and the other Dutch or Aruban attackers than those that do intelligent research and attempt to find real answers and possible reasons for Natalee's disappearance  for the sake of a"political correctness" and "why can't we be friends" on this "ONE HAPPY BLOG".

I hope the Dutch and Aruban posters contributed nicely to your bleg to create your sudden compassion and love for those that have run the Holloway and Twitty families through the mud after one of their own most likely raped and murdered her AND they aided in the cover up.  Otherwise, I could never understand why you would do such a thing.  Enjoy your Aruban/Dutch blog for Natalee, but do not expect any appreciation from her family for being a sell out.Your little trick of having Phantom send my email headers to you was pretty stupid. 

IF you are really the one that hacked into my computer rest assured that you will be charged for the crime.  I am dismayed to hear tthat "p" was most likely really you  or a  friend of yours AFTER all, that is a sick and illegal way to get attention to your blog.

I'm growing as weary of an America that doesn't want the complete truth of this story to come out, anymore than do some in Aruba. I was half-way through a draft of a post on that when this email came in. Not even sure I'll bother finishing the post, actually.

Neither of those most entrenched on either side of this story wants the whole truth of the matter to come out - they can't handle the truth

There's at least something to be learned here.

But here's the best place to start. Everyone is talking about the circumstances of Natalee Holloway's departure from Carlos and Charlies, and rightly so ... but no one in America wants to talk about why a group of American high school students frequented the club throughout their visit ... now do they?

And no one in Aruba wants to talk about what that significant part of their night life is really about, either. Very few people are looking for the complete truth of this tragedy ... they're seeking only a relative and palatable truth. And that goes for both sides.

Ultimately by the time the complete truth is known, it'll mostly be ignored and both sides will be weakly served to some degree. That might not really help America or Aruba to greatest effect ... but at least we'll be One Happy World, again.

I'm tired. Maybe it's time to start slinking back into obscurity for this web log. It might not mean being popular ... but the company was good. Perhaps that's why so much truth abides there, as well - in obscurity. eh!

". . . better to fall in with crows than flatterers, for in the one case you are devoured when dead, in the other while still alive." Diogenes Laertius, Antisthenes.

FYI - All this is off the record, of course. You understand.

Comments

[Phantom]

I just want to state for the record that I have NEVER copied ANY headers from ANY emails and sent them to Dan for the purpose of outing someone.

I just don't play those games!

[mrsJimiHendrix]

I AM VERY SAD

PHANTOM CHECK PM

WTF

I THOUGHT WE WERE A CLOSE GROUP ON THE SAME SIDE

MY PRAYERS FOR HEALING FOR EVERYONE HERE TO COME BACK TOGETHER
AND WORK THIS OUT!!

[Dan]

The email is all nonsense. Leave it for what it is. It's representative of yet another unfortunate casuality of this sad affair. If you're going to go deeply into anything like this sort of event - you best keep your emotions in check, or you'll become consumed. There's a lesson there. And we shouldn't be totally uncompassionate to people who are paying the price for a sadness they can't seem to find the answers for.

[mrsJimiHendrix]

Dan

are there two dan's here or are you talking to yourself? LOL

i hear what you are saying.

god bless

[Phantom]

The SOLE reason I posted here was that I wanted,

JUSTICE FOR NATALEE HOLLOWAY!

[LordInform]

Justice? Even if it means executing people who might have nothing to do with anything? For all we know, Natalee ran away to help her parents gain publicity or for personal reasons. This happens every day in the U.S., but no one cares. I find the media (*cough*Fox*cough) focus on this "event" to be pathetic and a poor attempt to kiss up to consumers. We are wasting valuable time and money on one person. If those funds were split and used to find other children who have disappeared, we would have much better results. By the way, I recommend you look at the top search result on google for natalee holloway. I may sound offensive, but I do care about what happens to Natalee. I just think dozens of other missing children matter more than one.

[Newt Thurmon]

mino'ities is inharntly pareenoid, yellah fellah gots t'shine em shoes yo' see ho ho ho ho how yah feelin now tough fella de massah showed yo' de boot crazy cracker. yer next pphatom an' tideroller right in th' crost hairs (+)

[mrsJimiHendrix]

FLA STATE UNIVERSITY DIVERS
ARE SEARCHING UNDERWATER CAVERNS
IN THE ATLANTIC

JUST ON FOXNEWS

[mrsJimiHendrix]

PHANTOM

if you are here,

my friend is hosting foxnews again today

: )

pm to ya too

[Sally]

I think it was a good decision to ban Island Hopper, the blog is more peaceful now. Thank you, Dan Riehl!

[Bill]

Enough of the "she ran away" speculation...

Facts in evidence:

Her bags were neatly packed.
She didn't take her purse, cell phone, credit card, or clothing with her.
She had a full sholarship at the University of Alabama waiting for her.

Doesn't sound much like a runaway to me.

[fyi]

Phantom,

Don't let it get to you.

Obviously the break was a much needed one, and I am shocked at the email above. It saddens me to think how this has consumed so many of us to the point that we have lost perspective and objectivity. The change in the mood and feeling of this blog over the last three weeks is evidence enough that some of us (myself included) has let this sad case become obsessive beyond what I would consider to be healthy. I took a break myself for the last week because of how this was making me feel.

I can't imagine, knowing how this case has affected me, how Natalee's parents feel and how they will ever learn to deal with the end results and go on with their lives.

Peace to all!

[maple syrup]

"but no one in America wants to talk about why a group of American high school students frequented the club throughout their visit ... now do they?"

OK am I going to admit I only check in for news update on this story at this site so I'm not privy to what this snit is about but on the basis of the above quote

Hello, isn't that a rhetorical question, like why do men climb mountains, because they are there and they can?

Hate to state the obvious- it is a no brainer- when you are young and having fun on vacation you go to the hottest spot in town

Friend and I were in Barbados in 1986, we went to the same bar four nights in a row, oh my god, we must have been up to something sinister, no, we just liked the crowd, location, price, cast of characters and the dance floor was under the stars...and trust me the bartenders were not just dispensing alcohol, my friend and I couldn't figure out why the guys we were talking to took 20 minutes to go the bathroom, so naive, until my friend saw the bartender dispensing little white baggies in exchange for large bills, snort snort, why we were slightly older versions of Natalee Holloway - of course that would never happen in North American bars, right?

and regardless of what sinister reason normal teenagers on vacation would be frequenting the hottest bar in town, whether to score some X or ganja on the side [and the reality is every beach in Aruba has a drug dealer working it, just lower key than some other Carib beaches, I know from frequent fliers to Aruba and other islands) or do the horizontal mambo with the locals, whatever, frankly it is irrelevant to overall issue of whether a crime has been committed and by who......

just my two Canadian cents

[TS]

Dan, this is your blog to do with as you choose. We are only guests here. I'm not much of a poster. I mostly read, but I do jump in occasionally. I, for one, am very grateful that you are letting us discuss Natalee and her disappearance at YOUR blog, and you have been for some time now. Others would not be nearly as generous with their blog as you've been.

Thank you for sharing your blog and for going that extra mile to get new information from your sources. It is appreciated. I'll be coming here to read and post long after the NH story ceases to be a story. Besides, I like your politics. ;)

Terri

[tideroller]

Dan, I think there are some of us American who dofeel that the truth should be told on both sides and I have stated that several times. I do not believe in idle gossip nor heartless slander, but the facts of what went on during the planning of the trip, the trip down to Aruba, and the behavior and activities of Natalee and her classmates while in Aruba could have some significance on the resolution of this case. Any law official will tell you that no stone should be left unturned. Plus I have noticed that there seems to be some ill-feeling on the part of the Arubans as they perceive that the divulgence of information on this case (what little there has been) has been one sided. They may have a point there. There have been other bloggers who have expressed opinions similar to mine (but IH and her clique would lash out at us), so not all Americans are reluctant to look at both sides.

[Bill]

Maple Syrup, your Candian 2 cents is right on the money! eh?

[proudcanadian]

maple Syrup - Very well said. Truly and Candidly.

[mrsJimiHendrix]

TERRY

i like his politics too

did you notice?

: )

[mrsJimiHendrix]

EVERYONE PLEASE LEAVE PHANTOM ALONE
HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO ANYONE, OK?

GOD BLESS EVERYONE HERE!!

[LooksnListens]

Thank you Dan, I posted this message the other day and it seems like we are on the same wave lenght.

I feel horrible for NH and her family and want justice to be done, but think that everything needs to be looked at and questioned, even if the truth hurts.

POSTED 7-8-05
I've been reading this and other blogs about this case for over a month now.
I used to enjoy RiehlWorld for it's vast resources and focused pursuit of the facts in this case.
Lately it has turned into a disgusting mess of gibberish from some foolish "regulars" that send cute little private messages to each other. They offer up nothing new, but quickly shout down anyone who doesn't have the same opinion as they do. They gang up on posters that offer alternative views or question the "popular" belief of JVDS and family being responsible for Natalee falling off the face of the earth.
They post nonsense or tired rumors over and over again, apparently just to see the names appear on the screen.
Some of the folks that they have branded as Trolls seem to have much more meaningful input than any of the "regulars" have mustered in the last month.
It takes well over an hour to read through the 700 to 1000 posts in each discussion segment, only to find that 80% of the posts are nonsensical garbage that must be sorted through to find the few relevant things pertaining to this case.

There are many things that need to be explored in this case, but the facts are being kept secret from the public.
Why is it such a terrible thing to suggest that someone in her party may have information about her disappearance, I would think that every possible lead needs to be followed with an open mind.

After watching the MB teens during different interviews, I find them to be very unbelievable, not only in their statements, but their demeanor as well. I have seen it posted that they came off as "The Stepford Teens". "We were drinking responsibly", what a crock!!!! That is the politically correct answer that I would expect from someone with something to hide. Why isn't that lie being looked at, along with the lies Joran told??

There are way more questions than answers in this case.

How can Beth Holloway Twitty manage to turn the world upside down in the middle of the night in a foreign country??
What kind of power does it take to get total strangers involved in the middle of the night? I know that if I called my cell phone provider in the middle of the night, all I would get is a recorded message, but they get a personnel private detective following up hunches and tracking down suspects in the middle of the night.

Who were the group of men at JVDS house firing questions at the Joran's father while Natalee's stepfather sat in the background, is that the normal thing to do??? Let "friends" handle questions that the parents should be asking, strange behavior on their part, unless you already have an idea what happened.
I'm not suggesting that the parents had anything to do with Natalee's disappearance, but I do think they know much, much more than we do.

[wreck]

LooksnListens ,
AMEN!

[fyi]

Who is bothering Phantom?

[WI Mom]

I am in agreement with TS and Tideroller. I have mostly read. All the bashing and anger makes me afraid to post anything. Maybe, someone with additional information felt the same way. That would be a shame.

My daughter went to Europe last semester. There are some things I know they did that frightened me to say nothing of what I do not know. When I was 18, it was the legal drinking age. Drinking responsibly at 18, you gotta be kidding.

I also thought the actions of Natalee's dad, if/when questioned were unfortunate. What did they say about VS? "If you have nothing to hide." However, I probably would have had the same reaction. I just thought it may have been an opportunity for him to learn something.

[mrsJimiHendrix]

fyi

scroll up

some mean posts for no reason

phantom did NOT do anything to anyone!

also i just wrote to you on #38 please read

talk w/ you lata!!

[mrsJimiHendrix]

maple syrup and other canadians

please post here!!

thanks for your input!!

[CoCo c'est juste]

Thanks Dan. I hope you enjoyed your birthday. I appreciate this blog but haven't commented often for the same reasons stated above by looknlisten and meribel (sp? ) yesterday. I have several friends who feel the same. I don't have time during the weekday to check in but have at night for the past month or so. I always try to skim through the daily input to see if I've missed any news not offered by MSM. It always amazed me that one person was on this blog 24/7 and it wasn't you or anyone appointed by you as moderator. Thanks for the ban and breath of fresh air!! I am sure you will hear more people contributing than in recent weeks once they realize they are free to speak. Please note I made a personal donation through Paypal as soon as I realized you were re-claiming responsibility for maintaining the standards on your blog!
Thanks again and as always. I am praying for the Holloway family.

[Donna]

Sylvia Brown @.org can tell you exactly where Natalee is. Please contact her.

[michele in bham]

Dan, you banned someone?

Can I have my 5 dollars back? I do not believe in bannings.

[danisthebest]

Wow! Island Hopper sounds like a real nut job.

[Aruban]

Hello Dan and everyone on this posters,

I would like to address my concerns. I read all the comments on this blog and everytime that I have something to say I am being questioned or lashed out by Island Hopper. I simply wanted to give my opinion and not attack anybody. That's why I decided to everyday just read the comments and not posting anything anymore.
Thank you all for understanding.

[Yolande]

Wow, thanks Dan. First time I thank you and now Im at it I also want to congratulate you with your birthday [yep, too late, sorry :) ]

Now I read more different opinions I feel its safer to post here, and nicer.

[LooksnListens, thanks too, I agree]

[Justin T]

Tideroller and Others:

I find it intersting that any of you think the behavior of all on the trip and involved was not throughly investigated and questioned by the FBI, including personnel detailed background on Natalee. Why isn't there more made of it? Simple. THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THERE! Get over it!

But no one wants to accept that and would rather dig into some deep dark mystery.

and as for you giant ocee your are one very distrubed individual. I would seriously seek professional help!

[Dan]

"Dan, you banned someone?
Can I have my 5 dollars back? I do not believe in bannings."

E mail a paypal or other secure Internet transaction account and I'll be happy to oblige - though technically I don't "have" your $5 as I haven't had time to look into how all that works.

That is in part, at least as the vast majority of administrative time I have had to apply to this story involves BANNING trolls and others who were casting unnecessary aspersions on Natalee Holloway and or her family - and I often only saw those posts as IH was emailing me daily requesting that they be BANNED from commenting.

From IH on the 7th "please ban this guy" the 8th "please ban ..... I am being ghosted again" - and so on and so on. And all, save a couple of those requests were honored when the poster was either vulgar or obviously only disruptive.

When it became apparent that she was now wanting me to BAN everyone that had an opposing view of hers I BANNED her and sought to have a dialogue about boards and opposing points of view before revoking the BAN. For which, I am now the great Satan in her eyes, apparently ... and an enemy of free speech in some others, including yours.

Send an account number, by all means.

Frankly the only way to please people may be to shut the whole damn thing down. I mean, hell, it isn't like I have anything better to do.

[LooksnListens]

Sorry JustinT, but it is a deep dark mystery. Every aspect of the suspects lives have been made open for public inspection and speculation.

There is a lot more going on in this "mystery" than meets the eye.

[wreck]

Well said Dan!
I just hope this board returns to a place where we discuss the case fairly WITHOUT the few select people who monopolize the board as a chatroom asking their "friends" to send them PM's and greeting everyone as their best buddy everytime they make a comment. LooksnListens was absolutely right on. It's just a few people making this forum unreadable.

[chandellesmom]

Dan, please dont shut down this blog. Its a great blog, it just had a few problems lately. I am shocked and thrilled with your decision. Keep up the good work!!!!

[Dan]

Justin,

ocee whatever was deleted and banned ... just as I will continue doing with any vulgar or unnecessarily purient content as I am made aware of it.

[letfreedomring]

Gosh, I think we should all have our opinions and be able to offer up theories too, but shouldn't we also be able to shoot holes in the theories? Isn't that how crimes are solved? Isn't this a crime that we are talking about?

>>LooksnListens - Why does it bother you so that Natalee's mother was able to get there and start her search for her "kidnapped" daughter? I know I would want to be able to do the same thing. The fact that she was able to talk to Charles Croes was a good thing, wasn't it? After all we still don't know what was on that recording, do we? It could have been a cry for help - I could have been an evil voice demanding something in return for Natalee - It could have been many things, right?

I could go through you entire post and try to shoot holes in it, but fear being marked as a trouble maker.

I want to see Justice Served for Natalee. I want her mother to be able to go home and make peace with whatever has happened to her precious daughter. I beleive that the FBI has probably investigated those teens in private. Kids talk and act differently when talked to in private vs when they are talked to in public, especially by MSM. They have their futures at stake when they are on the NEWS. I would be willing to bet that if they know anything, any of them, at least one would talk.

Dan, thank you, once again, for the opportunity to have this board for discussions. It helps each of us to try to understand everything that transpired that evening. Maybe we can't handle the truth, but maybe the truth is right in front of us.

I remain a beleiver that Natalee was drugged - from there only the guilty know the truth. I pray daily that we will eventually all know the truth and that Beth will be able to accept it and get on with her life.

[Justin T]

Look n Listen,

Sorry but you could not be father off the mark. There is no mystery on this side of the fence.

[Yolande]

Letfreedomring, I think no one is denying Beths right to search for her daughter in every possible way. Its just 'differente' how the disappearance of this one girl keeps so many people obsessed.

[wreck]

Yolande, yes it does seem unusual on the surface that Americans are taking such an interest in this one case. We do have unsolved crimes all the time that don't generate this concern. The reason THIS case draws so much interest is because from the very start it appeared that everything in the investigation was not "on-the-up-and-up." Other cases that we don't get worked-up about are the ones we feel ARE being investigated fairly and diligently. In this case, we don't feel that way and that tends to bring out the "Detective" in us to try to solve what the local authorities can't or won't.

[Cindi in PA]

Dan

Thank you. I posted a few days ago that I would not return to post again. I have respect for you Dan and many of your posters, however there were a few hear going off the deep end with attacks, agree with them or you were a "troll". One so called troll even had a poster paste her name and address on this site. Now that is overboard and very dangerous to say the least.

I can understand getting so involved in a matter that you can not think straight anymore. Dan, you may remember the case in Trenton years ago, the missing artist from PA, that turned up in a ditch. There was a clairvoyant from Feasterville, PA, working with Trenton police on the case. She could see this young lady, buried in the ground, she described the surroundings, which after the fact were a perfect description of her death and burial. At the time the police still could not find the young woman, Trenton is a pretty big area. This clarvoyant had to leave town, move to florida, a time out, to regain her composure.

Sometimes we all need a break and time to reflect.

Thanks Dan for all your hard work. I will replace Michele in bham's five dollars on pay day :)

[Yolande]

Wreck, I understood this case is really big in the American media since day one?

[Dan]

posted by request and the last one from IH I'll acknowledge, or honor.

I don't know what to think of Phantom. He insists he did not BCC the headers of my email but he did. Now he says it was not intentional. I don't know what to believe. Just that there has been far too many lies going around and revisions of history.

I see today that tideroller is saying that I attacked him! Next thing you know they will claim I attacked Natalee and the family too. They are rewriting history before my eyes on that blog just as Aruba Today rewrites it's newspaper online. If you recall the PROTEST turned into a SHOW OF SOLIDARITY the next day when they realized it was not portrayed very nicely in the media and made Aruba look even worse. They claimed that the US Media got it all wrong!!
Once again the STUPID AMERICANS MISUNDERSTOOD.

FWIW, today's static says......The search is continuing because there was not enough tissue or marrow left to do a conclusive mitochondrial DNA tests but they feel very confident that the bones did belong to Natalee. They still think that they can find other clues in the caves which wash back under the northest end of the Island and will spend the time left on the island searching there.

IMO, I am now glad the media left and will not promote the solidarity BS and will leave Americans with the wonder of what happened to Natalee. Maybe they will think twice before going and the Arubans will seriously consider demanding some changes in the corrupt officials and media that are spoonfeeding them. But, alas it seems people are content to let others run everything as long as it does not affect their "happy little world". Too many people think that nothing will ever happen to them, it only happen to Americans or blacks or you name its..... but never to those living with their head in the sand.

We put in a rush to get the boat finished. I can't wait to get off the land and back in the water. Hopefully between hurricanes, we can sneak out. We survived hurricane Andrew on her in Marathon, FL so I feel pretty safe. My son will be home in a week for a 5 day leave between reassignments then we hope to leave. So please say goodbye to the few friends I have left at RWV (it seems most have turned against me thanks to Dan).

Nonetheless, My time at sea will give me ample opportunity to put this entire case into a proper perspective and allow me a much better venue to pass on the truth about waht really happened, the cover ups and payoffs that occured. I have accumulated so much research and copied the multitude of articles written by the Aruban press then changed and changed yet again to reflect the current tide of misinformation they wanted to disseminate. It is all documented very carefully and will make for a fabulous book. Dan can BLEG for money, I will laugh all the way to the bank. But unlike Dan, the proceeds of my book will go to the Missing and Exploited Children Network instead of my pocket. My work on this is truly a contribution.

[LooksnListens]

Letfreedomring,

We can all shoot holes in any posted comments, your ever so popular "Natalee was drugged" theory is one of the easiest, but that is not my intent.

I believe that there are things in this investigation that don't fall easily into place. Having access to vast resources to investigate your daughters disapearence in less than 24 hours missing is one of them. Maybe I'm too simple and don't understand the real workings of the power people, but I do know that in my hometown the police would have politely taken her statement about her daughter and told her to wait 24 hours just like every other citizen is required to do.
I'm not powerful or affluent and can't even imagine being able to mobilize the help that the Holloway/Twitty families have been able to do, this makes me feel that it more complicated than a simple case of date rape/murder.

I guess that television is partly to blame for my skeptical views, the show "Without A Trace" is able to find missing folks in the 44 min. and have unlimited rescouces at their disposal, I find this show totally preposterous because it isn't the way the system actually works........until Natalee Holloway doesn't show up for her departure.

Sorry, just feel that there is much more to this than a jerk of a local kid trying to seduce a girl on her last night on the Island.

I also pray for Natalee and her family to get the answers and bring Natalee home.

[wreck]

Yolande, the case was mentioned from early on because it was a unique case of highschool kids in a foriegn land. It did not generate the major interest until the suspects were allowed to go free 5-6 days into it. Even then and now, the major networks have not spent much time at all on the subject. The major attention to the case is on news "specialty shows" such as Greta, Nancy Grace, and Geraldo. I would venture to say that outside of these particular sow's regular watchers -- very few Americans have kept up with it.

[Cindertaz]

As with many of you, each and every day I look to the news and read this blog to see if there is any news and every day I am disappointed.

If I felt that Natalee's disappearance had been properly investigated from the very start, I would not be so frustrated, but so much time was lost and so many mistakes were made.

I totally admire Beth. She has handled this with more patience and class than I would have.

I agree with her that the Kalpoe brothers should not have been released. They lied from the very beginning. They cost this investigation valuable time. They helped send two innocent security guards to jail. Trust me they are guilty of something or they would have told the truth from the beginning. Protecting your friend only goes so far.

The same is true of JVDS. If he left Natalee on the Mariott beach, then why not tell the truth. The beach could have been searched for clues right after she disappeared.(again costing valuable time). Why be dropped off at the Mariott Beach, when Natalee was staying at the Holiday Inn? The story they made up about the security guards was simply to give them time to get their stories straight, clean their cars and most importantly to throw suspicion on someone else.

People only lie for one reason and that is to protect themselves....

I believe they all continue to lie because they know that Natalee will never be found. I hate to say this and I pray that I am wrong, but these boys know that as long as they keep their mouths shut and Natalee is not found, they will not spend the rest of their lives in prison.

I have never been one to jump to conclusions or judge anyone but I honestly feel the JVDS and the Kalpoe brothers are as guilty as sin.

I only hope that Beth and her family some day find closure to this.

[Lago girl]

Dan...before they give up and leave...

The Florida State and Navy Seal divers really are needed to dive into Boca Mahos and try to find remains there, that they can extract DNA from because that is by far the most logical place for a body to have been dumped.

If she just swam out and drowned, she would have been off the Arashi Beach or the beach along Palm Beach...and carried far out to sea, beyond reach of any of the divers.

However, if she was deliberately hidden, after death, no matter the cause of death...she would far and away most likely be thrown off the cliff at Boca Mahos...there is no other place.

Divers can go in there...they have protective gear.

My childhood friends from Lago Colony went in there spear fishing for sharks and barracudas when we were growing up. The boys only had a snorkle, mask, fins and a speargun, in those days and they lived to spearfish in those rough seas.

See these images:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/106761904/111490601FzytSc

http://community.webshots.com/photo/263351571/263868450qvyqlk

http://community.webshots.com/photo/267407258/269956457mNMNeS

http://community.webshots.com/photo/90591193/90596213YSQIQo

http://community.webshots.com/user/lagossa

http://community.webshots.com/photo/263259428/263294770xQOqUz

http://community.webshots.com/album/263351571mCGylP

http://community.webshots.com/album/263259428wTKpjy

http://community.webshots.com/photo/106761904/107887761ktfGBj

Mike Hagendoorn was the father of Anthony Hagendoorn who now owns his father's sailboat, Tranquilo, which many tourists enjoy for a half day sail up the coast or an evening sail for sunset and supper on the water. Mike was a supurb sailor and terrific spearfisherman, decorated by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands for his sailing race wins on the Aruba to Bonaire Race.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/106761904/111490601FzytSc

Posted by: Lago girl | July 9, 2005 04:55 PM

Lago girl...beautiful pictures but some of those of the coastline look pretty scary.

Posted by: chandellesmom | July 9, 2005 05:17 PM

Well, the boys I grew up with loved to skin dive and spearfish in those waters...now they take nothing but photos and leave only bubbles...

The Navy Seals can dive and explore those waters with no problem if the teenagers could play in them without anything but flippers, mask and snorkle...plus spearguns.

And, they MUST go in there...or they will NEVER find Natalee...

That is the main place to search. I have no idea why it was not done at the very beginning.

Posted by: Lago girl | July 9, 2005 05:20 PM

The Navy Seals MUST dive at Boca Mahos...or they will have left the most important stone unturned.

More of the boys of Lago Colony (the American refinery company town where we were born and grew up in the 50's and 60's) as they go to play in their beloved sea...

http://community.webshots.com/photo/105986298/105986524pnxrsu

http://community.webshots.com/photo/105986298/105986391UqJJKJ

http://community.webshots.com/photo/105986298/115010782BuelDM

http://community.webshots.com/photo/105986298/114347189doLuRx

http://community.webshots.com/photo/105986298/114362638kZrCpz

The boys grew up and had to leave their beloved "Rock" as we called Aruba because college and life in our parents' country lay in wait...maybe the reason we put so much energy into the playground at our feet, for we knew that childhood would end with the flight away from home...to the States for college and adulthood.

However, we return to our natal island as often as we can and several have retired and returned to live on our beloved Rock, claiming their residency cards because they were born in the Lago Company Hospital and have rights to Dutch citizenship, as well as their American citizenship through their American parents. My dual citizenship came from a Dutch father and an American mother, and Aruba as my birthplace, also leaving when that freshman college year, in the States, came for me.

http://w3.trib.com/~dwood/churchplaque.html

http://www.lago-colony.com/

http://www.lago-colony.com/SUPPORT%20BUILDINGS/LAGO%20SCHOOL.htm

One of our high school graduates who won her second Oscar this year...and edits all of Martin Scorsese's films:
http://www.lago-colony.com/THELMA/THELMA.htm

Posted by: Lago girl | July 9, 2005 05:42 PM

[WI Mom]

Well said, Cindertaz. It just leaves me feeling so frustrated. I keep checking hoping for an answer, as it seems the answer to Natalee's whereabouts are/were so close. All we need is for those three boys to have a heart and answer the questionly honestly. Where did you last see Natalee? Sadly, all we get are lies.

[TS]

Whether there is discussion on Natalee Holloway's disappearance or not, I enjoy your blog, Dan. I think you are a very talented writer, and I'm looking forward to reading your take on other issues and putting my 2 cents in, as well. I'm sure others feel the same way. Once a writer, always a writer. I know you would miss it, should you decide to give it up. :)