This is a breathtaking island! So so true! I could leave you uninformed … but I choose not to do so, ooh it would be such a pity… My dear reader, chance traveller, you have probably heard for Aruba couple of times, but you have no idea where is it. Nothing major, I had no idea myself, before the very first time I stepped onto the island. And everything becomes clear when they point their fingers towards the open sea, and if the wheather is fine, you start to perceive contoures of the coast on the horizon. Then they tell you it’s Venezuela. Now you know where is it situated. Only 19 miles from the Venezuelan coast, 19.6 miles long and only 6 miles wide island that relishes eternal sunshine… Aruba. People here are always smiling, increadibly amenable, in one word - simple. Aruba is inhabitated with some 100.000 souls, what is more than enough for this small, but splendid island.

Official language is Dutch, and local language is Papiamento, a mixture of the English, Dutch, German and Spanish. My intention is not ti tire you with the political regime of this island, it was once a part of the Netherlands Antilles, and now it is “it’s own landlord", but to a certain extent still under reign of the Koninklijk Nederlands. People from up north of Europe vogue for few days here and then, swim in the breathtaking sea and enjoy the boons of the island and fjust fly back home. What’s the secret? There is a direct line from Amsterdam and in 10 hour’ flight you are in heaven. The capital is Oranjestad – city of oranges. It is inhabitated with some 20.000 people and I haven’t seen more brindled place than this one.

Until few years ago, main income generator was the oil rafinery, but the moment people have realized that it brings nothing overly good for the island, they dropped it, what had brought tourism up front, as in most cases. It is something that imposes the impression itself – main street in the city of Oranjestad… But before you begin your exploring of all the unknown that this beautiful nature is offering, here’ an advice. Aruba is quite a windy resort. But do not let it trick you, this is a Caribbean island and the temperature is always around 30° Celsius, or a bit more, so you don’t really bother. That’s why it’s wise to put a sunblock lotion before you choose lazy beach lying combined with few swims and jumps in the refreshing sea. Another advice is always bring water with you and watch that you drink it .. or you’ll dehidrate and that’s not cool, isn’t it? Yeah, good, when this has been made clear we can buzz along the streets of this colourful town…

First thing you notice is all those colourfull house, the way they have been painted, very merry colours… As in St. Thomas, countless jewelleries all around, specialized shops for precious stones as Amalite and Tanzanite, very favourable prices due to the same commercial reasons as in case od Virgin Islands. Restaurants and shops with various merchandise all around, so prepare yourself for major spending. Various faces look st you on the streets, Chinese, Latinos, Europeans… I see a question mark just in front of your forehead - Chinese, this far? Yeah, to be honest I was surprised too. Certain percentage of the population are Chinese, and they are usually the owners of the largest supermarkets in Aruba, there are several… No biz’ without Chinese…

I was pleasently surprised to see that every car plate has a slogan on it – “one happy island”. I couldn’t agree more… people are kind, smiling, seem very carefree, as if they have no worries on their minds. Practically crime percentage here is insignificant and even the unemployment rate is only 1%!! Oh yes, … everyone is working. Tourism really leaves a lot of space for experimenting, especially when you have reached the perfection point, and you know the most you can get. They all take part in that perfection creation. Most people have two jobs, well it is not surprising considering the prices on this exclusive island. If you made up your mind to come here, you will probably choose one of dozen hotels… All the hotels are near the beach, luxurious, kind personnely is always at your disposal, and the hotel facilities such as massages, tennis and golf fields…. Will spoil even the stiffiest grumblers... Whole island is well connected with local buses which are really cheap. But these hotels aren’t, be sure of that! All beaches in front of the hotels are public, what definitely isn’t the case in Barbados or Virgin Islands.Nothin more to say about beaches... after all they are just like a hueg postcard. I think I don’t have to say Picture Gallery twice;-). If you can count yourself into those who have eeextra money, coool! What island would it be without a casino! All this glitter must draw you at least once to sneak in and challenge your luck…

The more time you spend here, the more you desire to know more about the island, what is a good thing when you have the opportunity… You can envision your imagination by land, sea or air. Numerous people offera tour around the island, in a cab or personal car, for ‘small cash’. The all talk English and Spanish. Few agencies, what is already a standard, offer organized toures, catamaran cruises, spot diving where a German war ship was drowned in the World War II or submarine ride of course. Renting a jeep is also an option and cross the island upside down. Few places on the island are stand for ‘striking’ - California lighthouse – lighthouse at the very end of the island spreading to a lovely sea scene. There is a Butterfly farm in Aruba, the most amazing collection of butterflies all over the world, and expoerts explain how butterflies develop, migrate… you can even see drunk butterflies… well, I didn’t believe it either, at least not until I saw… In short terms, this is what you learn here: male butterflies are for multiplication only, after that a bit of resting and there end their tiny lives. Sad, isn’t it?

Natural bridge is what hosts consider the greatest feature here. It is a part of the coast, for millions of years now the time that took the waves to create a natural bridge. Gaze in the Picture Gallery… There are two sides of the island, desert one and the tropical one. More than halfth of the island is a desert. Biig cactuses around you, sand and rocks, small vegetation resistant to tropical heat. That side of the island is open to extra strong blows from the open ocean. No wonder then that all the “fruits of life” are on disposal at the Venezuelan side. Domestic currency is Florin, even though they use American Dollar. Cars are driven the sam way most of the Europe utilizes, and the drivers are polite and kind. Noone sounds, pedestrians follow the traffic instructions and it is all slow. There is time…

Since I myself know the pleasure of discovering things on my own, I leave you now to your imagination, before you catch time or money to fly here…. And there’s another “tiny” detail, me being lazy sometimes ;-))) You have just read a short introduction to what one might call a paradise on Earth where people come to chill… There are more pictures….