Aruba

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Introducing Aruba

When you see a Nathan’s hot dog vendor on the beach and groups of men going orgasmic when the New York Giants make a three-yard gain, you could be forgiven for thinking you’re in New York, albeit a much warmer version. Indeed it is Americans from the east coast fleeing winter that make Aruba the most touristed of the ABCs.

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And that’s not really surprising given that it has miles of the best beaches, plenty of package resorts and a compact and cute main town, Oranjestad, which is ideally suited for the two-hour strolls favored by day-tripping cruise-ship passengers. It’s all about sun, fun and spending money (lots of money – it’s an expensive island).

But venture away from the resorts and you’ll find that Aruba offers more. At the island’s extreme ends are rugged, windswept vistas and uncrowded beaches. Arikok National Wildlife Park is an alien landscape of cactuses, twisted divi-divi trees and abandoned gold mines.

Mostly, however, Aruba is a place to do as little as possible. It wears its hospitality on its sleeve and in the national anthem, which includes the unlyrical line ‘The greatness of our people is their great cordiality.’

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009

Thorn Tree forum discussion

Recent posts

  1. gjms avatar
    Ferry from South America

    by gjms 6 replies, last post 31 August 2010

    Hi. I'm currently in Bolivia and I'm looking to head up to the Caribbean in a couple of weeks. The problem is that flying is out of my…
  2. letmeseetheworld avatar
    Best fun, drinking, party beaches

    by letmeseetheworld 4 replies, last post 10 August 2010

    A group of 20 somethings wanting to take a spring break somewhere other then Mexico. What is the best island with the best beaches, night…
  3. Mister_D avatar
    Bo-ring

    by Mister_D 34 replies, last post 15 July 2010

    Two hours of "football" and not one goal. Geez. Thank you Spain for putting an end to this fiasco. I don't care how good the defense…

See all Thorn Tree forum discussions for Aruba

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