Aruba
Not your typical Caribbean island, Aruba has more in common with Western Australia than it does most other islands. Tall cactus, dry soil and massive rock formations are typical of the interior. The constant trade winds make the northeast windward coast a rugged border of rock and waves while the leeward south and west coasts have miles of world-class beaches and calm water.
Flat, cactus – dotted landscapes and brilliant azure waters make Aruba a land of exciting contrasts. Tiny Aruba is only 35 kms long and 11 kms wide. Known for friendly old Dutch hospitality, long white beaches, vast hotels with every facility, excellent watersports, colourful cabaret shows and spectacular casinos, Aruba is a popular place with a special kind of welcome.
The bust port of Orangestad colourfully couples Spanish and Dutch history with a picturesque wharf where boats of every type, fruit, vegetable and handcraft stalls and European style cafes line the harbour.
Capital: Oranjestad
Currency: Aruban florin, US$1=Afl1.78; US dollars widely accepted
Population: 94,000
Area: 70 square miles (180 sq km)
Language: Dutch. English, Spanish and Papiamentu widely spoken
Economy: Tourism
Religion: Mainly Protestant churches
Government: Autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Telephone Codes: - 1 – 297
Airport Departure Tax:
Passport/Visa requirements: Australian and New Zealand passport holders do not require visas
Health Certificates: None required. Contact health authorities for latest information.
Banking Hours: Monday – Friday 8am-noon, and 1.30pm-4pm.
Shopping Hours: Monday - friday 8am-noon and 2.30pm-6pm or later.
Time Zone: 14 hours behind Sydney (EST)
Voltage : 110 volts
Weather: Aruba is outside the hurricane belt!
Almost always dry and breezy. The average rainfall is less than 20 inches a year, falling mainly from October through December. The year-round average daytime temperature is 82F with very little fluctuation between summer and winter.
Almost always dry and breezy. The average rainfall is less than 20 inches a year, falling mainly from October through December. The year-round average daytime temperature is 82F with very little fluctuation between summer and winter.
Transportation: Taxis have no meters; all fares are set. Be sure to ask the driver to quote you a price before getting in. A rental car is the best way to tour the island.
History:
Aruba's first inhabitants were the Caquetios Indians from the Arawak tribe. Fragments of the earliest known Indian settlements date back to about 1000 A.D, as do the ancient painted symbols still visible on limestone caves found at Fontein, Ayo and elsewhere. Pottery remnants can still be seen at the Museum of Archaeology.
Some centuries later, the first European landed on Aruban shores. Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda is thought to have arrived about 1499. The Spanish promptly exported the Indians to Santo Domingo in the Do,inican Republic, where they were put to work in the copper mines.
In 1636, near the culmination of the Eighty Years' War between Spain and Holland, the Dutch took possession of Aruba and remained in control for nearly two centuries. In 1805, during the Napoleonic Wars, the English briefly took control over the island, but it was returned to Dutch control in 1816. Although Aruba continues to exist within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, it functions independently.
Some centuries later, the first European landed on Aruban shores. Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda is thought to have arrived about 1499. The Spanish promptly exported the Indians to Santo Domingo in the Do,inican Republic, where they were put to work in the copper mines.
In 1636, near the culmination of the Eighty Years' War between Spain and Holland, the Dutch took possession of Aruba and remained in control for nearly two centuries. In 1805, during the Napoleonic Wars, the English briefly took control over the island, but it was returned to Dutch control in 1816. Although Aruba continues to exist within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, it functions independently.
Aruba has a mélange of people from the South American and European continents, also from the Far East and other islands of the Caribbean. These different settlers have added a unique flavor to the lives of the inhabitants of the island.
When you drive about the island you will see housewives sweeping their dirt yards. This is to keep the yards clear from insects that may enter their homes. A tradition maintained from early Indian custom.
Some Arubans believe that it is necessary to go out the same door one entered.
Still a mystery is the fact that if one wanted to get rid of an unwanted guest is to stand a straw broom upside down against an outside wall. Apparently this truly works.
A red ribbon suspended over a doorway protects the house or place of business from evil Spirits. Newborns and small children wear a chain with a red and black seed which is thought to keep the “evil eye” away.
The gel of the aloe plant is well known for healing burns and cuts. A traditional and regularly used plant brewed into tea for stomach aches is made from black sage called Basora pretu (black broom) and has the medicinal properties used by pharamaceutical companies in pill or liquid form.
When you drive about the island you will see housewives sweeping their dirt yards. This is to keep the yards clear from insects that may enter their homes. A tradition maintained from early Indian custom.
Some Arubans believe that it is necessary to go out the same door one entered.
Still a mystery is the fact that if one wanted to get rid of an unwanted guest is to stand a straw broom upside down against an outside wall. Apparently this truly works.
A red ribbon suspended over a doorway protects the house or place of business from evil Spirits. Newborns and small children wear a chain with a red and black seed which is thought to keep the “evil eye” away.
The gel of the aloe plant is well known for healing burns and cuts. A traditional and regularly used plant brewed into tea for stomach aches is made from black sage called Basora pretu (black broom) and has the medicinal properties used by pharamaceutical companies in pill or liquid form.
