Aruba Description

Need a sweet escape to vacation to? Visit Aruba, the place that draws people all around the world to due to its diverse history and culture, and of course its beautiful sceneries. Aruba, a small Dutch Caribbean island situated off the coast of Venezuela, has dry, sunny climate, light beaches and turquoise calm surf. One of the most ethnically diverse country in the world, and also the wreck diving capital of the Caribbean. Aruba is a 20-by-6 mile southern Caribbean island with about 109,000 residents that are “as multicultural as the United Nations” (Eelens), and is proud of its reputation for being the “friendliest place on earth” (Eelens), emphasizing why Aruba is such a popular island. Aruba is slightly larger than Washington D.C.’s size.

Aruba has the highest visitor repeat rate in the Caribbean and statistics show that 65% of travelers return back to the island. Aruba is a significant place in my life and is different from any other island due to its interesting history, strong ethnical diversity, and cool attractions.
Arubans share a rich history and a warm culture of hospitality. The history of Aruba all began when the Arawak Indians first inhabited Aruba. Spain explored the island in 1499, and more than a century later, the Netherlands, which was around 1636, claimed the island. By 1642, the 80 year long war between Spain and Holland was nearing to an end, and it was in that year that the Dutch took possession of Aruba. After a short rule by the British, the Dutch again took control of the island in 1816, and it officially became part of the Netherlands Antilles in 1845. As a relatively wealthy island, “Aruba has strived for separation from the former colony of the Netherlands Antilles since 1934” (Alofs), which shows how Aruba wants to be an independent island. Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba together form the Dutch Leeward Islands. European impact appears in both its structural architecture and the majority of the population is fluent in English, Dutch, and Spanish, as well as the local language, Papiamento (Hoetink), which shows how most Arubans are multilingual. Also, Aruba has more than 90 nationalities present in its inhabitants. Aruba has relied on oil refining and tourism as its main sources of income throughout the twentieth century. Also, another interesting thing about Aruba’s history that makes it different from any Island, is that since 2000, Aruba commissioned a desalination plant, making their tap water pure and refreshing, and it meets the highest standards of quality by the World Health Organization. Aruba’s drinking water has been dubbed the champagne of the Caribbean. With that being said, you can drink from Aruba’s tap water, and do not only have to drink from bottled waters, making it different from most tropical islands.
Why would you not want to visit Aruba?

The Island’s climate is tropical, with an average temperature of 82 degrees, and little to no rain. Aside from the beautiful weather, there are millions of things to entertain you in Aruba. Nearly 20% of the island is a dedicated national park. What other island is like that? Arikok National Park is home to dramatic coastlines, natural bridges, and one of the island’s best natural features: the Natural Pool. Known to locals as “Conchi,” the pool is a “pristine, secluded swimming hole protected by a wall of volcanic rock” (Kalm), and is home to a long list of animal species and plant life. Arikok is more than just a park, it is also a beach. Aruba is located only nine miles off the coast of Venezuela, and on a clear sky day, you can see Venezuela. Like I said, what other island can do that? Aruba is also an island known for being volcanic and containing nature's artwork of stalagmites and stalactites, also known as caves. One of Aruba’s caves, the Guadirikiri Cave is famous for its two chambers, which illuminates sunlight through its two holes in the roof of the cave. Another cool cave to visit is Fontein Cave, which is the most popular of the caves, as it is the only one that “has the drawings of Arawak Indians on the ceilings” (Phalen), providing a real sense of island history. And lastly, the third popular cave to visit is the The Huliba Cave is also known as the “Tunnel of Love” (Phalen), because of its heart shaped opening at its entrance. Another interesting thing about Aruba is that it lays on the outside fringes of the hurricane belt, so hurricanes rarely touch Aruba’s shores. Statistic shows that only six hurricanes have reached 60 miles or closer since 1877. Also, you will not be missing out on America due to the fact that Aruba offers Taco Bell, KFC, and tax free casinos. Also, Aruba is a very safe island because it is low in crime rate and burglary, making it a perfect vacation

destination.
Not only is Aruba just a fun vacation spot for me and my family to visit, but it is also a huge part of my family’s history. My grandmother, grandfather, mother, aunts and uncle were all born in Aruba. The history of Aruba in my family dates back a long time. My grandmother was born in Aruba in 1933. She and my grandfather unknowingly both lived in Aruba at the same time and met in their twenties. My mom and her twin sister were born in Oranjestad, Aruba in 1959, along with her two other sisters and younger brother who are a few years a part. Aruba was my mom's childhood home. I am very close with my mom’s huge family. All five families and my immediate family, which includes my 20 cousins, have all gone to Aruba together three times as a family. The beauty I find in Aruba, aside from its gorgeous sceneries, is that it always brings all five families together in one place. My extended family are true Arubans because we are all Dutch and my mother’s family can all speak Dutch, Spanish, and English, just like true Arubans can. I love the fact that Aruba is such a large part of me and my family’s culture and history, and I also can not complain that Aruba is our family reunion destination spot for all five families.
Just like me and my family, once you visit Aruba, you can not wait to go back, or you will never want to leave. In an interview with grandmother, I asked her about her fondest memory of living in Aruba. My grandmother told me about the time in November when she watched sea turtles hatch and make their way to the ocean late at night. My grandmother said it was a sight she will remember forever. The sea turtles were born at night so they were lit by the light of the moon. My grandmother said the whole experience was beautiful because she saw the tiny hatchlings crawling down the shore, dipping into the sea, and making their first strokes in their 6,000 miles away long swim to their distant feeding grounds, which really is something. My grandmother said “I remember the baby sea turtles and I smile.” After I interviewed my grandmother, I researched the hatching of sea turtles in Aruba. Apparently is a popular thing for tourists in Aruba to watch. Female sea turtles use their excellent sense of smell to return to their beach of birth. Aruba also has the Turtugaruba Foundation, which is part of a worldwide program to protect and preserve sea turtles. They partner with the Arikok National Park, to monitor turtle nests and assist the baby turtles into the ocean. Someday I hope to experience this myself. All and all, Aruba has been a huge impact on my life, and I hope that the tradition of reuniting with my extended family continues forever. Make Aruba the next stamp on your passport, you will not regret it!