Mi stima Aruba - I love Aruba!

Mi stima Aruba (or in plain English, I love Aruba!)

I was in Aruba last month and I left it with a heavy heart. People may leave their hearts in San Francisco, but they probably haven’t discovered Aruba. Aruba is the kind of place that gives the words “tourist Mecca” true meaning. My friends asked a lot of questions and each time I say to them, “you gotta see it for yourself.” No description – no matter how colourful and accurate – will justify the actual experience. Aruba is one experience you can’t live vicariously. You have to be there in the flesh, and let the sound of the wind and the playful waves fill all your five senses.

I went to Aruba to break away from my hectic business in the US, to exchange downtown traffic for the slower and lazier pace of this piece of Caribbean paradise. I needed a vacation, but more importantly, I was curious to see if the wind turbines were up yet. The last time I was there, the locals were saying that 10 turbines should be up and running by January 2010.

There they were, all 10 of them and standing tall! Aruba has excellent wind power. Aruba’s Windpark Vader Piet is the site of this project, and this marks Aruba’s effort to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels for producing electricity - proof that Aruba is stepping up their green initiatives. These 10 wind turbines will generate and satisfy about 18% of Aruba’s need for electricity. That’s quite an achievement considering that Aruba’s population is barely over 100,000.

Do it SETAR’s way!

One of the questions a friend asked is how one can go about getting in touch with the outside world once in Aruba. It’s easy. I explained to my friend that Aruba isn’t exactly in the back woods because they have a sophisticated communications system. What I would recommend is if you have an international phone, take it with you to Aruba and upon landing, head for the SETAR kiosk at the airport and purchase a SIM card with pre-paid minutes. If you don’t have an international phone, rent a cell phone from SETAR.

Book that Aruba Hotel

Even when it’s not peak season, reserve a hotel before taking off for Aruba, only because you’ll be asked by immigration officials where you’re staying. Aruba’s # 1 industry is tourism and given its ideal all-year round weather (average 82 degrees F), people descend on Aruba in droves. And I’m not just talking about the international students. Retirees and casino diehards put Aruba on top of their list as a fun destination, so don’t take any chances with those hotel bookings. It’s best to have a confirmed reservation before you leave.

If you’re not renting a car at the airport, cab fare to any of the major hotels will cost you about US$22.00. Not a steep price to pay for comfort and convenience. Cab drivers are a pleasant lot, and are quite knowledgeable about Aruba.

Safety concerns? Put your mind at rest. Aruba is one of the safest places in the Caribbean. And even if the locals speak Papiamento and Dutch, you’ll manage beautifully with your American English!