Napsterbater
11-08-2007, 09:37 AM
Aruba is an interesting place. Not such a great place to live, even though it's one of the most popular Caribbean real estate destinations, though that's primarily due to being one of the few countries which don't place controls on foreigners owning land. The weather is fair, but you have to get used to the heat, which is not the same kind of heat you find in Texas or Colorado or even Georgia. It's proximity to the equator makes the sun's rays much more apt to burn. Even on overcast days you should put sunscreen on and limit your exposure, particularly if you have fairer skin. The local food there is pretty good, most of the local joints I ate at had food that was flavorful and zesty.
Some interesting quirks about Aruba:
Every fast food joint serves fries, even Taco Bell and Quiznos. I didn't go into Subway, but I'd put money that they serve fries with their sandwiches too.
The cops do not pull people over. I've never seen a cop with his strobes on as long as I had been there. The only thing I've ever seen them do is park along a road, and wave cars over so they can check their papers. I didn't happen to get pulled over like this.
Arubans are a happy go lucky people, and pretty lazy. Few of the local businesses are owned by Arubans. Chinese people run many of the businesses, like most of the food markets. Aruba has a high unemployment rate, and as it is most of the workers you'll see throughout the island are Hispanic.
Aruba has a whole bunch of little shacks where you can go in to buy one of two things, lottery tickets, or snacks. The snacks are mostly sandwiches, bread rolled sausages, turnovers, which they stick in a microwave and nuke for a few seconds before serving it to you. I didn't go into any of the lottery booths.
Prostitution is legal in Aruba, as it's part of the Netherlands. They fly the hookers in from Columbia, where they're required to only stay a short time (a few months I think) and they have to get checked by a doctor once a week or so. They either work for a bar or for just a landlord. They mostly wait on the inside for you, because they're not allowed to walk on the streets. One will stand in the doorway to entice johns to come in. Interesting personal note, my own little john shrivels up and refuses to work anytime I get close to San Nicolaas, the only town with a "red light district." (there are no red lights)
The whole island is basically a huge tourist trap. If you don't have a lot of money to do the really cool stuff, like scuba diving, helicopter tours, submarine tours, renting an ATV, you won't find much to do there, unless you like walking empty beaches or beaches filled with members of AARP. The locals don't beach much. Toward the end of my trip I got so bored during the daytime I drank myself through the last few days, and fucked around with the smartphone my dad gave me when he switched to a blackberry. Even though I had a car to wander around with, it just gets really old. The locals are fun to drink with and hang out with though, but local girls are reclusive, hard to find, and even harder to tie down on a date. You'd have far better luck with the Hispanic girls, the ones I've met hate the island and want off. That won't stop you from wanting the Aruban women though, they're absolutely gorgeous and graceful.
I don't think I'll be wanting to return anytime soon, but it's a cheap plane ticket, ($350) and my dad will be working there for a long time, so I might find myself back there chasing skirts sometime next year, when the cold weather gets to me. I'll definitely have to bring a friend, and a digital camera, though.
Some interesting quirks about Aruba:
Every fast food joint serves fries, even Taco Bell and Quiznos. I didn't go into Subway, but I'd put money that they serve fries with their sandwiches too.
The cops do not pull people over. I've never seen a cop with his strobes on as long as I had been there. The only thing I've ever seen them do is park along a road, and wave cars over so they can check their papers. I didn't happen to get pulled over like this.
Arubans are a happy go lucky people, and pretty lazy. Few of the local businesses are owned by Arubans. Chinese people run many of the businesses, like most of the food markets. Aruba has a high unemployment rate, and as it is most of the workers you'll see throughout the island are Hispanic.
Aruba has a whole bunch of little shacks where you can go in to buy one of two things, lottery tickets, or snacks. The snacks are mostly sandwiches, bread rolled sausages, turnovers, which they stick in a microwave and nuke for a few seconds before serving it to you. I didn't go into any of the lottery booths.
Prostitution is legal in Aruba, as it's part of the Netherlands. They fly the hookers in from Columbia, where they're required to only stay a short time (a few months I think) and they have to get checked by a doctor once a week or so. They either work for a bar or for just a landlord. They mostly wait on the inside for you, because they're not allowed to walk on the streets. One will stand in the doorway to entice johns to come in. Interesting personal note, my own little john shrivels up and refuses to work anytime I get close to San Nicolaas, the only town with a "red light district." (there are no red lights)
The whole island is basically a huge tourist trap. If you don't have a lot of money to do the really cool stuff, like scuba diving, helicopter tours, submarine tours, renting an ATV, you won't find much to do there, unless you like walking empty beaches or beaches filled with members of AARP. The locals don't beach much. Toward the end of my trip I got so bored during the daytime I drank myself through the last few days, and fucked around with the smartphone my dad gave me when he switched to a blackberry. Even though I had a car to wander around with, it just gets really old. The locals are fun to drink with and hang out with though, but local girls are reclusive, hard to find, and even harder to tie down on a date. You'd have far better luck with the Hispanic girls, the ones I've met hate the island and want off. That won't stop you from wanting the Aruban women though, they're absolutely gorgeous and graceful.
I don't think I'll be wanting to return anytime soon, but it's a cheap plane ticket, ($350) and my dad will be working there for a long time, so I might find myself back there chasing skirts sometime next year, when the cold weather gets to me. I'll definitely have to bring a friend, and a digital camera, though.