I had the opportunity to enjoy Aruba last week for business. I have been throughout the Caribbean but never Aruba. While there, I frequently heard people say that it is their favorite island. I have to say that it would be right up there.

The beaches are beautiful, there are tons of good restaurants, it is a small island – so easy to get around (only 35 miles long) and of course, it is Dutch. It was odd to see Dutch troops on the island on a few occasions. Once at the airport as they unloaded a plane, once in the evening as they jogged down a street. The best part of being a Dutch protectorate was of course, the easy access to Gouda (smile).

While in a taxi, I asked a local about his schooling. They follow a Dutch curriculum with an active focus on languages. They teach the local language Papiamento, French, Dutch, English and Spanish. When they reach University age, they can travel to Holland and enjoy full Dutch benefits – subsidized schooling, student loans. Makes our system of English and a little bit of French seem inadequate. Something that I have noticed in many other countries, their focus on other languages is much greater than ours.

The island itself is what you would expect, a few sightseeing opportunities but really all about the beach and restaurants. A fantastic ‘relax’ location. It is absolutely beautiful.

With only 20cm of rain a year, there isn’t a ton of wildlife. But there are some very pretty birds.

Ironically, I caught a cold while down there. HA. Even with that, I would highly recommend it. Especially with a dollar at par to the US.