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Aruba is located
in the southern Caribbean, just 15 miles from Venezuela, and
is noted for stunning picture post-card perfect beaches and
cosmopolitan nightlife. Beaches that are miles long
complement an offering of over 11 casinos, and numerous
gourmet restaurants and shops. Constant trade winds and a
year-round temperature of 82 degrees make Aruba an ideal
Caribbean destination. Aruba is known
as an island that caters both to the affluent traveler and
to those looking for a more moderately priced vacation. |
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The natural
views in Aruba are breathtaking to say the least. From the
Natural Bridge to the simple sights of pelicans gently
gliding across the wake. Aruba has all the glamour of the
Caribbean with the tranquility of a country-side farm. Aruba's famed
Natural Bridge rises 25 feet above the sea and spans a
hundred feet of rock-strewn waters carved out of solid coral
by centuries of relentless pounding by the Atlantic surf. It
is the Caribbean area's highest and most dramatic coral
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Surrounding Mt. Arikok near the
center of the island is a natural preserve which features
some of the oldest Arawak drawings, as well as trails that
showcase Aruba's great variety of plants and animals. Like
the divi-divi and kwihi trees, rare and exotic cacti,
aloe, tropical flowers, birds and even iguanas. There is an old Aruban "cunucu" house, "cas ditorta,"
made of mud and grass. Along with the Coastal Protection Zone, Arikok National Park encompasses
25 percent of the island. Oranjestad, located on the
southern coast, is the old Dutch capital city where the tall multicolored
houses combine, |
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carved wooded doors and traditional Dutch tiles with airy
open galleries and sloping. Along the wharf, merchants
come to sell freshly caught fish and produce from their boats every
morning. If you are looking for good shopping Oranjestad the
capital is also the place to
shop. One can also browse the marketplace for Aruban art
and local handicrafts. Depending on the time of year, you
may also find yourself in the middle of Carnival, a
summertime festival, the New Year's fireworks, or even a
parade in honor of the Queen.
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