Aruba has its own special beauty. Don't look for mountains covered with tall palms, walkways lined with flowering bougainvillea, or roads shaded by willowy casuarina trees.
Instead, you'll have to dig a little deeper for the beauty of Aruba. Venture to the rugged Atlantic shore and watch the tumultuous waves carving the natural bridge, continually changing the demarcation line where the land meets the sea. Or you can hike to some of Aruba's highest hills, curious bumps on the landscape, and look out at the cunucu, or countryside, for traditional Dutch-style houses with their sun-baked, orange tile roofs.

But perhaps the best way to see the beauty of Aruba is to look into the faces of the Aruban people, the island's greatest asset. This tiny island, a mere 70 square miles, is truly a melting pot of cultures. Over 43 nationalities are represented here, and with them a mélange of languages. Arubans learn from an early age the benefits and necessity of working with other nations. Learning different languages is a skill that most young Arubans master.

The language of the Aruban home is Papiamento, a mixture of Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch, Indian, English, and even some African dialects. When youngsters head to school, they receive instruction in Dutch, because of Aruba's continuing ties to the Kingdom of Holland. Once they reach third or fourth grade, instruction in English begins. Spanish is introduced during the junior high years, and in high school students select either French or German to study.

That familiarity with many languages translates into a welcoming atmosphere for visitors of any nationality. There is no hostility to tourists on this island; no language barrier to overcome. There is just a spirit of bon bini, or "welcome" which greets visitors from the moment they arrive in the airport and continues throughout their visit.

Papiamento is the language of the streets and it sounds a little like Spanish. Below are some common Papiamento phrases.

Located just 12 degrees from the equator, Aruba's climate is drier than that found on most Caribbean islands. Normal rainfall is less than 24 inches annually, resulting in a desert landscape of tall cacti, aloe, and windblown divi-divi or watapana trees, bent permanently at a 45° angle by the ever-present trade winds.

The rugged countryside is known as the cunucu, and it spans the length of the 20x6-mile island. The island is dotted by small communities, including San Nicholas, and the capital, Oranjestad (literally "Orange City"). Here, Dutch-style buildings punctuate the landscape with cool pastel hues and red roofs baked a pumpkin color by the sun. Streets are bathed in restful tones of ochre, pink, baby blue, and sea green -- everything but white. Supposedly, an earlier leader of Aruba, plagued by migraine headaches, ordered that all buildings be painted a soothing shade to stop the glare.

Festivals

Aruba's biggest blowout is Carnival, a colorful celebration that rocks the streets with dancing parades, steel bands, and a general party atmosphere similar to Mardi Gras. The culmination of the festival is the Grand Parade, always scheduled for the Sunday preceding Ash Wednesday.

Other special events include National Anthem and Flag Day on March 18, when the island shows its patriotic spirit. In June, the island jams to the Aruba Jazz and Latin Music Festival.

The Bonbini Festival is your best chance to join in the party spirit of the island; it happens every Tuesday night in Oranjestad's Fort Zoutman.