[Arubalisa]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Arubalisa
Crime
"The crime threat in Aruba is generally considered low although travelers should always take normal precautions when in unfamiliar surroundings. There have been incidents of theft from hotel rooms and armed robberies have been known to occur. Valuables left unattended on beaches, in cars and in hotel lobbies are easy targets for theft. Car theft, especially that of rental vehicles for joy riding and stripping, can occur. Vehicle leases or rentals may not be fully covered by local insurance when a vehicle is stolen or damaged. Be sure you are sufficiently insured when renting vehicles and jet skis."
As a disclaimer, in 13 years of travel to Aruba I have never heard of a tourist and an armed robbery.

Wow, we won't get into the whole "one US citizen disappears debate..." even the US State Department advises US citizens that crime "n Aruba is generally considered low".

One unfortunate incident outside of a BAR, is one thing. Portraying the population of an entire island is entirely another.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oxblood
To me, the area's where the Arubians live (Not Downtown, or where the hotels are located) looks like a third world country. Goats, chickens, dogs running around.

Well, the US it is not is it eh? They use the chickens for eggs, the goats for milk and their meat ...the dogs, like every Caribbean island, are lost in the shuffle. Here in the states the unwanted pets are euthanized, in Aruba they are left to run and fend for themselves.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oxblood
Children walking on the streets with no shoes, very dirty, and in scraggly clothes. It's just scary and quite sad.

REALLY! , I beg to differ, what you describe is far from common. There are maybe a few in "scraggly clothes", but let's not portray this as Central America or Jamaica or the Dominican Republic. No matter though, it shocks me that all these kids you portray "walking on the streets" are actually "scary" to you.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oxblood
Not to mention, I really don't think the true natives there are too found of Americans, I mean let's be honest, who he?

Again, REALLY? We have been visiting Aruba since 1995, and I have to admit, that our visit in September and December 2006 we saw a noticeable difference in the Arubans. They were FRIENDLIER! How was that possible? THEN December 2007 the Aruban people were even NICER!

Quote:
Originally Posted by cindyo
Oxblood, your trip is in 283 days? Then you should have put 283 till you get beat up, killed, mugged in aruba. Why the heck do you go? It sounds like your scared to death. You talk about the island like its garbage. It the hat fits, wear it pal.

Curious myself why you return year after year? I would imagine with the kind of fear you expressed that you would remain inside the property of your resort. However, we all know if that were the case you would not have had that awful experience outside of the bar.

Quote:
Originally Posted by confused1
I must be going to the other Aruba (the good one)

Me too, the paradise kind of one.