ARUBA DUTCH ANTILLES

FRIDAY 27^Th JULY 2012.

Following one and a half days sailing in calm seas across the Western Caribbean we reached the small Caribbean island of Aruba in the Dutch Antilles. It was a hot and humid but sunny day of about 29 degrees. Aruba is situated about 15 miles off the coast of the South American country of Venezuela.

This island  is totally different to the previously visited tropical island of St Thomas in the Virgin Islands. It is very flat and dry and we did a half day trip around the island to get an idea of the lay of the land. It is obviously a very poor island, particularly once you get out of the capital Oranjestad. The countryside is a mixture of scrubby small trees and cactii, and whilst the housing is extremely colourful, the properties are generally unkept and untidy. However it has beautiful white sandy beaches and crystal clear water so typical of the Caribbean. Oranjestad is also a sea of colour which is a feature of the Dutch colonialism. Worth the visit But would not be in a hurry to come back.

We now have another sea day before we transit the Panama Canal through to the Pacific Ocean.