Aruba Vacations 2005-2007

Aruba's brawny trade winds have a way of altering the stature of just about everything -- from the gnarled divi-divi trees on the beaches to the eerily sculpted boulders in the center of the island. Don't be surprised, by the way, if you find yourself tilting at a 45-degree angle.

Once you've adjusted your posture, however, you'll discover that Aruba is among the livelier, more developed islands in the region, with high-rise resorts, great restaurants and glitzy casinos lining its white-sand beaches. You'll find plenty of things to do, too: sunbathing, world-class windsurfing and waterskiing by day, and discos, cabarets, dinner shows and high-stakes gambling at night. What you won't see is an abundance of natural attractions. Nor is Aruba covered in lush foliage. It's about as close to a desert island as you'll find in the Caribbean, with stands of cacti and aloe vera dotting the dusty terrain. In fact, it is so dry, the goats eat the cacti in search of something resembling leaves.

Information by Northstar Travel Media LLC


Before I left Boston, I only knew the expression “Bon Bini”, which does not exactly mean “Hello, as we are used to it. I learned this from a kind older Aruban woman named “Gloria,” who works at an “information booth” adjacent to the Divi Phoenix. The day after my arrival, we had exchanged smiles and stories about where I was from, and she taught me a number of Papiamento expressions, 2 or 3 per day, whenever I passed by her booth while I was jogging on the walkway between the Divi Phoenix and the Holiday Inn resort.

Some of the expressions that Gloria taught me are fairly common and can be found in most resort magazine racks around the island. {I will offer more information on resort magazines in a future update.} I will NEVER be fluent in Papiamento, but I was willing to try. As I gradually accumulated more expressions, I began to see, toward the end of my vacation week, how much Papiamento has borrowed from other languages, like French, [Bon], Spanish, [ nochi], Italian,[ tardi], and even Latin, [culpa].

Trying to keep specific expressions in my mind required constant repetition practice each day. Each morning, as I passed Gloria’s information booth, she would have a huge smile on her face as we went over the expressions that I learned the previous day and the “new” expressions I had just learned that morning. As I slowly got over my fear of making mistakes, the big smile on her face would get wider with each correct response that I was able to remember the following day.


These were the phrases I learned and used most often. They were the easiest for me to remember and to practice repeatedly on other people I passed during my morning walk.

Day 1:

Bon dia = Good Morning—Generic hello.
Bon tardi = Good afternoon.
Bon nochi = Good Evening.

Day 2

Con ta bai ku bo? // Con ta bai? = How are you?

Danki, bon! = Very well, thank you.


Day 3

Passa bon dia = Have a nice day.
Ajo= Good-By
Danki = Thank you.


Day 4

Da nada. = You’re Welcome.
Da bien = That’s fine, It’s OK.
Te aworo = See you later.

Day 5
Unda bo ta biba = Where do you live? Where are you from?
Mi ta bon. = I am fine, I’m OK.
Por fabor = Please.

Day 6

Mi te comprede = I understand, I understand what you are saying.
Ta me culpa = It is my fault.
Mi te sorry = I am sorry.
Ta duel (?) mi = I too am sorry.


Some phrases I wish I had learned if I had more time:

I am not feeling well / I am sick.

Can you help me?

I am not sure about that. / I really don’t know.

You are very kind.

I think you are right.

I am not sure about that. / I do not agree.

I will see you tomorrow.

You are a good friend / teacher.

Can you explain it to me in English?

Where is:

The bathroom
The exit
Phone booth
Police station

As I gained more confidence with each passing day, the responses of local Arubans was very encouraging and enthusiastic. One local security officer to whom I greeted “Bon dia! Con ta bai cu bo?” quickly responded “ Bon dia! Danki bon.”

“You speak my language," he said. "Very good, very good my friend.” and he shook my hands vigorously. “Not many people want to try to speak Papiamento like you. Keep trying. Very nice of you.”

At a sandwich shop within my resort, I used the same expressions and the lady who was preparing our lunch responded, “ It is nice to hear you speak my language. There are many visitors who have visited me each year for 30 years in a row, and not once have they said “hello” to me in my language. You have only been here for two days, and you know enough to speak to me the basic expressions. You are really trying.”

During a conversation with our activities director, later in the week, another activities director from a near-by Divi resort joined our conversation. I stood up extended my hand to her, and at first, I just wanted to say “Hi, and disappear” but I looked in her eyes, and said “Bon tardi. Con ta bai ku bo!” Her eyes widened, and instead of just shaking my hand, she hugged me and kissed me. WOW! “ You speak my language, good for you. Not many people even want to try when they visit Aruba. ”

So just give it a try, it can't hurt.

More stories later as I get used to this log book.

Most of the pictures that were taken were taken in January of 2006. I plan a return visit in January of 2007. The pictures are my first try using a digital camera.