Above: This was our view of Oranjestad Harbor when we arrived in Aruba.


The left-center of the picture below has captured some the famous Dutch building facades that we have come to expect when we visit the Dutch Antilles.


Aruba has won partial independence to make some decisions on her own. But remains a member of the governmental division that makes up the Dutch Antilles.

As you'd expect in a place that has petroleum resources, but none to make the place habitable — even water — they recycle everything.

Our guide, a native of Houston, Texas, said that they accept sewerage and trash from the cruise ships, and purify the water for irrigation use.

They get what recyclable items they can out of the trash.

They have a desalinization plant for potable water.