Aruba

15th January. Arrived in Dutch Aruba to find three other cruise ships in the harbour so the population of 100,000 had swelled by a further 10,000 for the day, but I think this happens most days now and shows what an effect the cruise industry must have on these small islands.
Aruba is just 18 miles north of Venezuela and used to have a major oil refinery on the island, but that has all but gone now and all that is left is an 19 x 6 mile island full of tourists.
As we left the docks we picked up our prearranged tour guide called Francis and set off in her car round the island.
Everywhere are these fantastic shaped trees because of the constant Caribbean trade winds however along the sheltered coasts you can find great beaches

   

with white sands and warm sea.
Lot’s of dogs again, but the Arubans have become quite the dog loving society and now bury their pets in one place in a mass cemetery along the shore.

The other thing about Aruba I shall remember are the great cacti. Oh, and I just also remembered, apparently someone let loose a pair of boa constrictors on the island a few years ago so there is now a problem and a bounty on any live ones brought it.