Aruba

Yes, Aruba was involved in a war. Specifically, the island was deemed strategically important to the Allies because of the Lago Oil Refinery at Sint Nicolaas [San Nicholas]. In the early morning hours of May 10, 1940, Germany launched the Battle of the Netherlands [Slam om Nederland] by pounding the Netherlands with airstrikes.

That evening 180 French marines arrived on Aruba to aid in the island's defense. On July 6, the French marines were replaced with 120 British soldiers. In September the British soldiers were replaced by the 4th Battalion Queens Own Cameron Highlanders. In December an artilery unit from the Royal Netherlands East Indian Army [Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger, KNIL] arrived on Aruba. In January 1942 the Highlanders were replaced by 1,000 soldiers from the United States of America.

U.S. soldiers were stationed on Aruba until the end of World War II, in 1945.

Yes, JetBlue flies to Aruba.

Specifically, flights to and from Boston, Massachusetts and New York's JFK Airport are known for convenient travel time and low fares to Aruba. The JetBlue website includes helpful information about where to go and what to do on the Caribbean island. JetBlue also is known for exciting getaway packages to beach and ocean front hotels and resorts in Aruba.

Yes, Jamaicans need visas in order to visit Aruba.

Specifically, Aruba requires a valid passport in order for a visitor to be considered for entry into the island. In the case of Jamaicans, the passport must be accompanied by a valid visa sticker. Generally, visitors cannot stay more than 180 days out of one year, and that total must be broken up in individual stays of no more than 30 days at a time.

Aruba is about 1,959 miles [3,152 kilometers; 1,702 nautical miles] from New York City, New York. It takes about 4 hours to fly from New York City to Aruba's capital city at Oranjestad.

The two cities aren't in the same time zone. Also, Aruba doesn't observe daylight saving time [DST] when clocks are set one hour ahead. During DST, New York City and Oranjestad are on the same time. The rest of the year, New York City is one hour behind.

The Aruba florin is the preferred currency to be used by visitors in Aruba.

Specifically, other currencies such as the U.S. dollar are accepted on Aruba. For example, U.S. travelers checks can be used. But it probably is a good idea to have Aruba florins on hand, especially if the visitor travels outside the capital city of Oranjestad.

Aruba's drug laws are severe, according to the U.S. Department of State Travel Information on Aruba. It's noted that the penalties for illegal drug possession, trafficking, or use are severe. Convicted offenders are given long jail sentencesand heavy fines.

It also is noted that unknowingly violating Aruba's laws may result in expulsion, arrest, or imprisonment.

For information on criminal penalties in Aruba, please visit the link provided below.

The flight distance from Buffalo, New York's second most populous city, to Oranjestad, Aruba's capital, is 2,159 miles.

Specifically, that distance is equivalent to 3,474 kilometers. It is 1,876 nautical miles. The flight direction from Buffalo to Oranjestad is south-southeast.

Aruba is an island of many sports. Competitions and tournaments are held annually. Hosted throughout the island, the events highlight the variety of sports as well as Aruba's natural, diverse beauty.

One, the Aruba International Half Marathon is held in March. It covers the 21 kilometer [31 mile] distance from Sint Nicolaas [San Nicholas] in the southwest to Oranjestad in the northwest.

Two, the Royal Nationals Drag Race is held in April at the Palo Marga International Raceway Park near Sint Nicolaas [San Nicholas].

Three, National Beach Tennis Championships are held in May at Palm Beach in northwest Aruba.

Four, Hi-Winds Competition is held in July. The windsurfing events take place off Hadikurari Beach in northwest Aruba. Kiteboarding takes place off Boca Grandi Beach on the southeastern tip of Aruba.

Five, the International Pro-Am Golf Tournament is held in August at Tierra del Sol Resort and Golf Course on the northwestern tip of Aruba.

Six, the Catamaran Regatta is held in November off Palm Beach in northwest Aruba.

Yes, there are mice and rats on Aruba. Mice on Aruba include the house mouse [Mus musculus] and the vesper mouse [Calomys hummelincki]. Rats include the black rat [Rattus rattus] and the Norway rat [Rattus norvegicus].

The vesper mouse is ranked as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN]. This means that it's likely to become an endangered species.

About a 2.5 to 3.5 hour flight time can be expected to Aruba from Florida, depending on the point of departure. The flight duration times from three Florida cities follow.

1. It takes about 2.5 hours to fly from Miami to Aruba. Miami is on the southeast coast of Florida. It's about 1,132 miles (1,821 kilometers; 983 nautical miles) from Aruba. They aren't in the same time zone. Miami is one hour behind Aruba.

2. It takes about 2 hours 45 minutes to fly from Orlando to Aruba. Orlando is in central Florida. Orlando is about 1,324 miles (2,130 kilometers; 1,150 nautical miles) from Aruba. They aren't in the same time zone. Orlando is one hour behind Aruba.

3. It takes about 3.5 hours to fly from Pensacola to Aruba. Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle. Pensacola is about 1,658 miles (2,668 kilometers; 1,441 nautical miles) from Aruba. They aren't in the same time zone. Pensacola is two hours behind Aruba.

Aruba is dependent. It isn't independent. Specifically, Aruba is a dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. A dependency is a territory that doesn't have full political independence and that's under the authority of another government.

On January 1, 1986, Aruba officially became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Aruba has basic autonomy on most internal affairs except for defense, foreign affairs, final judicial review, and such Kingdom matters as human rights and good governance. The movement toward independence was halted in 1990 upon the request of Aruba's Prime Minister Nelson Orlando Oduber [b. 1947].

Aruba is famous for powder thin white sand beachesbordered by the calm and inviting sea, especially along the west coast. Also great about Aruba is its pleasant year round climate. Aruba is on the southern fringes of the traditional Atlantic/Caribbean hurricane belt. So Aruba is usually unaffected by the hurricane season.

Aruba's primary industry is tourism. So the emphasis there is on making visitors feel welcome. In fact, Otmar E. Oduber, new Minister of Tourism, Transportation & Labor Affairs, noted in January 2010 that Aruba has the highest number of repeat visitors in the Caribbean.

Aruba is known as One Happy Island. It's culturally diverse with is a population that's 80 percent mixed and 20 percent other ethnicities. The modern day Aruban is a blend of over 40 nationalities in addition to the original Arawak inhabitants. Just as Hawaii is famous for Aloha, Aruba is famous for 'Bon bini'. That's Papiamento for 'Welcome'.

Three of the products manufactured on Aruba are aloe vera based beauty products, Fluff, and household cleaners/detergents. Body, sun, and hair products containing 100 percent Pure Aruba Aloe Vera gel are manufactured by Aruba Aloe Balm N.V. Located in Oranjestad, they're the oldest company on Aruba. They were founded in 1890. Their website can be accessed by the link provided below.

Fluff is made from household garbage through the WastAway hydrothermal process at the Solid Waste Management Facility in Perkietenbos. It's similar in consistency to wood pulp. On Aruba its initial use is as a growing medium to supplement topsoil. Bouldin and Lawson of McMinnville, Tennessee finished building their first international WastAway system on Aruba in 2009. Their website can be accessed by the link provided below.

R.J. Van Der Sar N.V. have manufactured household cleaners since 1975. They've expanded their product line to include dishwashing and liquid laundry detergents as well as pine and industrial cleaners. They started in Oranjestad, and now they're based in Barcadera. Their website can be accessed by the link provided below.

A square Aruban 50 cent coin equals 28 U.S. cents.

Specifically, Aruban money basically converts at half the value of U.S. money. One Aruban florin equals 0.56 U.S. cents. As with the U.S. dollar, the Aruban florin is made up of 100 cents.

CDC recommends: HEPATITIS A HEPATITIS B and TYPHOID

where vaccinations are administered at least 4-6 weeks prior to travel.

ALSO RECOMMENDED: ensure you are up to date on all other routine immunizations: measles mumps rubella (MMR), diptheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT), poliovirus, varicella (chicken pox) etc., when travelling or working in ARUBA as well the Caribbean in general.

CAUTION: This is by no means a complete list of precautions or potential disease risks for travel to the Caribbean. For complete information, go to the Centers for Disease Control website, Travelers Health Section, Caribbean. Diseases currently present in the Caribbean include DENGUE FEVER & MALARIA.

NOTE: Although YELLOW FEVER is currently is NOT a disease risk in Aruba, the government requires some travelers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever virus transmission to present proof of yellow fever vaccination. If you will be traveling to Aruba from any country other than the United States, this requirement may affect you. For specific requirement details, see Yellow Fever & Malaria Information, by Country.