12 Things You’ll Only Understand If You Have Been To ARUBA
1. It’s one of the best places in the world to usher in the new year. Forget about freezing toes and a drippy nose while watching a ball drop; you know Aruba is the place to celebrate New Year’s. The weather is amazing, and there’s nothing better than hanging out on a hotel terrace or up California Point watching Catherine wheels light up the sky. Fireworks, both professional and amateur, rage unabated, increasing in frenzied frequency and degree until the magic hour and beyond. And at the stroke of midnight, every family and business lights a string of firecrackers — or pagara — that measure anywhere from 5,000 to 10 million. The resulting smoke wafts through to dispel any bad vibes (dubbed fuku) accumulated over the past year. 2. No day is too busy to stop and admire the golden Aruba sunset. Photo: JoshuaPomales Just about everyone — locals included — stops whatever they’re doing to watch the incredible sunsets that wrap up each day here. When you’re not planted on your very own [...]