[2banana]

Have you ever been to Aruba? We own a timeshare there, have spent a lot of time in the "interior" and find it hard to compare it to Mogadishu.

Actually yes - 3 weeks with the army training up their forces for anti-drug operations. Needless to say, I saw the entire island (except for the aforementioned resorts). Open sewers, car jackings, drive bys, etc. There is a reason why the "resort shuttles" going to/from the airport drive fast with their door locked...

I guess it could be worse, it could be the island of Jamaica...holy cow... the interior of that place is a real war zone.

[Victor]

"...3 weeks with the army training up their forces for anti-drug operations....."

That must have been intense. From what I have learned, Aruba doesn't have an indigenous drug problem per se; the island is a waystop for major traffic coming up from South America, in other words a laundromat for further shipments into the USA.

I always see lots of patrol boats, especially near the harbor areas...they are looking for the drug smugglers.

[pageonetoo]

Your experience seems different than 99.99% of those visiting there...

maybe you don't get to see other countries, that much, or just look for the bad parts...

I have walked the streets, paved, and dirt, visited with many of the people, and have eaten in their homes...

I just think it's waaaaaay tooooooo hot!