UberLutheran said:
SuzQ said:A travel writer (female) disappeared in Jamaica a few years back, and not much was done by their government to find her, sadly. However, I still visited Jamaica & loved it. On the contrary, the Aruban government has been very concerned & helpful in this case by allowing the FBI to investigate whomever/whatever. In both these famous cases, the girl left a bar with strangers. It doesn't matter WHERE you are in the world, be it an island, European country, or even Topeka, Kansas for pete's sake: Never, ever, ever go anywhere ALONE at night, or with STRANGERS - how hard is that to understand???
SuzQ said:A travel writer (female) disappeared in Jamaica a few years back, and not much was done by their government to find her, sadly. However, I still visited Jamaica & loved it. On the contrary, the Aruban government has been very concerned & helpful in this case by allowing the FBI to investigate whomever/whatever. In both these famous cases, the girl left a bar with strangers. It doesn't matter WHERE you are in the world, be it an island, European country, or even Topeka, Kansas for pete's sake: Never, ever, ever go anywhere ALONE at night, or with STRANGERS - how hard is that to understand???
Regarding the OP, Aruba is still one of the BEST & most unique places to go in the Caribbean. It doesn't matter what time of year either, as it's out of the "Hurricane Belt". Because of the wind on the Dutch side of the island, it has the coolest little "twisted" trees.
White Horse said:Actually, although the Aruban Gov't let the FBI observe a little, they let them play no real active role in the case until just the last couple of days.
It's not a matter of whether the authorities are concerned, it's a matter of whether or not they're inept in a murder investigation. They questioned these three boys early and never retained them because the boys pointed the finger at a couple of unemployed security guards. Geeze...that takes a genius to figure out...the culprit might try to pin it on someone else...especially when the culprit is a cocky little kid who thinks he's somebody and thinks those he pointed out are nobodies.
They let weeks go before they tried to gather evidence from the car the boys were in. Do you *really* think the FBI had a hand in that decision? Or the decision to let the three go free and charge the security guards, based solely on the word of what should be your only suspects at the time?
As for being strangers, Natalee had met with and spent time with Joran in the days prior to her disappearance. An 18 year old girl who made friends with the son of a high ranking judicial official and left with him and a couple of his friends. Obviously, in hindsight, it was a bad choice. But would Joran Van der Sloot be the kind of kid you'd be susicious of doing something like this? And who's to say she wasn't drugged? There were some reports of some tourist seeing a young lady who fits Natalee's description having a hard time shortly before she disappeared. I still think there's a very strong possibility they drugged her.
Anyway, it's not the lack of concern in Aruba that bothers me, it's the complete inept way they handled the investigation and the arrogance to think they were well versed enough in something like this not to let the FBI play the lead role in looking for an American citizen, when the FBI offered to do so.
I'm also still not convinced someone on the inside knew Joran was guilty and because of who he is tried to cover it up and pin it on the security guards.
SuzQ said:Hardly inept when it wasn't even sure if any harm had been done, since she left with supposedly "new friends". However, they DID arrest the boy's father & grilled him - thus being convinced of his son's guilt as a result, and are now draining the pond behind their home. That was BEFORE our FBI even got to the island to assist. It's not like the goverment was "protecting" this "high ranking judicial official", as you put it. Just the opposite. That's the nice thing about Aruba's laws - they are a small country & can arrest ANYONE they want to, without going through the bureaucratic nonsense we would have to do here in the states.
As far as defending Natalee's judgement when she may have been drugged, you do have an excellent point. I guess I will tack on "never leave your drink unattended" (who doesn't know about date rape drugs or "roofies" these days, too?? Sheesh.) to my "never go out alone at night" & "never go anywhere with strangers" - even if you know someone for 2-3 days, they are STILL strangers!! A lot of women trusted a handsome Ted Bundy, too, unfortunately.
cutekangaroo said:So would you take a vacation to Aruba this year? Next year? or anytime soon?
Hates the beach? Is that possible?ClaireZ said:Of course I would go!
I doubt my husband would though, he hates the beach, and the heat.
MichaelFJF said:Hates the beach? Is that possible?
mhatten said:Yes but I wouldn't wander off with strangers in the middle of the nigh, there or here or anywhere.