It was not until I traveled to Aruba that I discovered the best aloe in the world. A visit to the Aruba Aloe Factory quickly provided me with insights into the long history that this plant and island share. The company was founded in 1890 and since then, Aloe has continued to be a primary export for Aruba. In fact, they export it to hospitals in Europe to be used as a medicinal balm for severe burn victims.

I am notorious for getting burned by the sun - and of course I did it again on this trip. You'd think I would have learned by now. Nope. The usual fever, bubbling, stinging and pain ensued but this time was different. I used their "After Sun" product to sooth my burn and miraculously I did NOT peel for the first time...ever! Needless to say, I bought a year's supply to take home with me...but I have since discovered that they deliver all over the world!

When I first noticed these guys roaming freely around our hotel pool area, I have to admit that I was a bit 'freaked out'. Within a few days, I was used to them and barely noticed one unless it ran right across my path (or when someone decided to feed them right at their dining table...too close for my liking).

It turns out that these herbivorous lizards are native to the island - and in fact, throughout the Caribbean. Not only do they tend to have a long life span, but as I saw for myself, they can also grow to be very long as well...some as much as 6 feet from tip to tip (with very long tails).

Iguanas like warm climates and can also be found in places like Florida - where this past winter it got so cold that the iguanas literally entered a state of hibernation and were seen to be dropping from the trees.

Fortunately, with year-round temperatures hovering around 30 degrees Celsius in Aruba, this guy lives a happy life on resort.