Page 15 - AHATA

Saturday 2 auguSt 2025 LOCAL
A10

Blackstone Beach

(Oranjestad)—Named af-
ter its most recognizable
feature, the Blackstone
Beach almost represents
the opposite of the typical
Aruban beaches. For one,
it has black sand and is
covered in black smooth
stones. Secondly, it lies on
the northern side of the is-
land, away from the white
sandy beaches of in the
southern region. So, if you
feel up for something differ-
ent—or if it’s opposite day, volcanic eruptions, coral passed the Ayo Rock For- Arikok National Park and is and can easily stray you
visit the Blackstone Beach. reef movements and wave mation, take the Andicuri therefore a site that is pre- further in the wild ocean.

activity of the rural northern road leading up to Andicuri served. This is why it is also However, you can still en-
Blackstone Beach shows part of the island. Beach. There, you can park relatively untouched by joy a spectacular view of
the more natural side of Located further east to the your car and take a 1km commercial influences. De- the stones and the northern
Aruba: the stones that cov- Natural Bridge and Andi- hike towards Blackstone spite being called a beach, ocean that stretches out
er the beaches and the curi Beach, the Blackstone Beach. do note that it is not ad- in front of the beach and
shape of it has been craft- Beach is relatively easy vised to swim in the water, take a picture with your
ed for thousand years via
to access. Once you get This beach forms part of the as the current is very strong friends or family!.q

The Bali Restaurant: a touristic hot spot and lost gem on the island

(Oranjestad)—Once lo- expansion; this time com-
cated in what is now the plete with a long bar and
Renaissance Marina, the dance floor, where guests
Bali Restaurant was once enjoyed live music from
both a touristic and local legendary Aruban musi-
hot spot, and nowadays cian and composer, Toti
it’s considered a forgotten Arends.
gem on the island.
After 1989, the restaurant
Known as “the floating res- was again handed over
taurant”, Bali first opened to other owners, and since
in 1955 by Willem “Bill” then suffered from unstable
Strijland, who had experi- pillars underneath the foun-
ence in Javanese cuisine. dation, resulting in various
At the time, the restaurant leaks and overflowing of
was pretty exclusive— water into the restaurant.
with space to host only 25 And as most great things
guests. Yet, 4 years later, it come to an end, so did the
was named the best res- survival and maintenance
taurant in the Caribbean of the Bali Restaurant.
by the Caribbean Tourist However, folks today still
Association. reminisce its legacy, and
it’s now considered a lost
The restaurant was proba- monument.
bly most iconic for its Java-
nese-inspired exterior with Be apart of the conversa-
its pointy, slanted roofs. tion: if you or any family
However, the first version of member of yours have a
Bali did not look like that at memory of the Bali restau-
all but was still considered rant, whether it be a pic-
as one of the most popu- ture or just a story, share it
lar restaurants on the island with us! We would love to
at the time. The restaurant see this legendary hot spot
saw three different owners through the lens of our visi-
during its existence, during tors!
which it underwent various
renovations and rebrand- Source and pictures credit
ing. to: “De Kolibrie op de Rots
repair, mainly due to its vul- in the year 1970—still under “The New Bali”, who had its (en meer over de geschie-
In 1964, the restaurant was denis van Aruba)” by Evert
taken over by Karel “Carl” nerability to leaks and the the ownership of Schmand, official (re)opening in 1972. Bongers. q
unstable pillars underneath when it got its iconic pointy
Schmand. Over the years,
the restaurant needed the foundation. However, roofs. The restaurant was After 1972, when Ronny
the biggest change made also expanded to host a Schmand took over, the
constant renovation and
to the restaurant happened total of 85 guests. This was restaurant saw yet another