Page 14 - AHATA
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LOCAL Friday 29 November 2024
Another Treasure of Aruba’s Beaches:
Sea Glass!
the beach. The waves and If you like to see the sea
weather conditions wore glass for yourself, and be
down the overwhelming in awe of the power of na-
amount of garbage in the ture, rent a car or jeep and
water, creating millions of go explore our deserted
beautiful smooth rocks. beaches on the north side
It’s hard to believe the of the island. Make it a fun
short-sighted mistakes we family day!
were making that could Even if we didn’t mean to
NOORD - It is hard to imag- and that is why you can are being used for decora- have potentially ruined pollute the Beaches how
ine this happening today, find these beautiful and tion, handcrafts and jew- these beautiful beaches. we did, it is inspiring to see
but years ago people colorful pieces on the north elry! But thanks to natural pro- just how the earth can cor-
dumped all kinds of refuse shore beaches of Aruba. Once glass makes its way cesses, the ocean trans- rect our mistakes.
straight into the ocean, Especially on the strip on into the ocean, the glass is formed the trash into the Funny, how trash can
including old cars, and white sand between the fa- broken up into shards and is sea glass. change into treasures!
their household garbage, mous Natural Bridge” and tumbled around in the wa- Each colored gem on the Everybody knows that you
which of course included the huge red anchor close ter, where sand and other beach has its own story. are not allowed to take
lots of glass. Over the next to “Grapefield” beach you rocks act like sandpaper to The ruby red glass stones local shells home, but the
30 years the pounding will be able to find your own smooth out its rough edges. are typically from old car people working at the air-
waves cleaned the beach, pieces of sea glass. The sea Sometimes as the sea glass tail-lights. Then, the sap- port have no problem you
by breaking down every- glass that was created is is passed through fire, it be- phire rocks are the rem- taking sea glass home. A
thing but glass and pot- the product of a very long comes fire glass, the rarest nants of broken apoth- few of those pieces make
tery. The pounding waves and interesting process. It of sea glass with certain ecary bottles. The most great souvenirs. You can
washed the trash up and can take anywhere from inclusions, just like precious common and the easiest place them in a wine glass
down, back and forth. Tons 10 to 30 years to make sea gems. to find are the brown (Am- or large bottle for decora-
of polished, broken glass glass. The name for any For years, the water beat stel & Polar beer), green tion and every time you
pieces were created by piece of glass that finds its against the different kinds (Heineken & Balashi beer) look at it a smile will light up
the pounding surf. These way to the ocean and tum- of trash being dumped. and clear glass which are your face thinking back of
smoothened, colored glass bles around in the water Glass, household appli- the soft much loved “soft your unforgettable Aruba
particles then settled along long enough is “Sea glass. ances and even motor drink” bottles. vacation! q
the sea shore in millions, The colorful pieces of glass parts were discarded on
The Bali Restaurant: a touristic hot spot and lost gem on the island
(Oranjestad)—Once lo- Bali did not look like that at leaks and overflowing of
cated in what is now the all but was still considered water into the restaurant.
Renaissance Marina, the as one of the most popu- And as most great things
Bali Restaurant was once lar restaurants on the island come to an end, so did the
both a touristic and local at the time. The restaurant survival and maintenance
hot spot, and nowadays saw three different owners of the Bali Restaurant.
it’s considered a forgotten during its existence, during However, folks today still
gem on the island. which it underwent various reminisce its legacy, and
Known as “the floating res- renovations and rebrand- it’s now considered a lost
taurant”, Bali first opened ing. monument.
in 1955 by Willem “Bill” Stri- In 1964, the restaurant was Be apart of the conversa-
jland, who had experience taken over by Karel “Carl” tion: if you or any family
in Javanese cuisine. At the Schmand. Over the years, member of yours have a
time, the restaurant was the restaurant needed memory of the Bali restau-
pretty exclusive with space constant renovation and rant, whether it be a pic-
to host only 25 guests. Yet, repair, mainly due to its vul- also expanded to host a enjoyed live music from ture or just a story, share it
4 years later, it was named nerability to leaks and the total of 85 guests. This was legendary Aruban musi- with us! We would love to
the best restaurant in the unstable pillars underneath “The New Bali”, who had its cian and composer, Toti see this legendary hot spot
Caribbean by the Carib- the foundation. However, official (re)opening in 1972. Arends. through the lens of our visi-
bean Tourist Association. the biggest change made After 1972, when Ronny After 1989, the restaurant tors!
The restaurant was proba- to the restaurant happened Schmand took over, the was again handed over Source and pictures credit
bly most iconic for its Java- in the year 1970 still under restaurant saw yet another to other owners, and since to: “De Kolibrie op de Rots
nese-inspired exterior with the ownership of Schmand, expansion; this time com- then suffered from unstable (en meer over de geschie-
its pointy, slanted roofs. when it got its iconic pointy plete with a long bar and pillars underneath the foun- denis van Aruba)” by Evert
However, the first version of roofs. The restaurant was dance floor, where guests dation, resulting in various Bongers. q