Page 11 - AHATA

a8 local
Wednesday 24 september 2025

Visit the natural bridges of Aruba!

(Oranjestad)—After you’ve
visited the Alto Vista
Church, the Bushiribana
Gold Mill Ruins and the
mini natural pool that is lo-
cated right next to it, you’re
next up around the north-
ern coast line must be the
Natural Bridge. Once the
largest natural bridge in the
Caribbean, this bridge has
been a tourist attraction for
many years.

The bridge was formed dur-
ing thousands of years, cut
and crafted by the wild
waves that crash into the
coral stone walls of the
coast. Before its collapse,
this bridge measured 30
meters in length and 7 me-
ters in height, making it the a small opening through little beach dried up. De- of the northern coastline no longer is functional,
biggest natural bridge in and the Caribbean Sea. there is now a smaller nat-
the Caribbean at the time. which the water would flow spite this, this site remained Visitors can also still visit the ural bridge very close. This
a tourist attraction, with
into the tiny beach.
For many years, this site was souvenir shop on the left of bridge is often called the
many visitors walking along
also a frequently visited Unfortunately in 2005, the the coral cliffs of the bridge the bridge entrance. “Baby Bridge” or “Daugh-
beach, as the bridge had While the natural bridge ter Bridge”.
bridge collapsed, and the to see the spectacular view
Aruba’s kite flying tradition

(Oranjestad)—Every year
for King’s Day, Arubans
gather with friends and
family to fly kites. Big or
small, paper or plastic,
blue skies fill up with these
colorful flying contraptions,
brightening our yearly cel-
ebration of the Dutch Mon-
arch.

The tradition of flying kites
starts at home in the weeks
leading up to King’s Day.
These kites were tradition-
ally made with things found
in the nearby mondi* and in from old bed sheets, ripped air. Decorating the kite was the sun is at its brightest. bao located in Madiki is
the kitchen at home. Using and tied together to create especially important, and organizing another edition
dried up cactus sticks for a long string of fabric trail- children would use paint to In the past few years, kite of their kite flying event
the frame, old news papers, ing behind the back end create their own designs— flying has become a sport with different categories of
and glue made from flour, of the kite. To finish off the the more colorful, the bet- in which groups of people height starting at 8AM.
water and salt to dry faster process, people used fish ter! would battle against each
(some people even use lines or thin rope to tie three other to see whose kite is Gather your family and be
cornstarch slurry as glue), corners of the kite together. People usually fly their kites the biggest, the prettiest, a part of this colorful Aru-
kids usually make their own Another long string of rope in big open fields, like emp- and whose could fly flaw- ban tradition in celebration
kites with their friends, par- is tied in the knotted center ty soccer and baseball lessly and longer in the air. of our King Willem-Alexan-
ents or other close family and bundled up, used to fields found all around the For this year’s celebration, der’s birthday!
members. Tails are made steer the kite as it flies in the island around noon, when Centro di Bario Playa Pa- *Mondi: Aruban woods.