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local Friday 19 September 2025
Fun facts about cacti hedges “Trankera”

(Oranjestad) – When off- common, and those that still
roading in inland Aruba, stand are often not main-
you may notice some cacti tained. On the surface this
hedges around various prop- seems like a bad develop-
erties or lined up by certain ment, however this proved
pathways. These man-made to be beneficial for our flora
hedges are called “tran- and fauna. Naturally devel-
kera” and play an important oped flora around the hedg-
role in maintaining our flora es offers more shelter for
and fauna. fauna. Another aspect is the
propagation process. When
The trankera dates to co- pruning hedges, flowers and
lonialism, where settlers es- seeds were removed, which
tablished several ‘cunucu’ limits propagation to a mini-
(farm) on the island. Peo- mum.
ple either used stone walls
or trankera as a fence to So, though trankeras don’t
ward off strangers and wild play that big of a role in Aru-
animals that can feed on the ba’s agriculture anymore,
cunucu vegetation or cattle. our environment still reaps
the benefits of these long-
Nowadays, trankeras are less standing natural structures.q

Adriaan Laclé: One of Aruba’s richest men in the twentieth century

(Oranjestad)—The name Adriaan Adriaan was born in 1866 and was
Laclé may ring a bell to locals as one the eldest of six children. Not much
of the bigger roads on the island, but is known about his childhood up-
about a century ago, Adriaan Laclé bringing or any of his earlier busi-
was a rich businessman, well-known ness ordeals, but during his hay day
for his generosity, wealth, and taste. he often helped people get loans,
was a well-established trader, and
owned several plots of land. In fact,
he commissioned the construction
of the famous La Quinta Carmen
manor—now a restaurant. Though
he himself never lived in the beautiful
manor, his own house also reflected
his success and good taste. Today
his house still stands in good condi-
tion and can be found in the back been said that only 11 of those 17 used to host civil marriages, while
streets of main street Oranjestad. made it past 18 years of age. Per- Maximilian and Maria Veneranda’s
haps two of his most well-known house stands on the opposite side
Regarding his personal life, it has daughters are Maria Monica Laclé of the road to them—though cur-
been said that he was married and Maria Veneranda Laclé, who rently under renovation after years
twice during his lifetime. He had his went on to marry successful brothers left in ruin.q
first daughter during his first marriage Eloy Arends and Maximilian Arends,
but lost his wife soon after her birth. respectively. Their houses are still Source: De Kolibrie op de Rots (en
During his second marriage, he fa- standing; Eloy and Maria Monica’s meer over de geschiedenis van Aru-
ba) by Evert Bongers.
thered 16 children. However, it has mansion functions as a townhall,

Aruba to me: Jack & Diane Shearer

ORANJESTAD — You are ting photos, text or any oth- lovely message from Jack
back and we would like to er materials, you give per- & Diane Shearer, from York,
portrait you! By inviting you mission to The Aruba Today Pennsylvania, USA.
to send us your favorite va- Newspaper, Caribbean They wrote to us saying:
cation picture while enjoy- Speed Printers and any of “Aruba to me is, the place
ing our Happy Island. its affiliated companies to to relax, enjoy beautiful
use said materials, as well water, great food. I love
Complete the sentence: as names, likeness, etc. for that I can bring my friends
Aruba to me is ……. Send promotional purposes with- from Pennsylvania to meet
your picture with that text out compensation. my friends in Aruba. In this
(including your name and Last but not least: check pic we are with Rahul and
where you are from) to: out our website, Instagram Charlie in Aruba’s oldest
news@arubatoday.com and Facebook page! and greatest Bar.”
and we will publish your Thank you for supporting
vacation memory. Isn’t our free newspaper, we Thank you for sending us this
that a special way to keep strive to make you a happy wonderful message sharing
your best moments alive? reader every day again. what Aruba means to you
Please do note: By submit- For today we received a with us and our readers!q