Page 5 - AHATA

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local Tuesday 3 June 2025
Aruba’s nature is to be cherished

ST. CRUZ — The national park unique geological, cultural eggs, while another nest laid
Arikok comprises almost 18 and historical sites. These can 2 months ago by the same
% of the island. Its rugged all be enjoyed and explored female hatches. A very rare
terrain, desert-like hills filled either on your own or during occurrence of daytime nest-
with tall cacti, breathtaking guided tours. A wide variety of ing and hatching. Sea turtles
coastline and protected lo- educational and informative prefer nesting in the cool and
cal flora and fauna welcome programs and fun activities dark hours of the night. And
you to be explored. There is is available. hatchlings usually wait for the
numerous wildlife to discover cue of cooling surface sand
like for example the sea tur- Did you know that four of the before emerging.
tle who lays his eggs on the in total seven species of sea
park’s beaches. There are turtle lay their eggs on Aruba's Bubali Magic
more places on the island beaches? In the national This beautiful close-up image
that are a preserved area park, a Least Tern (Sternula of the pink bird is courtesy of
like the Bubali Plas which is antillarum) keeps a strict eye Michiel Oversteegen of the
a bird sanctuary. on a very special event taking Aruba Birdlife Conservation. You may have seen a ‘pink self. The island has the most
place below on the beach: This important foundation cloud’ lately at the Bubali or beautiful beaches but it is also
The national park Arikok takes a majestic Leatherback (Der- showcases and builds aware- Spanish Lagoon Wetlands ar- worthwhile to go beyond this
you on a memorable journey mochelys coriacea) heads ness of Aruba’s birds and eas? It’s most likely to be Ro- and get an idea of our entire
of the islands past offering back to sea after laying her other native flora and fauna. seate Spoonbills (Ajaia ajaja) island. Lately there is a discus-
or ‘Chucharon Cora’ as they sion going on about the effect
are known in Papiamento. certain activities have on our
This unusual looking bird for- nature, for example the ATV
ages in shallow muddy water vehicles cause a lot of dust,
while sweeping its flattened noise and leave tire tracks.
bill from side to side to catch Animals live in these areas
small fish, crustaeceans and where the vehicles run, of-
other aquatic invertebrates. ten with high speed and with
The Roseate Spoonbill remains detrimental consequences
an uncommon sight as they to flora and fauna. Motor-
are vulnerable to degrada- ized vehicles are forbidden
tion of feeding and nesting to drive on the sand dunes in
habitats (Wetlands). (Source: the Northern part of the island
arikok national park) and all beaches in Aruba are
forbidden for any motorized
The aforementioned is just a vehicle. Treasure our island
part of what Aruba’s nature to enjoy it like you do: as a
has to offer. We cannot stress tropical and natural paradise.
enough to go, see for your- We truly appreciate it!q

Food culture in Aruba

(Oranjestad) - Like many due to the need of a quick (beef stew), comcomber Venezuela. Ayacas and the Saco*, basket, pastechi,
other cultures, an important “to-go” breakfast, you may stoba (West Indian gherkin famous pan di ham* are two kroket, deditos, Johnny cake
aspect of the Aruban cultural also find many snack trucks stew) and much more. crucial holiday dishes, along and more. These snacks are
identity is our connection to and cafes that sell sand- with stuffed turkey, roasted usually sold at local snack
food and food traditions. The wiches, pastechis (meat Dinner Time glazed ham topped with trucks and cafes, often lo-
local food traditions consist pie), arepas and empana- Dinner time can vary signifi- pineapples, arroz con pollo cated on the side of the
of a melting pot of different das early in the morning. cantly from household to (rice and chicken) and po- road. In the area of Tanki
cultural and religious eating household. Unlike the U.S. tato salad, among other Leendert and Tanki flip, for
habits and dishes. Main Meal or in Europe, dinner time items. Traditional drinks in- example, there are many of
The main meal is typically typically does not consist clude ponche crema (Aru- these trucks parked on the
Breakfast, lunch and dinner eaten in most households of a whole (warm) meal. In- ban eggnog), chuculati side of the road and often
The routine of breakfast, around noon or in the af- stead, the evening “meal” pinda (hot chocolate with open until late at night—of-
lunch and dinner on the ternoon. This can consist of can typically consist of some- peanut butter), and home- fering tasty and filling snacks
island is one that does not meat, fish, and chicken— thing lighter, like a sandwich, made fruit punch. Desserts post night-life fun. q
completely follow a Euro- stewed or fried—with funchi though it is not uncommon to include, bolo di pistachio
pean or American routine, (polenta) or rice with stewed see leftovers from the main (pistachio cake), bolo di *ABC Islands: Aruba, Bonaire
despite the major influences vegetables. Often, fried or meal reheated and eaten cashupete (cashew cake), and Curacao
from these parts of the world boiled plantain or pan bati again. Tea and coffee are quesillo (flan), bolo preto *Pan di ham: Derived from the
Venezuelan Pan de Jamon
on our culture and way of (Aruban pancake) is in- often also served with the (dark fruit cake), drigidek (rolled up bread with ham, rai-
living. When it comes to the cluded. Stews are a staple evening snack. (gingerbread), pan boyo sins and olives)
three important meals of in Aruban cuisine and can (bread cake) and more. *Saco: Saco literally means
the day, most of the Aruban are largely influenced by Lat- (Religious) Holidays “bag”. Saco contains fried po-
population follows a Latin- in-American and Latin/Afro- Christmas is probably the big- Snacks and tasty delights tatoes, plantains, chicken (and
American influenced routine. Caribbean Stews. Some of gest global holiday, and ev- Besides meals and dishes ribs) and a Johnny cake, served
in a paper bag.
the more unique stews and ery culture has its own spin on that are eaten on the dinner
Breakfast soups from the ABC Islands* what their Christmas cuisine table, Aruba also has a food Source: Voeding, voedings-
Breakfast in Aruba is quite include sopi di bonchi cora entails. In Aruba, our Christ- tradition that includes snacks gewoonten en gerechten op
simple: a cup of coffee or (red kidney bean soup with mas cuisine is again largely and other tasty delights that Aruba (Nutrition, Food Tradi-
tea, some bread, and some- pig tail), sopi mondongo based on Latin-American in- you may easily find around tions and Dishes on Aruba) by
times an egg. Sometimes, (tripe soup), carni stoba fluences, most notably form the island. These include, Biblioteca Nacional Aruba