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LOCAL Thursday 19 sepTember 2024
Aruba Astro Research Int. shares images of the partial lunar eclipse

The partial lunar eclipse of Tuesday, September
17th, was broadcasted around the world, in-
cluding on Aruba. The Aruba Astro Research Int.
is dedicated to providing astronomical news to
the Aruban community, and this week, they
provided images of the partial lunar eclipse.

The image illustrates the moment that the par-
tial eclipse started and then slowly darkened
the moon. These images were taken exclusively
by Mr. Marcos Bislip of the Aruba Astro Research
Int. at Congoweg, San Nicolas.

Mr. Bislip took the images, did some filming and
even transmitted a live event through radio for
the first time during the late hours of the night
on the TOP FM 95.1 channel. This was consid-
ered a huge success for the astronomy organi-
zation, marking September 17th a historical day
for astronomic phenomenon’s.q Photo by Marcos Bislip on the Aruba Astro Research Int. Facebook page.

Aruban legends: Aruba Conservation Foundation to host

Frenchman’s Pass information night about the ‘Lora’
Get your update on the

(Oranjestad)—If you ever
plan on taking a group reintroduction of Aruba’s
tour of the island, you may
pass through the French- most beautiful bird
man’s Pass in Balashi. The
Frenchman’s pass (known
to locals as “Franse Pas”) The Lora has been extinct survival, behavior, adap-
remains a mysterious—and in the wild of Aruba for tation, diet and so much
spooky—road of which its over 70 years and thanks more. Join them next week
legend is told from genera- to the many dedicated Wednesday, September
tion to generation. and passionate rangers, 25th, at the Aruba Experi-
local, regional, and inter- ence Café in the city cen-
national partners, the Lora ter from 7PM to 8PM.
The history of the French-
man’s pass—and how it got took their first flight earlier Participation is complete-
its name—dates back to this year. ly free, but registration is
the colonization era, when needed to confirm partici-
the French tried to colonize The Aruba Conservation pation. q
the island, but were met Foundation (ACF) is host-
with an angry mob of in- Sometime after trying to he ordered a drink and be- ing an informative evening Register today: https://
digenous settlers, refusing hitchhike, the man saw a gan to tell everyone about as they share more infor- forms.office.com/r/Y7kbX-
to give up their land. How- car approaching, appear- his experience. Everyone mation about the bird’s WGn7G
ever, as the French were ing almost ghost-like in the grew quiet, because they
heavily equipped with fire rain. However, since he realized he wasn’t some
arms, the indigenous set- needed a ride real bad, drunk messing around; he
tlers began to retreat, and he didn’t think twice and was telling the truth.
hid away in nearby caves. jumped in. But to his horror, Sometime later, two men
The French colonizers tried he noticed that the there walked into the bar and
to smoke them out of the was no driver in the front. one of them noticed the
caves, but the indigenous Paralyzed with fear, he hitchhiker. He called out to
settlers ended up inhal- didn’t dare to get out, and his buddy and said: “Look,
ing too much smoke and the car started to move. there’s the idiot who sat
most died in those caves. in our car when we were
From then on, this passage When approaching a pushing it!”
was known as Frenchman’s sharp turn, the hitch hiker
Pass, and there have been braced for impact, but just French man’s pass is one
many accounts of spirits when he though the car of the few sites on the is-
roaming the area of Span- might drive straight off the land that keeps the locals
ish Lagoon. road and crash, he saw a on their toes. While most
hand appear out the win- ghost stories may not have
There are many ghost sto- dow and turn the wheel. real grounds—or some may
ries surrounding this area, For the next few turns, the even be a set up story for a
but one of the most fa- hand appeared again. Af- joke, this pass contributes a
mous one involves a lonely ter having had enough, the lot to our culture of folkloric
hitchhiker, trying to find a man decided to jump out story-telling.q
ride back home in the dark and he ran to Santa Cruz.
rainy night. Arriving at a nearby bar, Source: visitaruba.com