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LOCAL Wednesday 15 May 2024

Aruban legends:

Frenchman’s Pass

(Oranjestad)—If you ever plan fire arms, the indigenous set- hike, the man saw a car ap-
on taking a group tour of the tlers began to retreat, and proaching, appearing almost
island, you may pass through hid away in nearby caves. ghost-like in the rain. However,
the Frenchman’s Pass in Bal- The French colonizers tried since he needed a ride real
ashi. The Frenchman’s pass to smoke them out of the bad, he didn’t think twice and
(known to locals as “Franse caves, but the indigenous jumped in. But to his horror, he
Pas”) remains a mysterious— settlers ended up inhaling too noticed that the there was no
and spooky—road of which its much smoke and most died driver in the front. Paralyzed man decided to jump out and said: “Look, there’s the
legend is told from generation in those caves. From then on, with fear, he didn’t dare to and he ran to Santa Cruz. idiot who sat in our car when
to generation. this passage was known as get out, and the car started Arriving at a nearby bar, he we were pushing it!”
Frenchman’s Pass, and there to move. ordered a drink and began French man’s pass is one of
The history of the French- have been many accounts When approaching a sharp to tell everyone about his the few sites on the island
man’s pass—and how it got of spirits roaming the area of turn, the hitch hiker braced experience. Everyone grew that keeps the locals on their
its name—dates back to the Spanish Lagoon. for impact, but just when he quiet, because they realized toes. While most ghost stories
colonization era, when the There are many ghost stories though the car might drive he wasn’t some drunk mess- may not have real grounds—
French tried to colonize the surrounding this area, but one straight off the road and ing around; he was telling the or some may even be a set
island, but were met with an of the most famous one in- crash, he saw a hand appear truth. up story for a joke, this pass
angry mob of indigenous set- volves a lonely hitchhiker, try- out the window and turn the Sometime later, two men contributes a lot to our culture
tlers, refusing to give up their ing to find a ride back home wheel. For the next few turns, walked into the bar and one of folkloric story-telling. q
land. However, as the French in the dark rainy night. the hand appeared again. of them noticed the hitchhik-
were heavily equipped with Sometime after trying to hitch- After having had enough, the er. He called out to his buddy Source: visitaruba.com

Alto Vista chapel and its link to Aruba’s origins

Antonio was a Spaniard. In beautiful time of Alto Vista, Silvester and Miguel Alvares,
1780, father Joseph Antonio people can no longer see according to Nooyen. About
de la Vegal called Bernardino much of the town of Alto 50 meters near the chapel
Silvester, one of Antonio’s sons Vista from 1750. With a lot there are still the markings of
with his wife Anna Cathalina of work they found the old an old house, where Antonio
Tromp, “neighbors and natu- foundations of the Church and Bernardino Silvester would
rals of the island Aruba” and of the Queen of the Holiest have lived. About 200 meters
thus they became natives. Rosary to build a new cha- from the chapel there is a wa-
pel on the same place. The ter tank which the locals call
According to Etnia Nativa, in who came from Coro-Ven- At the end of the eighteen entire surrounding area was Tanki Cacique. In the past this
the 18th century most of the ezuela and appointed Do- century many inhabitants the empty and desolated, mak- tank was closed. But mostly
inhabitants of Aruba were mingo Antonio Silvester as island died as a result of the ing it hard to imagine that water was brought out from
indigenous who lived on the island’s first prosecutor black fever epidemic and Alto Vista was a town at all. A the Poz di Noord, a well dug
the north coast, one of the in the name of the Spanish since people believed that hundred years later, people in the sand.
largest communities lived in crown and Rome. In 1752 the the Alto Vista area was the can see the remains of around
Alto Vista. prosecution passed into the most infected, they began to twenty houses, some made The chapel can be viewed
hands of Antonio Silvester’s build their homes further south of stone and others of clay. from basically any point in
As they were very religious, son-in-law, Miguel Álvarez, within the Noord area, so the Nowadays, only around six the north side, even from
they had a chief with the who continued to guide the town of Noord began to grow of these houses remain. Paradera and Sero Plat. All
name of Antonio Silvester parishioners in their prayers. into a community till getting the historical remains around
who guided them in the its own Church. However re- South of the chapel in the yard the chapel provide us with
Christian life and it was he According to the book, The ligious festivals continued to two graves can be observed, an idea on how the old peo-
who decided to build a stone History of Alto Vista by R.H. be celebrated at this sacred there was the cemetery which ple of Alto Vista used to live.
chapel with a roof of corn Nooyen, it is not known when native place, with the custom father Pablo de Algemesi Don’t miss the opportunity to
rods, which would serve as a Domingo Antonio Silvester of arriving in procession to blessed. It is not certain, but visit a place of historical sig-
place of prayer. In 1750 it was came to Aruba from Ven- Alto Vista. it is believed that the two nificance with a window to
blessed by Father Algamesi ezuela. The elders believe Two-hundred years after the graves belong to Antonio Aruba’s past.q