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local Monday 24 July 2023

Blackstone Beach

(Oranjestad)—Named af- the northern side of the is- the more natural side of
ter its most recognizable land, away from the white Aruba: the stones that cov-
feature, the Blackstone sandy beaches of in the er the beaches and the
Beach almost represents southern region. So, if you shape of it has been craft-
the opposite of the typical feel up for something differ- ed for thousand years via
Aruban beaches. For one, ent—or if it’s opposite day, volcanic eruptions, coral
it has black sand and is visit the Blackstone Beach. reef movements and wave
covered in black smooth activity of the rural northern
stones. Secondly, it lies on Blackstone Beach shows part of the island.
Located further east to the
Natural Bridge and Andi-
curi Beach, the Blackstone
Beach is relatively easy
to access. Once you get
passed the Ayo Rock For- therefore a site that is pre- further in the wild ocean.
mation, take the Andicuri served. This is why it is also However, you can still en-
road leading up to Andicuri relatively untouched by joy a spectacular view of
Beach. There, you can park commercial influences. De- the stones and the northern
your car and take a 1km spite being called a beach, ocean that stretches out
hike towards Blackstone do note that it is not ad- in front of the beach and
Beach. vised to swim in the water, take a picture with your
This beach forms part of the as the current is very strong friends or family!q
Arikok National Park and is and can easily stray you

Aruban legends:

Frenchman’s Pass

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