Page 6 - AHATA

Saturday 24 auguSt 2024 locAl
A10

Ayo & Casibari: Aruba’s famous rock formations

(Oranjestad)—The Ayo and
Casibari Rock Formations
are known locally as one
of the crucial sites to have
in your “off-road” trip itiner-
ary. These naturally formed
rock formations as just one
of the few places on the is-
land that hold a rich history
of our culture and of our
ancestors.

Ayo
The Ayo Rock Formation is Aruban backyard. The Ayo ing breeze offer a sense of center of the island, much ture!
located in the northern part is usually quiet, as it is situ- comfort and peace. closer—and more acces-
of the island, right on the ated farther away from the sible—to the general pub- Both sites are open free to
road that leads you to the busier parts of the island. Casibari lic. Just like Ayo, Casibari the public, 24 hours a day.
Black Stone Beach, and However, this is just anoth- Probably the busier rock is a fenced area contain- However, unless you are
close to the Natural Bridge. er charm of the site: the formation site, the Casi- ing several boulders that taking a trip with a profes-
The Ayo is a fenced terrain quiet area and the refresh- bari is situated more in the lay on top or lean on each sional tour guide, there are
that consists of several giant other. The best aspect of no guides at the sites to
boulders, resting neatly on the Casibari Rock Forma- help you climb the rock.
top of or side by side each tion is the accompanying So, do be careful when
other, adding gorgeous view when you climb up trudging on the boulders,
natural architecture to the the top of the round, flat and make sure to befriend
surrounding “mondi”*. This bolder. For this position, you any roaming goats you see
is also one of the few sites can see the majority of the along the way!
to contain prehistoric mark- island and the ocean in the
ings of our indigenous an- south. Right in front of the *Mondi: what we call our
cestors. The Ayo Rock for- entrance, there is the Casi- Aruban wilderness. We
mation contains stairs that bari Café and Grill, a great don’t have forests, or des-
lead you to the top of the place to get refreshments erts, but we do have mon-
highest boulder, offering a and snack before continu- di! q
breath-taking view of the ing your off-road adven-

Meet Aruba’s biggest hero
Boy Ecury

(Oranjestad)—This past Born in Aruba on April 23rd,
May 4th, Aruba as well as 1922, Boy spent his child-
The Netherlands commem- hood on the island, before
orated those who sadly being sent to The Nether-
perished during the Sec- lands by his father when he
ond World War. As is known was 15 years old to contin-
around the globe, this ue his studies abroad. This
chapter in world history is was in 1937, three years be-
one of the most tragic yet, fore WWII broke out. person of color with a Hai-
and many soldiers and reb- tian heritage living in The
els have died on the front- During the war, he actively Netherlands made him vul- bombings of Rotterdam taging operations against
line during this time. participated in the rebel- nerable to discrimination, first-hand, he decided to the German military oc-
lion in The Netherlands and this inspired him to be join the resistance. At the cupying The Netherlands.
One of those rebels who against the Nazi regime, an activist, to stand up and same time, he was still These included bombings
have fought against the but his rebellious streak and fight against discrimination studying and living with on German military trucks
Nazi regime, was an Aru- constant drive to fight for and oppression. family in Tilburg. It was there and trains. The group also
ban named Segundo Jorge justice began even before where he met people who helped people go into hid-
Adelberto “Boy” Ecury. the war broke out. Being a After seeing the horrific printed and distributed the ing, as well as opened fire
rebellion newspaper. This against allies of the Nazi re-
would be the first of three gime. In these operations,
rebellion group that he Boy really stood out for his
would join throughout his cold bloodedness.
4-year service to the resis-
tance. In 1943, he received a no-
Boy’s primary task as mem- tice to be placed for work
ber of the group was to dis- in Germany. This he re-
tract the German soldiers fused, of course, and went
while others ran into hiding into hiding using multiple
into alleyways. This he was addresses in multiple cities.
able to do because of his Because he was a wanted
skin color and confronting man, he of course could
demeanor. Boy also partici- not continue to be active
pated in the multiple sabo- as a rebel.q