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Friday 3 OctOber 2025 locAl
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Planning on snorkeling? Get to know our Candelchi!

ORANJESTAD—If you’re ever tween the scales along
planning on snorkeling dur- the body. They have hard
ing your vacation on Aruba, fins and are always armed.
you may spot fish that you Over at our sister island Cu-
can’t recognize. One of raçao, they are called “bari
these may be the “Candel- di clabo” (nail barrel) for that
chi” (Squirrelfish), a com- reason.
mon, yet shy fish that swims
all year long in the waters In our waters, there are 7 to 8
of Aruba. types or species present and
they are sometimes caught
Let’s talk about the names of and seen occasionally. They
fish. Do you know your fish? can be distinguished by dif-
The Department of Depart- ferent marks such as color on
ment of Agriculture, Live- the dorsal spine or marks on
stock, and Fisheries, known the body.
as Santa Rosa, offers this
informative article that il- In Aruba:
lustrate some fish and their Candelchi are found on
names in Papiamento. reefs or areas with structure
in the water where they can
hide. Although they prefer to
Candelchi, Squirrelfish, Holo- hunt for food at night, they
centrus adscensionis: are also active during the
Candelchi actually refers to day. They are edible and
the entire squirrelfish family delicious when prepared dry
or, as some say, when we common one in our waters, Aruba generally refer to all The squirrelfish family is dis- and crispy with lime. It is par-
say candelchi, we mean which is called squirrelfish in the different species of squir- tinguished by the following ticularly challenging to scale
several different species but English or scientifically known relfish. They all look alike and characteristics. They are the fish, which is why it is not
without distinguishing them as Holocentrus adscensionis. it’s really difficult to distin- heart-shaped with pink or one of the favorites among
by species. In this picture, guish between them. red hues and often show fishermen. They often live in
we are showing the most Under candelchi, we in heart-shaped streaks be- groups.q

Place names in San Nicolas and their origins

(Oranjestad)–If you’re ever like Vader Piet, the origin
taking a tour of Aruba, San of the name San Nicolas
Nicolas would definitely has so far two different ac-
be on your itinerary. From counts. In the literal sense,
relaxing on the white, san- “San Nicolas” translates
dy beaches of Baby and to “Saint Nicolas”, leading
Roger’s Beach, to explor- many to believe that this
ing the prehistoric caves district was named after a
of Quadirikiri and Fontein, Spanish saint. Though one
you are taking in a full view account does support this
of what San Nicolas has with the theory that the
to offer. But did you know district was named after
that you are also pass- the saint by Spanish colo-
ing through areas whose nizers, the other account is
names have historical ori- much less divine, but does
gins? Here are a few place refer to an influential figure
names in San Nicolas and in the area.
their origin story.
Nicolaas van der Biest was
Sero Colorado a successful landowner
On your way to Baby or during the time of the
Roger’s Beach, you’ll pass phosphate boom in late
by the famous Red Anchor 19th century Aruba. Back
at what was once the en- are still underground shafts this area includes the Wind for his kindness and good then, landowners (most,
trance to the Colony resi- and passages deep in Sero Mills and the Quadirikiri treatment of his employ- if not all of them men)
dential community and Colorado from the time of Cave. The origin of this ees, and was therefore were referred to as “Shon”
be greeted with red soiled phosphate mining. In 1958, name is part historical and also called Vader Piet by their subordinates. So,
hills by the coast. This is the refinery at the time, speculation, as there are (Father Piet). However, he the district was originally
Sero Colorado. Named Lago, adopted this name slight deviations from what was tragically murdered— named after Shon Nico-
after the 30-meter, deep for the residential section actually happened. some speculate at the laas. Over time, the name
red, limestone hill, “Sero of its employees. hands of a slave. For his evolved into what is now
Colorado” translates to In 1829, Pieter Lampe was work and good heart, the San Nicolas.
“Colored Hill”. Sero Colo- Vader Piet a planter and the person area was named after him.
rado has deep historical Another well visited area, responsible for govern- Source: “Aruba: Short History”
ties with the once-thriving Vader Piet is located in ing this remote area. As San Nicolas by Dr. J. Hartog.
phosphate industry in the the Arikok National Park. the story goes, Pieter was Of course we can’t forget
area. Matter of fact, there Recognizable sites within well known and beloved San Nicolas itself. Much