Page 5 - AHATA

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local Saturday 28 January 2023
MANA successfully celebrated Dia di Betico

ORANJESTAD – National Ar-
chaeological Museum of About 50 people were
Aruba (MANA) thanks the present for the lecture by
people of Aruba for includ- archaeologist Raymundo
ing in their celebrations for Dijkhoff, about interesting
Dia di Betico the museum. findings in Oranjestad from
the time of the Indians as
In four hours, the museum well as the European pe-
welcomed more than 500 riod, and were impacted
visitors, showing a lot of in- by all the information re-
terest in our archaeological ceived. Archaeologist Har-
heritage. It was noteworthy old Kelly exchanged with
how many people took the visitors of different ages
opportunity to chat with about among other things,
the archaeologists, ask his investigation project re-
questions to the museum lated to climate change
employees who were pres- and its effects and received
ent in the exhibition room, valuable knowledge from
those who attended the our local people. Funda-
presentation on the arti- cion 1403 was present to
facts of old Oranjestad, sell books of paintings,
and those who bought the which almost sold out.
catalogue of paintings on
this special day. Dia di Betico, celebrating
our national hero Betico
Exhibition rooms were con- Croes on the 25th of Janu-
tinuously packed. Children ary, was very successful for
and adults spend a good MANA with a lot of families
time reading, listening and choosing to visit the mu-
exchanging experiences. seum. MANA is glad to see
In the garden, a pleasant familiar faces back in the
family ambiance was en- museum as well as many
joyed. Children – as well as new faces. MANA thanks
some parents – were work- Pastoral Hubenil Dakota,
ing on crafts, finding Indian F1403, SMFA and everyone
stamps, and taking a break who helped made this day
to drink a coffee, tea or successful.
juice. Children quietly en-
joyed a movie about taking MANA is situated in Schelp-
care of monuments, titled straat 42 in Oranjestad, in
“Un les pa Maikey”, cour- the building complex Ecury.
tesy of Stichting Monumen- Follow them on their Face-
tenfonds Aruba (SMFA), book pages, Museo Arque-
while they enjoyed pop- ologico Nacional Aruba
corn from Pastoral Hubenil and National Archaeologi-
Dakota.