Page 27 - AHATA

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local Friday 7 March 2025
A guide for the perfect picture

Where to find the most Instagrammable places in Oranjestad

(Oranjestad)—Imagine, you’re tak-
ing a stroll in the city center, and
you want to take the most picture-
perfect photo to show your friends
and family back home and online.
It seems like the perfect spot can
be hard to find, but Oranjestad is full
of great spots for a quick snapshot!
Here are the most Instagrammable
places in Oranjestad.

“I LOVE ARUBA”
Right on Paardenbaai Plaza, near
the harbor entrance, you will spot a
giant sign that reads “I LOVE ARUBA”.
A great first stop for a quick shot with
the family, this spot is among the few
that has become a favorite among
tourists, especially those that are visit-
ing Aruba through a cruise vacation. question: How many blue horses
See if you can also spot the cow on have you spotted already?
Speaking of giant signs that read the roof!
“Aruba” (because there can never Renaissance Dock
be too many), there is another sign Wooden Swing on Plaza Daniel Last but certainly not least, the Re-
you can find along the Linear Park, Leo naissance Dock is the perfect spot to
in front of Talk of the Town Hotel. It While you’re in front of the Renais- take a beautiful picture, especially
may be a long walk from the harbor sance Mall, check out the wooden at sunset. The dock is located behind
to get there, but while you’re at it, swing on the other side of the mall the Renaissance Market Place, and
check out these other spots along on Plaza Daniel Leo. Another favorite runs from the Renaissance Marina
the way! Mall, there is a black bull sitting on among visitors wanting a cute snap- up to Renaissance Beach and Wil-
a bench, waiting for you to take a shot for Instagram. Just pass through helmina Park. This spot offers a gor-
The sitting bull picture with it. Ok, so it’s not a real the Renaissance Mall and find this geous view of the ocean and sun-
Yes, you read that right; right in the bull, but “I took a picture with a sitting gem in front of the back entrance! set, accompanied by the soft waves
heart of the city center, in front of bull” sounds like a great conversa- crashing on the shoreline. You may
the Crystal Casino in the Renaissance tion opener. Since you’ve made it this far, one even spot some iguanas! q

Aruba’s Nature is to be Cherished

ST. CRUZ — The national of sea turtle lay their eggs the cue of cooling surface
park Arikok comprises al- on Aruba's beaches? In sand before emerging.
most 18 % of the island. Its the national park, a Least
rugged terrain, desert-like Tern (Sternula antillarum) Bubali Magic
hills filled with tall cacti, keeps a strict eye on a very This beautiful close-up im-
breathtaking coastline and special event taking place age of the pink bird is cour-
protected local flora and below on the beach: a tesy of Michiel Overstee-
fauna welcome you to be majestic Leatherback (Der- gen of the Aruba Birdlife
explored. There is numer- mochelys coriacea) heads Conservation. This impor-
ous wildlife to discover like back to sea after laying tant foundation showcases
for example the sea turtle her eggs, while another and builds awareness of
who lays his eggs on the nest laid 2 months ago by Aruba’s birds and other na-
park’s beaches. There are the same female hatches. tive flora and fauna. You
more places on the island A very rare occurrence may have seen a ‘pink
that are a preserved area of daytime nesting and cloud’ lately at the Bubali
like the Bubali Plas which is hatching. Sea turtles pre- or Spanish Lagoon Wet- lands). (Source: arikok na- dust, noise and leave tire
a bird sanctuary. fer nesting in the cool and lands areas? It’s most likely tional park) tracks. Animals live in these
dark hours of the night. And to be Roseate Spoonbills areas where the vehicles
The national park Arikok hatchlings usually wait for (Ajaia ajaja) or ‘Chucharon The aforementioned is just run, often with high speed
takes you on a memorable Cora’ as they are known in a part of what Aruba’s na- and with detrimental con-
journey of the islands past Papiamento. This unusual ture has to offer. We can- sequences to flora and fau-
offering unique geological, looking bird forages in shal- not stress enough to go, see na. Motorized vehicles are
cultural and historical sites. low muddy water while for yourself. The island has forbidden to drive on the
These can all be enjoyed sweeping its flattened bill the most beautiful beach- sand dunes in the Northern
and explored either on from side to side to catch es but it is also worthwhile part of the island and all
your own or during guided small fish, crustaeceans to go beyond this and get beaches in Aruba are for-
tours. A wide variety of ed- and other aquatic inverte- an idea of our entire island. bidden for any motorized
ucational and informative brates. The Roseate Spoon- Lately there is a discussion vehicle. Treasure our island
programs and fun activities bill remains an uncommon going on about the effect to enjoy it like you do: as a
is available. sight as they are vulnerable certain activities have on tropical and natural para-
Did you know that four of to degradation of feeding our nature, for example the dise. We truly appreciate
the in total seven species and nesting habitats (Wet- ATV vehicles cause a lot of it!q