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local Tuesday 29 augusT 2023
Aruban snacks and where to find them

ORANJESTAD — Want to
taste something different
for a change? How about
some Aruban snacks that
you can find all around the
island? Hop in your car, and
go to these locations to find
some of the most popular
and tasty snacks that are
beloved by our locals.

One of the staples of Aru-
ban cuisine and snacks is
the Pastechi. Pastechi is a
Caribbean fried pastry that
is filled with cheese, meat, on-the-road lunch break. moving around the island.
chicken, veggies and However, there are a few
sometimes even fish! Or per- While you’re at it, why not spots where you can al-
haps you might want to try accompany your snack most always find a coco-
a croquette, locally called with a refreshing “batido”? nut/shaved ice vendor:
a “kroket,” which is a crusty Batidos are fruit shakes, 1. Right next to the Red
fried snack with typically a typically made with added Anchor in San Nicolas,
meat and dough mix filling. milk for some creaminess. on the way to Baby
The Aruban kroket is based However, you can also ask Beach.
on its Dutch counterpart, to hold the milk. Batidos are 2. Along the main road
the “bitterbal”. commonly found in snack next to the airport field.
shops too. You may find 3. At the California Light
These two snacks are typi- some batido shops next the House.
cally found in all local snack flee markets downtown, or 4. At the Alto Vista Cha-
trucks, which can be found if you’re on your way to San pel.
all over the island, including Nicolas, at Mauchi Smooth-
on the side of the main road ies and Juice Bar in Sava- These vendors may also sell
that stretches from San neta (located at the side of other delights, like the be-
Nicolas to the Hotel Area. the main road). loved coconut-based des-
You can also find pastechis sert “cocada” or peanuts.
and krokets at local bak- If you are looking for some- All in all, in Aruba, you can
eries and snack shops, like thing a bit more fresh and always find some place
Bright Bakery in Piedra Plat, healthy, why not try some to take a break and have
Huchada in Santa Cruz or coconuts, or shaved ice a bite of something local,
Pastechi House in the city from local vendors? These you maybe just might have
center. These places may vendors carry their little to look for them!q
also sell other snacks and shop at the back of their
sandwiches too, perfect for truck, so they are ever- Photo credit: wheninaruba.com

Visit the natural bridges of Aruba!

(Oranjestad)—After you’ve The bridge was formed dur- beach, as the bridge had
visited the Alto Vista ing thousands of years, cut a small opening through
Church, the Bushiribana and crafted by the wild which the water would flow
Gold Mill Ruins and the waves that crash into the into the tiny beach.
mini natural pool that is lo- coral stone walls of the Unfortunately in 2005, the
cated right next to it, you’re coast. Before its collapse, bridge collapsed, and the
next up around the north- this bridge measured 30 little beach dried up. De-
ern coast line must be the meters in length and 7 me- spite this, this site remained
Natural Bridge. Once the ters in height, making it the a tourist attraction, with
largest natural bridge in the biggest natural bridge in many visitors walking along The Baby Natural Bridge
Caribbean, this bridge has the Caribbean at the time. the coral cliffs of the bridge
been a tourist attraction for For many years, this site was to see the spectacular view
many years. also a frequently visited of the northern coastline
and the Caribbean Sea.
Visitors can also still visit the
souvenir shop on the left of
the bridge entrance.

While the natural bridge
no longer is functional,
there is now a smaller nat-
ural bridge very close. This
bridge is often called the
“Baby Bridge” or “Daugh-
The Natural Bridge pre-collapse Current state of the Natural Bridge
ter Bridge”. q