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LOCAL Friday 11 OctOber 2024

Aruba to me Visit the natural bridges of Aruba!

ORANJESTAD — You are back and we would like to
portrait you! By inviting you to send us your favorite
vacation picture while enjoying our Happy Island.

Complete the sentence: Aruba to me is ……. Send
your picture with that text (including your name and
where you are from) to: news@arubatoday.com and
we will publish your vacation memory. Isn’t that a spe-
cial way to keep your best moments alive? Please do
note: By submitting photos, text or any other materi-
als, you give permission to The Aruba Today Newspa-
per, Caribbean Speed Printers and any of its affiliated
companies to use said materials, as well as names,
likeness, etc. for promotional purposes without com-
pensation.
Last but not least: check out our website, Instagram
and Facebook page! Thank you for supporting our
free newspaper, we strive to make you a happy
reader every day again.
For today we received a lovely message from Gerald
Schneider.

He wrote to us saying: “Aruba to me is returning home The Baby Natural Bridge
to familiarity, the sounds of the ocean and birds, the
scent of suntan lotion and a cold piña colada…the (Oranjestad)—After you’ve visited the Alto
locals greeting us by name. It is where we celebrate Vista Church, the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ru- While the natural bridge no longer is func-
life’s special moments. Aruba to me is love” ins and the mini natural pool that is locat- tional, there is now a smaller natural bridge
ed right next to it, you’re next up around very close. This bridge is often called the
Thank you for sending us this wonderful message the northern coast line must be the Natu- “Baby Bridge” or “Daughter Bridge”. q
sharing what Aruba means to you with us and our ral Bridge. Once the largest natural bridge
readers! in the Caribbean, this bridge has been a
tourist attraction for many years.

The bridge was formed during thousands
of years, cut and crafted by the wild
waves that crash into the coral stone walls
of the coast. Before its collapse, this bridge
measured 30 meters in length and 7 me-
ters in height, making it the biggest natural
bridge in the Caribbean at the time. For
many years, this site was also a frequently Current state of the Natural Bridge
visited beach, as the bridge had a small
opening through which the water would
flow into the tiny beach.

Unfortunately in 2005, the bridge col-
lapsed, and the little beach dried up.
Despite this, this site remained a tourist at-
traction, with many visitors walking along
the coral cliffs of the bridge to see the
spectacular view of the northern coastline
and the Caribbean Sea. Visitors can also
still visit the souvenir shop on the left of the
bridge entrance. The Natural Bridge pre-collapse