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local Friday 16 June 2023

Aruban legends:

Frenchman’s Pass

(Oranjestad)—If you ever plan on the area of Spanish Lagoon.
taking a group tour of the island,
you may pass through the French- There are many ghost stories sur-
man’s Pass in Balashi. The French- rounding this area, but one of the
man’s pass (known to locals as most famous one involves a lonely
“Franse Pas”) remains a mysteri- hitchhiker, trying to find a ride back
ous—and spooky—road of which home in the dark rainy night.
its legend is told from generation to
generation. Some time after trying to hitchhike,
the man saw a car approaching,
The history of the Frenchman’s appearing almost ghost-like in the
pass—and how it got its name— rain. However, since he needed a
dates back to the colonization era, ride real bad, he didn’t think twice
when the French tried to colonize and jumped in. But to his horror, he
the island, but were met with an noticed that the there was no driv-
angry mob of indigenous settlers, er in the front. Paralyzed with fear, Cruz. there’s the idiot who sat in our car
refusing to give up their land. How- he didn’t dare to get out, and the when we were pushing it!”
ever, as the French were heavily car started to move. Arriving at a nearby bar, he or-
equipped with fire arms, the indig- dered a drink and began to tell ev- French man’s pass is one of the
enous settlers began to retreat, When approaching a sharp turn, eryone about his experience. Ev- few sites on the island that keeps
and hid away in nearby caves. The the hitch hiker braced for impact, eryone grew quiet, because they the locals on their toes. While most
French colonizers tried to smoke but just when he though the car realized he wasn’t some drunk ghost stories may not have real
them out of the caves, but the might drive straight off the road messing around; he was telling the grounds—or some may even be
indigenous settlers ended up in- and crash, he saw a hand ap- truth. a set up story for a joke, this pass
haling too much smoke and most pear out the window and turn the contributes a lot to our culture of
died in those caves. From then on, wheel. For the next few turns, the Some time later, two men walked folkloric story-telling.
this passage was known as French- hand appeared again. After hav- into the bar and one of them no-
man’s Pass, and there have been ing had enough, the man decided ticed the hitchhiker. He called Source: visitaruba.com
many accounts of spirits roaming to jump out and he ran to Santa out to his buddy and said: “Look,

Visit the island’s hidden natural pools

(Oranjestad)—Amongst National Park, this is also ple just call it the cave pool.
the countless beaches sur- possible: do bring plenty
rounding the island that are of protective clothing and Just like the Conchi, the
well-known and frequently enough water and food—it new natural pool is situated
visited, there are an addi- could take you up to three on the northern coast of
tional two “hidden” natural hours to hike there! Aruba. However, this pool is
pools that are situated in much easier to reach with
the northern coast of the is- However, when you even- any type of vehicle, and
land, two ideal stops in your tually do get there, you there is no hiking needed.
tour itinerary. will be greeted with crystal This spot has also become
blue water surrounded by a regular stop for touring
Conchi (Natural Pool) a natural rock formation visitors.
For many years, Conchi that protects you from the
was the only natural pool wild waves on the other When you get there, may-
that we had on the island. side. Though the pool is lo- be you won’t be able to
Located in the Arikok Na- cated on the northern side spot the pool immediately,
tional Park, near Boca Keto of the island (where the sea because you will probably
and the Daimari Ranch, is largely rough and largely notice the moon-shaped
Conchi—also known “Cura no suitable for swimming), lagoon where wild northern
di Turtuga (Turtle’s Cove) or the pool itself is very calm. waves crash into each oth- Picture of cave pool is credited to RockaBeach Tours
just Natural Pool—is reach- It’s also relatively deep, er. Sounds scary, but if you
able with any 4x4 vehicle and you can climb up the look down on your right,
or by foot if you’re up for a rocks and jump in! you’ll see a calm, crystal
long hike. However, since it blue little pool in the cor-
is part of the National Park, Cave Pool ner. To get there, you have
you must first get permission This relatively new pool ap- to climb down some stairs.
from park management to peared just a few years Be careful when climbing
enter. You would have to ago, when a part of the down and follow the in-
purchase a day pass, and dried up coral cliff floor structions of your tour guide
receive a wristband as broke off and created if you have one.
proof of payment. Once a partition between the
you’ve completed that, ocean and what is now And just like Conchi, this
you are set! the natural pool that is hid- pool also has a jumping
den there. Because it’s still spot, and a rope to climb
If you decide to hike from so new, there is no official back up the boulder. q
the entrance of the Arikok name for it, but most peo-