Page 20 - AB

Monday 17 noveMber 2025 LOCAL
A10

Aruba’s neighborhoods; the meaning behind their names

Just like any other country, Aruba rain for training of shooting by mili-
has unique and beautifully named tia and later on Korps Mariniers (the
neighborhoods that all form a part marines of Aruba). By the end of
of its culture and development. the previous century a large part
Many of these names have a his- of Anabui was developed to have
torical background and meaning luxurious villas and a golf course,
that teaches us about the island which lead to it getting the name
and its rich culture every day. Tierra Del Sol, Spanish for Land of
the Sun. The name is not an official
With this series, we want to take you name, but the name of the devel-
on a journey of discovery, where opment project that took place. It
you’ll learn not only the beautiful is hoped that the original and ‘old’
names but the history behind it that name of Anabui is never lost and
gives it life and meaning. now it will be remembered by both
locals and tourists.
Anabui/Tierra Del Sol
This neighborhood can be seen on Angochi
Van Raders map and Werbata as This name can be seen on the Wer-
Anna Boei. Anna Boei is a name of bata map with little and cursive let-
which there isn’t much information ters. It is the unofficial name for the
about its origin. area given by a tenant to the land
that was rented to him.
The best historians were able to de-
duce is that this name came to be The biggest probability that histo-
because of a miscommunication rians believe is that it comes from
between Van Spengler and the na- native descent, during the time in
tives who were living on the island. the 19th century where Mestizos
In the Arawak/Taino language one still lived on Aruba. The name can’t
can find the word Anaiboa, which really be explain and according
consists of Ana meaning flower or to books on its history seems to be
the best and Iboa; the juice of a more of a sign of corruption.
cassava, which together would
mean “the best juice of a cassa- However, it seems to come from
va”. combining A(n), which is a gen-
eralizing prefix and Goeiza, which
If one assumes that the actual means ‘the spirit of a living man’.
word heard was Anaboio instead, Angochi remains more of a guess.
consisting of Ana meaning the best
and Boio (bohio); house, the itera- has been more or less speculated This neighborhood’s abbreviation
tion of Anabui would mean “the and assumed for the word Anabui During the Second World War and is; An.q
best house.” This is the origin that and its meaning. later, this area was used as a ter-

Planning on snorkeling? Get to know our Picuda!

(Oranjestad)—If you’re on the island—Barracuda fishermen, especially for shiny black stripes. Below, style of the Picuda. It needs
ever planning on snorkel- in English. Its scientific name its white flesh in fish soup. the belly, is whiter, while the to be able to accelerate
ing during your vacation is Sphyraena barracuda. It In fishing culture, there are top part is darker. Its snout quickly when the prey gets
on Aruba, you may spot is a widely caught fish. It is many other names, such as is very pointed, and the close.
fish that you can’t recog- found throughout the year Pecho blanco, Blekito, Ba- lower jaw is longer than the
nize. One of these may be in our waters, where it is a nana, or Bleki. The names upper one. Its peduncle, In Aruba:
the “Picuda”, a very com- so-called “ambush preda- vary according to size. where the body meets the Picuda can be found in our
mon fish that swims all year tor” that stays still or floats tail, is thick, while the tail waters around our island
long in the waters of Aruba. in the water waiting for Description also forms a crescent but throughout the year. Picu-
Here’s some information its prey to approach so it The Picuda is a long fish, in this case one more “full” da, in our waters, is edible
about the beloved Picuda. can attack it with lightning with a round body like a tor- than that of mullet or cone- without any problem. Picu-
speed. It is well known for pedo and silver in color with fish. This reflects the hunting da is also a highly sought-
Let’s talk about the names after fish by sports fishermen
of fish. Do you know your or recreational fishermen
fish? This is an informative because it puts up a good
article that illustrate some fight once hooked. It can
fish and their names in Pa- be caught via trolling from
piamento, which the De- a boat, casting from shore
partment of Agriculture, with a line or rod, or by jig-
Livestock and Fisheries, ging, casting the lure (ar-
known as “Santa Rosa”, tificial bait) and moving it
wants to share and also with certain rod motions. q
obtain information from the
public. Picture courtesy of the
Department of Agriculture,
Picuda, Sphyraena barra- Livestock and Fisheries (Santo
Rosa).
cuda, Greater Barracuda
Well known is the Picuda