Page 5 - AHATA

a8 local
Monday 21 July 2025

Aruban legends:

Frenchman’s Pass

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

Why You Should Not Miss Aruba’s Free City Center Street Car Tour

ORANJESTAD - Aruba’s City Center Street Car a ride on this beautiful and naturally air-condi-
- or as we call it in Dutch; “Tram van Oranjes- tioned vehicle? The tour consists of a total of
tad’ - is a single track tram line in Oranjestad, 9 stops approximately 200 meters apart from
the capital city of Aruba. It was inaugurated each other; all stops are clearly marked. The
on 22 December 2012, being the first and so far tram will bring you close to different museums,
the only passenger rail service on Aruba and historical plazas, monuments, the Protestant
the rest of the Dutch Caribbean. There are two church, Aruba’s high- end mall, retail shops,
trolleys, a single-deck one with 42 seats and a and a variety of local and international cuisine
double-decker with 64 seats. The line was in- restaurants. The “I love Aruba” trademark also
spired by the popular battery-powered street- belongs to that list. The third stop on the route is
car operation at the Grove in Los Angeles, USA. close to a 5-minute walk to the famous Renais-
Aruba’s streetcars are powered by hydrogen sance Marina showcasing luxurious yachts and
fuel cells, which are charged by the island’s Aruba’s blue waters.
year-round trade winds.
The “Tram van Oranjestad” starts from a bal-
Caya Betico Croes, mostly referred to as our loon loop near the Port of Call and serves the
“main street” has been developed into a pol- downtown area and ends at Plaza Nicky. The
lution-free pedestrian mall. The double-decker first ride starts at 10:00 am sharp with intervals
offers you a 360 degree view of the down town of 25minutes. The last trolley departs from the
area with a picture perfect scenery of the is- cruise port at 5:00pm. Don’t miss this tour of the
land’s clear blue skies. Who would not enjoy beautiful Aruba’s City Center– it is free for all!q