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Tuesday 14 March 2023 locAl
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Exploring the Mainstreet of San Nicolas

SAN NICOLAS— At Just 11 place that is starting to be-
miles southeast from Oran- come a magnet for all that
jestad you will enter the city is young, cool and hip in
San Nicolas, also known as Aruba. Indeed, San Nicolas
Sunrise City or Chocolate has all of the ingredients of
City. A city that is rich in an emerging cultural hub
authentic culture and is- — varied history, interesting
land charm. San Nicolas is architecture, and, perhaps
Aruba’s second largest city most importantly, an urban
and was once a bustling layout that makes it walk-
company town dominated able. As you walk around,
by the oil industry since the the streets are silent but
early 1930’s. the walls are loud, filled
with bright, colorful murals
Over the course of four de- painted by a collection
cades, its demographics of artists from around the
had changed immensely world.
due to a stream of Afro-Ca- Thanks to the efforts of vari-
ribbean and South Ameri- ous art organizations in Aru-
can workers who came ba, such as Art Rules Aruba
to fill the jobs in the oil re- and Aruba Art Fair, San
finery between the 1920’s Nicolas has had quite the
until the 1960’s. To this day aesthetic makeover with
traces of the multicultural regards to vibrant street art.
influences in culinary offer- Each year more and more
ings and customs, housing stunning murals are replac-
and population are clearly ing broken down buildings
visible in San Nicolas - more with colorful art pieces that
than anywhere else on the keep brightening up Sun-
island. riseCity.

Flow of history Must See, Do, Buy & Eat
if you are looking for his- A little bit of everything can
tory San Nicolas has it. Here be found in the main street.
you will find three amazing Stores selling shoes, cloth-
museums, The Museum of in San Nicolas and narrates Nicolas once a bustling that has been preserved. A ing, jewelry you name it.
Industry, the Community Aruba's industrial history business center. Experi- collection of artifacts and Arts & crafts by Cosecha
Museum and the Carnival which began in the 19th ence the touching stories other objects of artistic, cul- store & Creative Center, a
Euphoria, all within walking century. Here you will learn of those who were part of tural, historical, or scientific design store in which you
distance from one another. about gold, aloe, phos- this history. importance can be found can immerse yourself in dis-
The Museum of Industry is phate, oil and the tourism here for the purpose of ed- covering genuine and lo-
situated in the Water Tower industries which made San Nicolaas Store built in 1940 ucation or enjoyment. cally made arts and crafts
and renovated in 2014 is Carnival Euphoria is show- which reflect the diversifi-
the home of the Communi- casing Aruba’s Carnival. cation of the Aruban craft
ty Museum. The collection is See how are Carnival has heritage and the artistic
remarkable and spans mil- developed over the past supply of artisans. Don’t
lennia. Ancient fossils stand 65 years. miss out on trying the exqui-
next to tableaus of an au- site food offered by the ca-
thentically recreated colo- The new San Nicolas fes and restaurants or just
nial kitchen and bedroom In the shadow of the refin- enjoy a peaceful walk ad-
and 19th-century barber- ery, an art capital is quietly miring the murals, mosaic
shop, just to name a few of beginning to grow. This is benches and all the history
the items of old-time Aruba the new San Nicolas, a San Nicolas has to offer.q