Page 9 - HOH

Saturday 3 September 2022 locAl
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Exploring the Mainstreet of San Nicolas

SAN NICOLAS— At Just 11 ence the touching stories Carnival Euphoria is show- the streets are silent but Stores selling shoes, cloth-
miles southeast from Oran- of those who were part of casing Aruba’s Carnival. the walls are loud, filled ing, jewelry you name it.
jestad you will enter the city this history. See how are Carnival has with bright, colorful murals Arts & crafts by Cosecha
San Nicolas, also known as Nicolaas Store built in 1940 developed over the past painted by a collection store & Creative Center, a
Sunrise City or Chocolate and renovated in 2014 is 65 years. of artists from around the design store in which you
City. A city that is rich in the home of the Communi- world. Thanks to the efforts can immerse yourself in dis-
authentic culture and is- ty Museum. The collection is The new San Nicolas of various art organizations covering genuine and lo-
land charm. San Nicolas is remarkable and spans mil- In the shadow of the refin- in Aruba, such as Art Rules cally made arts and crafts
Aruba’s second largest city lennia. Ancient fossils stand ery, an art capital is quietly Aruba and Aruba Art Fair, which reflect the diversifi-
and was once a bustling next to tableaus of an au- beginning to grow. This is San Nicolas has had quite cation of the Aruban craft
company town dominated thentically recreated colo- the new San Nicolas, a the aesthetic makeover heritage and the artistic
by the oil industry since the nial kitchen and bedroom place that is starting to be- with regards to vibrant supply of artisans.
early 1930’s. and 19th-century barber- come a magnet for all that street art. Each year more Don’t miss out on trying the
shop, just to name a few of is young, cool and hip in and more stunning murals exquisite food offered by
Over the course of four de- the items of old-time Aruba Aruba. Indeed, San Nicolas are replacing broken down the cafes and restaurants
cades, its demographics that has been preserved. A has all of the ingredients of buildings with colorful art or just enjoy a peaceful
had changed immensely collection of artifacts and an emerging cultural hub pieces that keep brighten- walk admiring the murals,
due to a stream of Afro-Ca- other objects of artistic, cul- — varied history, interesting ing up SunriseCity. mosaic benches and all
ribbean and South Ameri- tural, historical, or scientific architecture, and, perhaps the history San Nicolas has
can workers who came importance can be found most importantly, an urban Must See, Do, Buy & Eat to offer.q
to fill the jobs in the oil re- here for the purpose of ed- layout that makes it walk- A little bit of everything can
finery between the 1920’s ucation or enjoyment. able. As you walk around, be found in the main street.
until the 1960’s. To this day
traces of the multicultural
influences in culinary offer-
ings and customs, housing
and population are clearly
visible in San Nicolas - more
than anywhere else on the
island.

Flow of history
if you are looking for his-
tory San Nicolas has it. Here
you will find three amazing
museums, The Museum of
Industry, the Community
Museum and the Carnival
Euphoria, all within walking
distance from one another.
The Museum of Industry is
situated in the Water Tower
in San Nicolas and narrates
Aruba's industrial history
which began in the 19th
century. Here you will learn
about gold, aloe, phos-
phate, oil and the tourism
industries which made San
Nicolas once a bustling
business center. Experi-