Page 10 - HOH

Monday 3 February 2025 LOCAL
A8

Exploring the Mainstreet of San Nicolas

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

Aruba to me

ORANJESTAD — You are any other materials, you Elma Erazo. Margie and Mark. wonderful message sharing
back and we would like to give permission to The Aru- what Aruba means to you
portrait you! By inviting you ba Today Newspaper, Ca- They wrote to us saying: Thank you for sending us this with us and our readers!
to send us your favorite va- ribbean Speed Printers and “Aruba to us is enjoying
cation picture while enjoy- any of its affiliated compa- the amazing people and
ing our Happy Island. nies to use said materials, as island and making new
well as names, likeness, etc. friends. Third time back to
Complete the sentence: for promotional purposes your wonderful and hap-
Aruba to me is ……. Send without compensation. py island. We arrived on
your picture with that text December 19, 2024 at the
(including your name and Last but not least: check Marriott Courtyard and
where you are from) to: out our website, Instagram soon after met Bill from
news@arubatoday.com and Facebook page! Ohio and Mark and Margie
and we will publish your va- Thank you for supporting from Albany ,NY. We spent
cation memory. our free newspaper, we days seeing the sites enjoy-
strive to make you a happy ing each others company
Isn’t that a special way to reader every day again. and laughs.”
keep your best moments
alive? Please do note: By For today we received a Pictured right to left, Elma
submitting photos, text or lovely message from Luis & Erazo, Luis Erazo, Bill Jordan,