Page 9 - AHATA

a8 local
Friday 15 November 2024
Create museum memories

ORANJESTAD — Museums are in San Nicolas and narrates Museum of Industry Aruba.
an integral part of conserving Aruba's industrial history,
and honoring cultures, and which began in the 19th Archaeological Museum of
Aruba is no exception. Our century. The Water Tower Aruba
Island has a wide selection was built in 1939 and con- The Archaeological Muse-
of various museums for our sists of three sections: the um of Aruba is located at
locals and visitors to see. substructure, the high-rising Schelpstraat 42 in downtown
Take this opportunity to learn vertical shaft, and the tank Oranjestad. The renovated
about our island and experi- at the top. The Water Tow- historic Ecury complex in the
ence a different day beyond er was purchased by the area has been transformed
the beach. Let us introduce Monuments Fund in 2003 so from a family home to a
to you these museums. it can be restored and pre- modern museum that pre-
served as one of Aruba's serves Aruba’s Amerindian
Museum of Industry Aruba monuments. The Museum cultural heritage. This 21st Museum Aruba disposes of
The Museum of Industry is lo- of Industry is part of Aruba century museum is especially In 1997, the Aruban Govern- approximately 500 m2 for its
cated in San Nicolas—better Museum Foundation (Funda- designed to preserve valu- ment bought the complex permanent exhibit. This ex-
known as the art capital of cion Museo Aruban), which able artifacts dating back for the National Archaeologi- hibit conveys information on
Aruba. This museum exhibits is a foundation set to main- to the Pre-Ceramic period cal Museum project. In 2004, the origin and culture of the
the industrial history of gold, tain, preserve, and protect of 2500 BC. a financial agreement was first inhabitants of the island
aloe, phosphate, oil and the Aruban cultural sector, signed with the European De- through archaeological ob-
tourism through elaborated history, and nature. The mu- In the late 1980’s, AMA identi- velopment Fund and in 2006, jects and modern exhibition
displays and multimedia in- seum of Industry is open daily fied its need for an adequate restoration and construction techniques. The new perma-
stallations. from 9 am till 6 pm. housing for its collection and work began on the monu- nent exhibit gives the visitor
The Museum of Industry is For more information, check activities. After studying vari- mental buildings and the an insight into the cultures
situated in the Water Tower out their Facebook page ous options, a project pro- soon-to-be exhibition space. that inhabited the island in
posal was drawn up, includ- In December 2007, the key to Pre-Historical and Early His-
ing the acquisition and resto- the complex was delivered torical times. The museum
ration of historical buildings in and the museum’s employ- also hosts attractive public
downtown Oranjestad. ees moved to the new lo- programs, including lectures,
cation. The final design for educational projects, tem-
These historical buildings the exhibit was completed in porary exhibits and work-
were formerly the property of November 2007 and the per- shops.
the Ecury family. The “Ecury manent exhibit, financed by
Complex”, is a cluster of the Aruban Government and The museum is open daily
single and two-story historic the Union of Cultural Orga- from 9:30 am till 4:30 pm. For
buildings, mainly Dutch co- nizations (UNOCA), opened more information check out
lonial architecture from the in July 2009. the Facebook page Museo
late 19th and 20th century Arqueologico Nacional
on a plot of approximately At the new location, the Aruba.q
1.700 m2. National Archaeological

A quick snack for the road: Learn how to make the Aruban Pastechi!

(Oranjestad)—If you ever been to your dough into the bowl you are and roll it flat with a rolling pin. The cheese that melts well when frying
Aruba before, you probably heard using or on a clean surface with thickness of the pastechi depends the pastry.
of (and even tried) the Aruban some flour lightly dusted until its on your taste, but the average
Pastechi. Beloved by young and surface is smooth. You'll know your thinness would be around ¼ inch Place the filling on your rolled out
old, this tasty treat is a staple for dough is ready when it doesn’t or so. piece of dough, fold it in half and
party snacks, a quick lunch or stick to your hands or the surface pinch the sides shut with a fork. If
even breakfast! on which you’re kneading it. Let Filling for the pastechis varies you have a folding tool, feel free to
your dough rest covered for 15-20 according to your taste. The easiest use it for this process. Your pastechi
Here’s how to make the Pastechi minutes. and most common filling you’ll find is ready for the fryer!
dough. in Aruba is a simple cheese filling.
After resting, divide your dough For this, we usually use shredded If you want to store some pastechis
Ingredients: into approximately 100 gram balls Gouda, but feel free to use any for later use, you can freeze them.
4 cups of wheat flour A good tip is to place a piece
1 tbsp baking powder (if using self- of wax paper in between each
rising flour, omit baking powder) pastechi if you are to store them
1 tsp salt on top of one another. This way the
1 tbsp sugar pastechis don’t stick to each other
0.5 cup of melted butter when defrosting.
1 cup water
1 egg Here in Aruba we enjoy pastechi
at any time of the day, but it
Directions: has become almost tradition to
Sift your flour into a bowl and add eat pastechis for breakfast on
all the dry ingredients before giving the way to work. Many roadside
it a quick mix. Next add the butter, snack trucks sell pastechi from
water and egg and mix until early morning to noon, and offer a
thoroughly combined. At this point, variety of fillings like cheese; ham
your dough will start to get sticky; and cheese; ground beef and
time for an arm workout. Knead pulled chicken to name a few.q