Page 11 - aruba-today-20240718

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local Thursday 18 July 2024
Exploring the Mainstreet of San Nicolas

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

Sun catchers

Continued from Page 10 cause of the toxins present in many stripe on each side and typically,
available plants species. The Kodo- several stripes on the body and
They spend their days concealed do help take care of Aruba’s veg- tail that are lighter in color. It has
in dark tree grooves and cavities, etation by playing a significant role a dewlap which is orange-yellow
in narrow crevices in the walls, or in the dispersal of seeds for certain – and what’s unique about this
behind paintings, which provide plants: when they eat fruit, they species is that it is the only known
the perfect shelter for them. Pega excrete the seeds in diverse loca- species of anole where the dew-
pega is a gecko endemic to our tions, contributing to the reproduc- lap is asymetrically colored, with
island, but in time, some 4–5 in- tion cycle of our local plants. one side being a deeper orange
trusive gecko species have been and the other side a lighter yellow.
observed, some of which do not The Aruban whiptail lizard, Cnemi- Striped anole Mostly this is seen in the males, as
cease to amaze us with the racket dophorus arubensis, is a species en- The striped anole (Anolis lineatus) it is almost imperceptible in the fe-
they make, especially during the demic to Aruba, meaning you can that lives in Aruba is known locally males. If the Toteki shows you his
hours of the night. only find it here on our One Happy as Waltaka or Toteki. This is a spe- dewlap, retreat! This is not a friend-
Island! They are also recognized as cies of lizard in the family Dactyloi- ly greeting!
The Pega-pega Phyllodactylus Ju- the most common and populous dae, and they are native to Aruba
lieni is also a protected species lizard on the island. While the male and Curaçao. It is usually found in Lizards are wonderful creatures
in Aruba, by law. It is illegal to kill is blue with white dots, the female dry areas, commonly where there that are precious to our fragile, lo-
them! is brown with blue dots. are not large trees; rather they cal ecosystem. Please be mindful
enjoy rocks, walls or tree trunks, of these residents as you enjoy your
These charming lizards eat mostly as they prefer to stay close to the stay.q
Blue Kododo plants, such as flowers, nectar, ground.
These are one of the most strik- leaves and fruits, and occasionally
ing lizards in Aruba, recognizable enjoy some insects. They are selec- These lizards are about 7cm in Images: Some images are from Aruba
by the male’s bright blue color. tive in which plants they eat, be- length, have a brown color with a Birdlife Conservation.