Page 17 - AHATA

Tuesday 23 May 2023 LOCAL
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Exploring the Mainstreet of San Nicolas

SAN NICOLAS— At Just 11 miles gold, aloe, phosphate, oil and the
southeast from Oranjestad you tourism industries which made San
will enter the city San Nicolas, also Nicolas once a bustling business
known as Sunrise City or Chocolate center. Experience the touching
City. A city that is rich in authen- stories of those who were part of
tic culture and island charm. San this history.
Nicolas is Aruba’s second largest
city and was once a bustling com- Nicolaas Store built in 1940 and
pany town dominated by the oil in- renovated in 2014 is the home of
dustry since the early 1930’s. the Community Museum. The col-
lection is remarkable and spans
Over the course of four decades, millennia. Ancient fossils stand next
its demographics had changed to tableaus of an authentically
immensely due to a stream of Afro- recreated colonial kitchen and
Caribbean and South American bedroom and 19th-century bar-
workers who came to fill the jobs in bershop, just to name a few of the
the oil refinery between the 1920’s items of old-time Aruba that has

tecture, and, perhaps most impor- Must See, Do, Buy & Eat
tantly, an urban layout that makes A little bit of everything can be
it walkable. As you walk around, found in the main street. Stores
the streets are silent but the walls selling shoes, clothing, jewelry you
are loud, filled with bright, color- name it. Arts & crafts by Cosecha
ful murals painted by a collection store & Creative Center, a design
of artists from around the world. store in which you can immerse
Thanks to the efforts of various art yourself in discovering genuine
organizations in Aruba, such as Art and locally made arts and crafts
Rules Aruba and Aruba Art Fair, which reflect the diversification of
San Nicolas has had quite the aes- the Aruban craft heritage and the
thetic makeover with regards to artistic supply of artisans. Don’t miss
vibrant street art. Each year more out on trying the exquisite food of-
and more stunning murals are re- fered by the cafes and restaurants
placing broken down buildings or just enjoy a peaceful walk ad-
with colorful art pieces that keep miring the murals, mosaic benches
brightening up SunriseCity. and all the history San Nicolas has
until the 1960’s. To this day traces been preserved. A collection of to offer.q
of the multicultural influences in artifacts and other objects of artis-
culinary offerings and customs, tic, cultural, historical, or scientific
housing and population are clearly importance can be found here for
visible in San Nicolas - more than the purpose of education or enjoy-
anywhere else on the island. ment.
Carnival Euphoria is showcasing
Flow of history Aruba’s Carnival. See how are
if you are looking for history San Carnival has developed over the
Nicolas has it. Here you will find past 65 years.
three amazing museums, The Mu- The new San Nicolas
seum of Industry, the Community
Museum and the Carnival Eupho- In the shadow of the refinery, an
ria, all within walking distance from art capital is quietly beginning to
one another. grow. This is the new San Nicolas,
a place that is starting to become
The Museum of Industry is situated a magnet for all that is young,
in the Water Tower in San Nico- cool and hip in Aruba. Indeed,
las and narrates Aruba’s industrial San Nicolas has all of the ingredi-
history which began in the 19th ents of an emerging cultural hub
century. Here you will learn about — varied history, interesting archi-