Page 12 - HOH

Saturday 7 January 2023 locAl
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Exploring the Mainstreet of San Nicolas

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