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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 5 augusT 2025

Exploring the Mainstreet of San Nicolas

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

Pastechi!

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