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Thursday 8 June 2023 locAl
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Exploring the Mainstreet of San Nicolas

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