Page 21 - AHATA

a32 local
Friday 3 July 2020

Exploring the Mainstreet of San Nicolas

had changed immensely Nicolas once a bustling In the shadow of the refin-
due to a stream of Afro-Ca- business center. Experi- ery, an art capital is quietly
ribbean and South Ameri- ence the touching stories beginning to grow. This is
can workers who came of those who were part of the new San Nicolas, a
to fill the jobs in the oil re- this history. place that is starting to be-
finery between the 1920’s come a magnet for all that
until the 1960’s. To this day Nicolaas Store built in 1940 is young, cool and hip in
traces of the multicultural and renovated in 2014 is Aruba. Indeed, San Nicolas
influences in culinary offer- the home of the Communi- has all of the ingredients of
ings and customs, housing ty Museum. The collection is an emerging cultural hub
and population are clearly remarkable and spans mil- — varied history, interesting
visible in San Nicolas - more lennia. Ancient fossils stand architecture, and, perhaps
than anywhere else on the next to tableaus of an au- most importantly, an urban
island. thentically recreated colo- layout that makes it walk-
nial kitchen and bedroom able. As you walk around,
Flow of history and 19th-century barber- the streets are silent but
if you are looking for his- shop, just to name a few of the walls are loud, filled
tory San Nicolas has it. Here the items of old-time Aruba with bright, colorful murals
you will find three amazing that has been preserved. A painted by a collection
museums, The Museum of collection of artifacts and of artists from around the
Industry, the Community other objects of artistic, cul- world. Thanks to the efforts
Museum and the Carnival tural, historical, or scientific of various art organizations
Euphoria, all within walking importance can be found in Aruba, such as Art Rules
distance from one another. here for the purpose of ed- Aruba and Aruba Art Fair,
The Museum of Industry is ucation or enjoyment. San Nicolas has had quite
SAN NICOLAS— At Just 11 Aruba’s second largest city situated in the Water Tower the aesthetic makeover
miles southeast from Oran- and was once a bustling in San Nicolas and narrates Carnival Euphoria is show- with regards to vibrant
jestad you will enter the city company town dominated Aruba's industrial history casing Aruba’s Carnival. street art. Each year more
San Nicolas, also known as by the oil industry since the which began in the 19th See how are Carnival has and more stunning murals
Sunrise City or Chocolate early 1930’s. century. Here you will learn developed over the past are replacing broken down
City. A city that is rich in about gold, aloe, phos- 65 years. buildings with colorful art
authentic culture and is- Over the course of four de- phate, oil and the tourism pieces that keep brighten-
land charm. San Nicolas is cades, its demographics industries which made San The new San Nicolas ing up SunriseCity.q