Page 10 - HOH

Thursday 22 december 2022 locAl
A10

Exploring the Mainstreet of San Nicolas

SAN NICOLAS— At Just 11 than anywhere else on the
miles southeast from Oran- island.
jestad you will enter the city
San Nicolas, also known as Flow of history
Sunrise City or Chocolate if you are looking for his-
City. A city that is rich in tory San Nicolas has it. Here
authentic culture and is- you will find three amazing
land charm. San Nicolas is museums, The Museum of
Aruba’s second largest city Industry, the Community
and was once a bustling Museum and the Carnival
company town dominated Euphoria, all within walking
by the oil industry since the distance from one another.
early 1930’s. The Museum of Industry is
situated in the Water Tower
Over the course of four de- in San Nicolas and narrates
cades, its demographics Aruba's industrial history
had changed immensely which began in the 19th
due to a stream of Afro-Ca- century. Here you will learn
ribbean and South Ameri- about gold, aloe, phos-
can workers who came phate, oil and the tourism
to fill the jobs in the oil re- industries which made San
finery between the 1920’s Nicolas once a bustling
until the 1960’s. To this day business center. Experi-
traces of the multicultural ence the touching stories
influences in culinary offer- of those who were part of
ings and customs, housing this history.
and population are clearly Nicolaas Store built in 1940
visible in San Nicolas - more and renovated in 2014 is

the home of the Communi- importance can be found Aruba and Aruba Art Fair,
ty Museum. The collection is here for the purpose of ed- San Nicolas has had quite
remarkable and spans mil- ucation or enjoyment. the aesthetic makeover
lennia. Ancient fossils stand Carnival Euphoria is show- with regards to vibrant
next to tableaus of an au- casing Aruba’s Carnival. street art. Each year more
thentically recreated colo- See how are Carnival has and more stunning murals
nial kitchen and bedroom developed over the past are replacing broken down
and 19th-century barber- 65 years. buildings with colorful art
shop, just to name a few of pieces that keep brighten-
the items of old-time Aruba The new San Nicolas ing up SunriseCity.
that has been preserved. A In the shadow of the refin-
collection of artifacts and ery, an art capital is quietly Must See, Do, Buy & Eat
other objects of artistic, cul- beginning to grow. This is A little bit of everything can
tural, historical, or scientific the new San Nicolas, a be found in the main street.
place that is starting to be- Stores selling shoes, cloth-
come a magnet for all that ing, jewelry you name it.
is young, cool and hip in Arts & crafts by Cosecha
Aruba. Indeed, San Nicolas store & Creative Center, a
has all of the ingredients of design store in which you
an emerging cultural hub can immerse yourself in dis-
— varied history, interesting covering genuine and lo-
architecture, and, perhaps cally made arts and crafts
most importantly, an urban which reflect the diversifi-
layout that makes it walk- cation of the Aruban craft
able. As you walk around, heritage and the artistic
the streets are silent but supply of artisans. Don’t
the walls are loud, filled miss out on trying the exqui-
with bright, colorful murals site food offered by the ca-
painted by a collection fes and restaurants or just
of artists from around the enjoy a peaceful walk ad-
world. Thanks to the efforts miring the murals, mosaic
of various art organizations benches and all the history
in Aruba, such as Art Rules San Nicolas has to offer.q