Page 10 - aruba-today-20240423

Tuesday 23 april 2024 locAl
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Enjoy one of the best views on Aruba at the top of the Hooiberg Hill

The staircase that run on the be a work out to get on top.
side of the hill was first built In addition, there is now a
in 1951, when Mr. Eduardo gazebo placed halfway up
Tromp constructed it. At that the stair for a little rest. The
time, the staircase consisted view at this resting stop is also
of 900 steps. Over time, as a sight to see.
the steps faced erosion, The best time to climb the hill
the government decided would be early in the morn-
to renovate these stairs in ing or right before sunset, as it
1991. This new project de- may not be as hot. However,
livered the newer staircase the hill is of course open all
with only 587 steps. However, day, every day.q
don’t be fooled—it may still
(Oranjestad)—If you are a in Venezuela, providing one
regular hiker, or maybe want of the best views you can get
to spice up your morning on Aruba.
work out session, then you
might enjoy one of the most located at the center district
popular climbing sites on the of the island, Santa Cruz, the
island: The Hooiberg Hill. Ac- Hooiberg Hill is the second
companied with a 600-step highest point on the island at
staircase, this hill overlooks 165 meters above sea level
a great part of the island, (or about 540 feet above
the Caribbean sea, and sea level). The highest point
sometimes even the Santa is Jamanota Hill at 189 me-
Anna mountain located in ters (620 feet), located in the
the coastal state of Falcon Arikok National Park.

Exploring the Mainstreet of San Nicolas

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