Page 11 - HOH

Monday 16 January 2023 locAl
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Exploring the Mainstreet of San Nicolas

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