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LOCAL Wednesday 22 May 2024

Exploring the Mainstreet of San Nicolas

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