San Nicolas, Aruba: The Heartbeat of My Heritage
My Grandmother Vincencia moved to Aruba in 1942. Her mother, who was affectionately called Mommy, and her sister Angie settled in San Nicolaas in a section of the village that was called Hollywood. They found work, like many that settled in San Nicolaas during that time, working around the Colony where all of the X-Pats that worked for the Lago oil refinery lived.
A Bustling City of Commerce
Back then, San Nicolaas was a bustling city of commerce. The streets were filled with people, and my mother recalls putting on her good panty hoses to go walk down the main street in San Nicolaas. A plethora of cultures descended on Aruba during that time to find work in the booming economy. They created a unique atmosphere made up of different dishes, music, and language. The threads of each culture coming together to form One Happy Island.
On that tiny island, you can experience many different cultures: Dutch, South American, Surinamese, Chinese, American and the list goes on. You will find the average person speaks not one, not two but three languages: Dutch, English, and Papiamento. Some people will add a fourth, Spanish, into the mix.
Shifts in Energy
The oil refinery that brought so many people together and created the energy that ran through the streets of San Nicolaas began to go through a series of closures beginning in the late 80s, and the main source of income for Aruba switched to tourism as a result.
People began to move toward the north side of the island, abandoning San Nicolaas. At one point, the streets looked like a remnant of what used to be. Of course, people would travel to see Baby Beach and tourist attractions like Charlie’s Bar, but there was energy that was missing.
Reimagining San Nicolaas
Enter 2016—Aruba’s Art Fair reimagined the beauty of San Nicolaas. Vibrant murals fill the streets and bring with them new life. What was industrial is now art, bringing more visitors to Aruba to experience the southern side of the island.
The people of San Nicolaas are still vibrant, still eclectic, still warm… that hasn’t changed. Now, the colorful walls reflect what I’ve always felt: vibrant peace.
A Mirror of Resilience
Aruba, specifically San Nicolaas, is a focal point within my story about transformation and resilience. The ability to live through many iterations and reinventions and come out better, while still remaining at its core true to itself, is the metaphor that my main character mirrors throughout my work in progress.
Resilience. Identity. Faith.
