People of Oranjestad are known for their welcoming and friendly character, which makes holidays in this city even more comfortable and interesting. From the first minutes of communication with the townspeople, one can note their calmness and gradual approach - it seems that no events can disrupt the long-standing measured rhythm of life here. Some foreign guests can mistake their behavior for ordinary laziness, and such associations are quite justified. Citizens are indeed unhurried in their approach, and such behavior manifests itself at any given opportunity.
Visiting one of the local stores, one should not expect that the seller will drop everything and rush to serve you immediately. Most likely, you will have to wait a few minutes before he or she completes the current task and draws attention to you. Such a leisurely service is common to local restaurants and cafes where sometimes guests need to wait a long time for their orders too. Such behavior should not be regarded as disrespect - it's just one of the national character traits.
Throughout the year, Oranjestad hosts a lot of interesting events. Origins of some celebrations go back to holidays that were celebrated in the prehistoric era. A great example is an annual carnival. One version is that its tradition comes from ancient Greek and Roman celebrations - bacchanalias. In the past, people honored the gods of fertility through a colorful holiday, but now the ancient celebration is transformed into a bright street festival with street parties and festivities.
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