One of the projects I'm most proud of this year was creating Kukoo Kunuku's Taste of San Nicolas to celebrate the company's 30th anniversary.
When I first started spending more time in San Nicolas, I expected to fall in love with the murals.
Instead, I fell in love with the moments between them.
Of course, the colorful murals and incredible street art are what first bring people here.
As I walked the streets, I soon realized the murals were only part of the story.
Every walk is different.
One early evening, we came across a lively roadside game of dominoes in full swing. The spirited clack, clack, clack of the tiles blended with the rattling seed pods of a nearby Barba Joncuman tree and the steel pans drifting over from O'Niel's. It was one of those unexpected moments that reminded me the best parts of San Nicolas are never the ones you plan.
Another evening, we stopped beneath a calbas tree and surprised our guests with a fun fact: the maracas they'd been shaking on the bus had once grown on a tree.
But the biggest surprises are the people. We never know who will join us or what story they'll tell, but someone always does. A warm "Bon nochi," a smile, and suddenly we're hearing about first loves, family businesses, years spent working at the refinery, or childhood memories that bring the street to life. Somehow, someone from San Nicolas always makes the evening richer than we ever planned.
The murals may be what first bring you here, but it's the people who make you want to come back.
About the Author
Carla Cavallaro has called Aruba home for nearly 40 years. As Brand Manager for Kukoo Kunuku and Jolly Pirates, she loves discovering the island's hidden stories and creating experiences that help visitors connect with the Aruba she has come to know and love.
Taste of San Nicolas
Learn more: https://www.kukookunuku.com/taste-of-san-nicolas/
