by Nikki PepperOh The People You Meet in Aruba
The owners of Boardwalk Small Hotel, Stephanie and Kimberly Rooijakkers.
I grew up on the east coast of the US of A and spent family vacations traveling through the Caribbean. So it’s not a surprise: as a travel writer, I naturally gravitated to lands of sun, sand and sea. But my recent trip to Aruba quickly became more about the people I met than the landscape I enjoyed. The island’s natural beauty is not solely a result of the crystal clear sea or rainless weather (although I was one of the ‘lucky’ few who experienced a drizzle throughout my trip). It’s made even more beautiful because of the local people. Yes, I had an ‘aha!’ moment when I realized this site was aptly named; the people I met in Aruba were fully responsible for making my trip memorable. I knew long before I boarded my JetBlue flight home that I needed to introduce them and share their stories. In no particular order, the people I met in Aruba…
Dennis Martinez paddling the lagoons. Photo Credit: Aruba Surf School.
#1 Dennis Martinez
Dennis picked us up early morning in his SUV with boards and paddles towed behind. Our ride through town and eventually down dirt roads to the Spanish Lagoons was filled with conversation about his fellow locals (yes, they are always this happy), local restaurants (now I know who has the freshest fish), and why he resides in Aruba over his home country of Curaçao, just a few nautical miles away. “The people man, it’s the people!” he exclaimed over paella at a BBQ the night before.
When we finally reached the water I was quick to drag my paddle board to the edge and jump in. But Dennis was sure to stop me for a brief but informative tutorial on stand up paddle boarding (SUP) basics. Then we spent several hours paddling the salt water. If you travel to Aruba and are a first-timer or veteran to SUP, call Dennis. There’s no one better than the guy who introduced SUP on the island.
P.S. I couldn’t help but notice all the waves, ‘heys’ and handshakes he gave and received both on the road and on the beach. Dennis is a local celebrity across the island!
(http://www.arubasurfschool.com/)
Nikki and Rachel Brathen enjoying Caribbean cocktails.
#2 Rachel Brathen
With smiling eyes and long beach blonde hair, Rachel is a yoga goddess. Originally from Sweden followed by several years studying throughout Central America, she now lives in Aruba. But not much time is spent on the island as Rachel travels the world teaching yoga and spreading her positive energy and inspiration. She’s dedicated to expanding the practice and strengthening the connection between body, mind and environment.
I asked her how standup paddle boards came into the picture. “Dennis (my husband) was out surfing with our dogs and I was on the beach doing yoga. I was like, hey, if the dogs can stand on his surfboard, I can do yoga on one!” And that was the beginning of Rachel’s SUP yoga, one of the firsts in the world. Find her on Palm Beach teaching locals and travelers alike, and on Instagram (she has one of the app’s largest accounts, with over one million followers).
P.S. Rachel has a book aptly titled Yoga Girl coming out April 7 2015.
Rachel was one of the first in the world to practice SUP yoga. Nikki experiences her first SUP yoga class, second from left. Photo Credit: Boardwalk Small Hotel.
The epitome of what Stephanie and Kim, the owners of Boardwalk Small Hotel, refer to at #BoardwalkLife.
#3 & 4 Stephanie and Kimberly Rooijakkers
Stephanie and Kimberly are owners of Boardwalk Small Hotel, fourteen homey casitas on what used to be a coconut plantation. The twins – born in Aruba before moving to Belgium where they grew up – returned to their beloved island to open their hotel and homeland to visitors.
Boardwalk is more than crisp, cool sheets against your Caribbean sunburn; it’s a portal to the island. Each casita has a “treasure box” filled with cards featuring seafood restaurants and smoothie bars to snorkeling spots and SUP excursions. Each card gives a description and tips (make a reservation; sailing is best at sunset) along with a map and directions on the back- your trip is a puzzle and you get to select which pieces will fit.
P.S. What’s sweeter than twin sisters running the homiest and arguably the most welcoming hotel on the island? They are both due with their first child just weeks apart.
(http://www.boardwalkaruba.com/)
The local breakfast served on my porch included smoothies and made-to-order arepas.
Artist Elisa Lejuez poses with one of her newest works in her studio.
#5 Elisa Lejuez
I met Elisa my first night on the island and like the other now-locals, she hasn’t spent her whole life in Aruba. Yet, her work incorporates the island’s colors and cultures and has been embraced by locals who often commission her for her work. Her gentle voice and welcoming nature is juxtaposed with her bold use of color and material. I had the privilege of visiting her in-home studio, a bright open space filled with paint splatters, a mountain of printing screens and 4-foot mixed media creations. Aside from her commissioned work, you can see her pieces in local and international galleries (New York City’s Sohotel Art Space).
P.S. Elisa’s canvases are hanging in several of Boardwalk Small Hotel’s casitas and invoke the coconut plantation’s past.
(http://www.elisalejuez.com/index.php)
Pictured: I’m giddy from a behind-the-scenes peek of the artist’s gallery and her latest piece.
A glimpse of Elisa’s tools.
These welcoming and talented individuals made my time in Aruba a memory I’ll look back on and smile for years to come. I also look forward to crossing paths again, whether it be on an island, in the water or at a gallery. I just hope it’s really rainless next time!
