Come Walk With Me Down Crijnssenstraat
Come walk with me down Crijnssenstraat, one of my favorite hidden streets in San Nicolas.
It's the kind of street you don't simply stumble upon. Quiet and residential, it's tucked away from the colorful murals and livelier streets of San Nicolas. Unless someone who knows the neighborhood invites you in, you'd probably never discover it.
Our walk begins beside The Fading Prikichi, a beautiful mural of Aruba's native bird.
At first, it's the vibrant colors and incredible detail of the parakeet that catch your eye. But look a little closer and you'll discover a hidden message, painted in gold and almost impossible to read until you step to just the right angle.
It's one of those quiet discoveries that reminds you the best stories reveal themselves when you slow down.
As we continue our walk toward dinner, the unexpected often becomes the highlight.
One afternoon, a neighbor relaxing on his patio waved us over to show us the native trees growing in his yard.
Before we knew it, he had become part of the tour, sharing his own stories with our guests.
That's the magic of San Nicolas.
The people here don't just live in the neighborhood.
They help tell its story.
It's also one of the things I could never have planned when I created Taste of San Nicolas. No two walks are quite the same, because you never know who you'll meet along the way.
Our walk ends beneath the bougainvillea spilling over the gates of the former Astoria Hotel, a landmark that has stood for nearly 100 years.
During the refinery's golden years, San Nicolas welcomed people from around the world, and the Astoria was at the heart of it all.
It was a place where people gathered, celebrated and created memories.
If those walls could talk, they'd have the most incredible stories to tell.
Today, this remarkable property remains in the care of the Croes family, who have preserved its history with great pride.
We're incredibly grateful that they open their beautiful private garden exclusively for Taste of San Nicolas guests.
As the sun begins to set and the Aruba sky glows with shades of orange, gold and pink, we gather in this peaceful hidden garden to enjoy a dinner inspired by local Aruban flavors.
Surrounded by tropical plants, old stone walls, new friends and wonderful conversation, it feels less like dining at a restaurant and more like being welcomed into someone's home.
By the end of the evening, you've experienced far more than murals, history, art and culture.
You've shared stories with neighbors, discovered places few visitors ever see and enjoyed an evening that feels genuinely Aruban.
And to me, that's what makes San Nicolas so unforgettable.
Crijnssenstraat is a residential street in San Nicolas, Aruba's Sunrise City. It sits away from some of the better-known mural streets and commercial areas, which is part of its charm.
This is a neighborhood, not an attraction created for visitors, and that's precisely what makes walking through it feel different.
The former Astoria Hotel is part of San Nicolas's history from the years when Aruba's refinery brought workers and visitors from around the world to the city.
Today it is private property, cared for by the Croes family.
The garden is not a public restaurant or tourist attraction. It is opened privately for guests of Taste of San Nicolas, giving us a rare opportunity to spend an evening inside a piece of the city's history.
Because this little street captures exactly what I wanted the experience to be.
When I created Taste of San Nicolas, I didn't want guests simply moving from mural to mural.
I wanted them to understand that the real San Nicolas lives in the spaces between them.
A native tree in someone's yard.
A neighbor who stops to talk.
Bougainvillea spilling over an old gate.
A nearly century-old building with generations of stories behind its walls.
And dinner waiting on the other side.
Sometimes the quietest street gives you the best story.
Taste of San Nicolas brings together the murals, history, local culture, food and people I discovered while spending months exploring Aruba's Sunrise City.
And Crijnssenstraat remains one of my favorite parts of the evening.
Carla Cavallaro
Brand Manager, Kukoo Kunuku & Jolly Pirates | Creator of Taste of San Nicolas
Carla Cavallaro has called Aruba home since 1989 and helped launch Jolly Pirates in 1997. She created Taste of San Nicolas after spending months exploring the art, history, food and people of Aruba's Sunrise City. She works with both Kukoo Kunuku and Jolly Pirates and contributes stories to Yummy Aruba, part of Aruba Wine and Dine, sharing Aruba's people, history and places visitors might otherwise miss.
Read more of her stories at Kukoo Kunuku and Jolly Pirates.
