Not long after Drew and I started dating, his mom got engaged to her longterm partner, Doug. I was lucky enough to be able to attend their wedding only a few months later (and only a few months into my relationship with Drew). The following year, Doug and Laurie celebrated their one year anniversary with a belated honeymoon to Aruba, and graciously invited their 5 kids combined, and the kids’ respective partners.
The timing was perfect- we left on the one week break I had in my last summer semester of PA school. Was it meant for studying for arguably the most important exam of all of PA school? Sure. Did I (or anyone else) use it as such? Definitely not.
It just so happened that Quinnipiac decided to assign my one out of state rotation right before this break. So within 24 hours, I packed up my studio apartment in NYC, took the internal medicine end of rotation exam, and hopped on a plane to “relax” (AKA study, but in a better location).
They rented a huge airbnb for the 10 of us, complete with an outdoor pool and bar area. Even though it was only a short walk to the beaches and resorts, we found ourselves spending a lot of time here. It was a great place to wind down after a long day in the sun, and (for me) an even better place to study for your comprehensive exams at 5 AM each morning.
On top of their overwhelming generosity in booking this vacation alone, Doug and Laurie served as amazing tour guides, as this was not their first time visiting Aruba. We had an action packed week filled with exploring beaches on different parts of the island, as well as day trips like UTV tours, and a snorkeling cruise (complete with an open bar!).
Although we planned the snorkeling cruise with Natalie and Julia, my friends from PA school, and coincidentally booked the same cruise as Drew’s good college friend Rodier, the UTV tours were still a crowd favorite. The tour left from an animal sanctuary, and allowed for time to visit with animals before the tour began.
Each couple (and Ryan/Will) got their own UTV and we toured an old fort, some beautiful cliffs, a natural bridge, and even got to cliff dive at the end!
Even though we spent a lot of time as a group, there were a few opportunities to personalize the trip. Drew, Laurie and I found ourselves wanting more time outdoors, and we decided to hike to the top of a local mountain one morning.
Hooiberg mountain is a volcanic “hill” at the center of Aruba. There are approximately 587 steps to get to a gazebo for a beautiful view of the entire island. On a clear day, you are supposedly able to see the coast of Venezuela from the top.
While here, Drew (obviously) read a sign and learned that a local politician climbed Hooiberg 21 times in 6 hours to raise money for a charity. American politicians could never.
As aforementioned, we supplemented our more active days with days resting on the beach. All piled into our 10 person van, we explored Arashi Beach (north shore), Palm Beach (in Noord, right near the resorts), and Baby Beach (south shore).
Food and Drinks
I never anticipated that Aruba would be one of the best culinary experiences I’ve had to date, but it certainly was.
Of course, no beach vacation is complete without a local beer. Luckily, Aruba made our decision easy as there is only one brewery on the island- Chill. Although the crowd largely prefers IPAs, we all came to love the light, refreshing, Corona-like nature of Chill on a hot beach day.
We spent most nights cooking at the Air BNB; Each couple was assigned a night to cook a signature dish and no one disappointed. In my completely unbiased opinion, Drew and I cooked the best meal out of everyone. We made jumbalaya based off a random internet recipe, but have not been able to recreate it the exact same way ever since.
Drew and his brothers/step brothers kicked off this vacation by surprising Doug with a deep sea fishing “bachelor trip.” The trip was complete with a chartered boat, rented equipment, and sea sickness. Even still, they all had a blast and brought home at least 1 fish per person. The most unique part of the trip, however, was that they partnered with a local restaurant who cooked and served you the fish you caught.
We also scheduled for a date night where each couple (+ Ryan/Will) would have time to spend alone with each other. On Laurie and Doug’s recommendation, Drew and I went to Papiamento (below), a local restaurant with a beautiful terrace. They are well known for serving meals on a hot stone, allowing guests to cook the protein of their choosing to their liking. Predictably, Drew ordered steak and I ordered some fish.
To celebrate the end of an amazing trip (and, of course, their one year wedding anniversary), Doug and Laurie took the 10 of us to Pinchos Grill and Bar (below). This restaurant was situated at the end of a pier and served the best fresh seafood.
About Abroad 