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Dear Bucuti,
Happy 37th birthday!
My love for Bucuti and Aruba actually began when I was 8 years old, 22 years ago. My late father, Ron Sommerfeldt, discovered Bucuti when it was still a relatively young boutique resort. He and my mother journeyed there, and absolutely fell in love with the island and Bucuti.
At the time in the early 2000s, some children were allowed to stay for repeat guests. My very first trip out of the United States was to Aruba! I remember the old Pirate’s Nest restaurant, swimming in the pool, building sand castles on Eagle Beach, and trying to count as many iguanas as I could find. Those were amazing childhood memories.
Fast forward to May 2023 - my husband and I got married, and I convinced him to go back to Aruba and Bucuti with me for our honeymoon. It would be the first time I returned in 20+ years. And like how it was when I was a little girl, I fell completely in love with the island and Bucuti. My husband was immediately hooked, and we plan on returning for our second anniversary.
It was a surreal and magical experience to celebrate my honeymoon on the very beach that my father discovered so many years ago. I’d like to think that he was happy for us, and tickled that we honeymooned on his favorite beach.
I’ve attached two photos - one of me and my father at the old Pirate’s Nest Restaurant, and my husband and I at our champagne honeymoon toast at Bucuti.
Thank you for being such a wonderful place, and providing so many beautiful memories.
Sincerely, Alissa Galyon