CRESCENT MOON OVER CURACAO

Curacao

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

85F, sunny and windy

 

Curaçao, in the southern Caribbean Sea, about 40 miles north of Venezuela, is a Dutch island with a population of about 158,000 (2019). We have been here many times and are always intrigued by the Dutch influence.  We were not scheduled to reach the port till noon with a 9 p.m. departure time. It is very rare to be on an island at night, but it does happen.

 

This morning we spent some time at the Skyview Pool—I have finished my second book. Available deck chairs are impossible to find, but we had a table that overlooked the sea.  Another sunny day, about 85F.

 

Curacao has revamped its port again and we were docked a little further away from Willemstad.  It was quite a walk into the city, about 2 miles. I am not in shape, the couple days a week at the Millcreek Mall are definitely not enough. TK is doing very well, thanks to his longer walks at the mall with his friend Jim.  

Welcome to Curacao!

 

Along the walkway to the city are many small shops and when one reaches Rif Fort, constructed in 1826 and outfitted with walls nearly a foot thick, 56 cannons, and 27 arches. Over the years it has also served as prison, a police headquarters prison, and a police headquarters.  Now it houses a museum and many shops and restaurants.

Outside Rif Fort

 

 I cannot really describe Willemstad as quaint, but it is truly charming with the vibrant painted buildings and homes. To reach the older city, one must cross over the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge which regularly swings to the side for boats to pass through.

Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge

Photo taken on Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge-looking in the 

other direction

We walked along the city streets and many shops are still open. I was happy to see the shop that sells linens, the Dutch handiwork is great. Alas, no photos of that.  The market along the water was brimming with fresh fruits and vegetables—cucumbers, onions, ginger, potatoes, carrots, apples, grapes, bananas, plaintains. The fish boats were just coming in and we saw a table full of dolphin fish (not dolphins!)

 

Vegetable market

So colorful!

 

Temple Emanuel, which dates to the 1650s, 

is the oldest surviving synagogue in the Americas.

Wish I knew what this building was--another trip, another tour

TK in the street!

For Brother Bill:

The island of Curacao began to form within the past 145 million years, beginning in the Cretaceous period. Because the island was submerged for large parts of it history, reef environments formed atop thick layers of mafic volcanic rock, producing carbonate sedimentary rocks.  These photos are closeups of very large rocks that line the walkway to Willemstad from the ship—I should have taken a photo so you could see the size. Boulders!

 

We returned to the ship after a couple hours and ate at Gigi’s on Deck 7 – good reviews for pizza.

Later we went to Lido Deck for dinner with Donna and Lawrence because it was Bavarian night. Schnitzel (chicken or pork), spaetzle, sauerbraten, sauerkraut, sausages, pretzel bread, Black Forest cake and a pistachio roll (sugarfree) which was the best dessert so far for me. So much chocolate and chocolate is not my friend.

After dinner we all to Movies Under The Stars (MUTS)—the Lido deck. Lounge chairs are set up with blankets for our viewing pleasure. The crescent moon hovered over the ship as we watched Date Night with Will Carrell and Tina Fey—it was very funny! I love mistaken identity humor!

 

TK’s Takes: The pizza was not as good as everyone said. The ship is so clean it sparkles, probably because it has only been sailing since November.