Curaçao was the final stop of our ABC island trilogy. In retrospect I believe we did justice to these unique islands with the time we were able to spend on each. Though geographically I found them quite similar, they are very much each their own island and character.
For me, one of the most memorable experiences of our time in the capital, Willemstad, was having to cross the Queen Juliana Bridge at least twice a day. At 500 metres long and a clearance of over 56 metres under it, it offers an incredible view of the area. For those of us less fond of heights I found it a daily challenge. There are no photos from the bridge, I was too busy with both hands on the steering wheel.
As we drove around Curaçao it takes no time to realize it is the centre of power, or was the centre of power for the Dutch overseas empire in the Caribbean. We had learned on Aruba and Bonaire that in the past their prime reason for existence, in the eyes of the Dutch, was to supply Curaçao. It is by far the largest of the three islands and has the largest population and, for me, lacks some of the charm of the smaller centres. Having said that, there are some wonderful sights to see here.
Rif Fort (translates to Reef Fort apparently) stands at the entrance to St Anna Bay in Willemstad. It is an impressive example of island fortifications, but also a great place to grab a beer.This view from Rif Fort catches a couple of the highlights of the capital Willemstad. The Queen Emma Bridge which is a 167 metre long pontoon bridge that was first built in 1888. Multiple times a day the bridge swings open to allow boats to pass into the bay. The other iconic sight is the Handelskade, which is the row of brightly painted establishments along the water front beside Queen Emma Bridge. As you can imagine, it is a rather touristy place, however we did enjoy a couple of beer at the Iguana Cafe, something I would recommend. The sights, both people and waterfront, are something to be enjoyed.Having the largest port in the Antilles means massive and very unique structures. From offshore rigs to huge crane facilities, it is impressive to see the variety of maritime services offered here.For me, my favourite structure on the island was Fort Beekenburg. Built in 1703, it is free to explore and offers some great views from the top of the centre tower.
Once you get out of the capital and make your way up the island the views along the west coastline are spectacular. Dozens of lovely little bays and alcoves accessed by a labyrinth of roadways.The east, or windward side of the island is a bit sparser. The constant wind make it a harsher environment. On the plus side it is a perfect place to locate their wind farms.One of the things Curaçao is famous for is the pastel paint jobs on many of its buildings. I loved the fact that this home on the north end of the island took the concept a bit further and did up its trees as well.It is however very impressive as you walk around Willemstad and see not only the beautifully painted buildings, but also the incredible public art done on the side of many homes as well. Keep an eye on my instagram for more examples of their street art. @peterpecksen
Im going there in January to do some diving!
You didn’t mention diving in the post…..
Sun & Palm Trees,
Sheri
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May next post will be on the diving. We did 6 days of diving there and it was great.