Trish Berry, May 2025
Ralph Lauren Midi Dress, White J. Crew Short Sweater, Gold Bracelets, Gold Rings, Gray Anti-Seasick Wristlets, Gold Necklaces and Pendants, Diamond Studs, Gold Hoop Earrings, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish (#299 Pucker Up Color)
Curacao (pronounced cure-uh-sal) is a Kingdom of the Netherlands constituent country. You’re deep in the south of the Caribbean when in Curacao, about 50 miles from the coast of Venezuela. It is a safe island, a beautiful island, with many different things to do and different places to visit. This is a Dutch Caribbean island filled with vibrant flora and fauna and also filled with beautiful, kind people.
You can rent a Tuk Tuk, like the ones they have in India. You can jet ski. (I never recommend a jet ski excursion to anyone over the age of 40. I speak from scary experience.) There are various ATV adventures you can go on. Caution with the ATV adventures as well. Some excursions are for the young. The Hato Caves are spectacular. There is an underwater walking tour where you can see the giant sea turtles swimming.
Some of these excursions are on the expensive side, so take that into account when budgeting your money for your cruise. Royal Caribbean has the best excursion fares when I compared them to the costs of other cruise lines.
We went to the Ostrich Farm, not far from the port, but it was closed that day. I still got a photo of myself with an ostrich. It was hot. It was nice to sit under the ledge of this table for a few minutes. (Always take water with you when in Curacao. We have been here four times and it’s always hot. Even though there is a constant breeze, we from the US are not acclimated to the kind of heat they have in South America and the islands off its coast.
Chico Shirt, Banana Republic Shorts
Everywhere you look there is color in Curacao. The photo below shows the pastel-colored buildings. They remind you of the painted ladies in South Carolina and San Francisco. To get to those pretty buildings in Willemstad, you walk across Brug di Ponton, a pontoon bridge that crosses over the St. Anna Bay. The bridge opens and closes on a regular basis to enable ocean-going ships to pass through. It is disconcerting the first time you walk across it. You feel movement below your feet, you know there is water below you, but you get used to it. We now cross that bridge with determined steps and no anxiety in our feet and brains.
A lot of the walkways and pathways are red brick. They are very pretty in design and complement the pastel buildings.
Below is the cute, colorful tourist train. You can hop on this train (for a small fee) and it takes you around the island. You can hop on and off, like the Dart train in Ireland. While on the train, the breeze blows through your hair, cools your face, cools your entire body. But drink your water anyway.
Curacao has the modern parking meters. If you rent a car and do not pay for your parking space, you will get booted. It will take a lot of time to get this straightened out with the authorities, so put your money in the meter.
The below photo shows what can happen to you if you don’t pay for your parking. You will be asking for help from your Embassy so you can make it on time to your ship.
Curacao is a safe island of love. Once you cross the pontoon bridge and get to St. Anna Bay, directly on the lefthand side is a display of love hearts. When this photo was taken several years ago, locks were put on the hearts to show your love for your country. On our last visit, the hearts were gone and a metal square was put in its place for locks to be placed.
This was a recent change, according to a native of Curacao, and was the result of the metal hearts being filled with so many locks that they had to be retired and a new device was chosen to hold new locks. A brave display of love, but the hearts were nicer in appearance than the new square.
Below is the Delft Blue Ceramics Shop, where the items all come from Holland. You walk through a tunnel to get to St. Anna Bay. That tunnel has many shops where you can purchase genuine articles from Holland. I saw a red ceramic bull a few years ago. I went back to get it this time. Of course, someone else now owns my red bull. When you see something you like, you want, buy it then, don’t wait until years pass and expect your Red Bull to still be there.
I usually buy a canvas tote bag from each country we visit. Because of the painted ladies, I purchased a pastel color. It will always remind me of Curacao.
Curacao is a unique island. A lot of love everywhere. You leave the island with peace inside your heart. You look back at that beautiful place as your ship is pulling out of the port, and know that one day you will return.
Wherever you go, spread your love of life with a smile. You will get a lot of smiles right back at ya.
Safe travels. Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!