Willemstad - A Picturesque Tour
We've been in Curacao for over a month now. I know we should have posted a new blog by now but we have been super busy between exploring this island and the normal boat work to keep afloat! In these past few weeks we've also been able to meet so many new and interesting people that we may actually have a "social" life going for the first time in 5 months. There have been some major changes that have been taking place to our trip itinerary (we'll go into that in detail later) and a minor set-back: I dropped our camera into the ocean! The plus side is that my Mom is a photographer, and while she went back to the States to visit my grandpa she left a Nokia D-70 onboard which we "borrowed" for the day. So sit back and enjoy our photo-tour of Willemstad, a world heritage site and capital of Curacao.
A brief history of Curacao and Willemstad. Willemstad was founded by the Dutch West India Company in the 17th century. By this time the indigenous people of the islands, the Arawak Amerindians had been exported as workers by the Spaniards who first discovered the island in the late 15th century. While Curacao did not have many of the natural resources that attracted early settlement, such as gold, it's natural harbors would in turn allow the inhabitants an edge in maritime trading through the Caribbean and Americas. These martime activities not only included commerce but a healthy dose of piracy as well! Sadly what made the island the most prosperous was that it became the center of the slave trade of the Atlantic. By 1863 the Dutch abolished slavery and to this day there are plantation homes and slave huts all over the island.
Now that we got our little history lesson let's get back to our tour!
We start out our little journey by the Floating Markets. This is a street next to a narrow water way where Venezuelan fishing ships dock. They bring fresh vegetables and fish from the mainland on a daily basis. It's a colorful stretch where vendors and buyers joke around and tourist (like me) take their picture or buy a banana.
After the Floating Market you round the corner to face the major canal running through Willemstad. The streets are lined with colorful historical buildings and busy outdoor cafes. John and I stopped for a ice coffee and enjoyed the shade as we watched the tugs and ferries navigate by.
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Let's start by mentioning that we had some pretty BAD luck this day. We started out the day with high hopes and ambitions to photo shoot the whole city in a day; however our bus never showed up on time. So by a very round-about method of getting to town we finally had gotten there some two hours later! Then lo-and-behold it was the one overcast day we've had in a month. Go figure. So after collecting our wits at the cafe we once again started off. Nothing is going to stop us! As we were crossing the floating bridge to get to Otrabanda (literally means "other side") the bridge began opening. This bridge has a little engine on it and when ships need to enter it slings itself open. Well we heard the siren go off but thinking it was the normal 15min ordeal we decided to stay on the bridge as it provided some good shots. Some 45min later we were still on the bridge! Turns out a massive tanker was due in, so we were stuck on the bridge for close to an hour and watched the tugs pull in the tanker. Not the entertainment we were looking for!
Finally after the boat show we walked around the waterfront area of Otrabanda.
After this picture we were told to donate to "the Shoe" but didn't have any change! John was so embarrassed to take such a touristy picture as well. Next photo tour we will spend more time in Otrabanda, but due to late buses and being stuck on the bridge we decided to go back to the Punda side to show you more of the colorful and historic buildings while there was light!
The above picture is the clock tower downtown. On the hour when the clock strikes, all the bells chime out a little song. Also little mechanical people parade by on a track that runs in and out of the wall. Its a very showy clock.
There is a lot you can find by exploring the little alley ways and side streets that run through town. Sometimes when we are in town, its fun to explore between the alleys and find hidden cafes and restaurants.
A brief history of Curacao and Willemstad. Willemstad was founded by the Dutch West India Company in the 17th century. By this time the indigenous people of the islands, the Arawak Amerindians had been exported as workers by the Spaniards who first discovered the island in the late 15th century. While Curacao did not have many of the natural resources that attracted early settlement, such as gold, it's natural harbors would in turn allow the inhabitants an edge in maritime trading through the Caribbean and Americas. These martime activities not only included commerce but a healthy dose of piracy as well! Sadly what made the island the most prosperous was that it became the center of the slave trade of the Atlantic. By 1863 the Dutch abolished slavery and to this day there are plantation homes and slave huts all over the island.
Now that we got our little history lesson let's get back to our tour!
We start out our little journey by the Floating Markets. This is a street next to a narrow water way where Venezuelan fishing ships dock. They bring fresh vegetables and fish from the mainland on a daily basis. It's a colorful stretch where vendors and buyers joke around and tourist (like me) take their picture or buy a banana.
After the Floating Market you round the corner to face the major canal running through Willemstad. The streets are lined with colorful historical buildings and busy outdoor cafes. John and I stopped for a ice coffee and enjoyed the shade as we watched the tugs and ferries navigate by.
[/caption]
Let's start by mentioning that we had some pretty BAD luck this day. We started out the day with high hopes and ambitions to photo shoot the whole city in a day; however our bus never showed up on time. So by a very round-about method of getting to town we finally had gotten there some two hours later! Then lo-and-behold it was the one overcast day we've had in a month. Go figure. So after collecting our wits at the cafe we once again started off. Nothing is going to stop us! As we were crossing the floating bridge to get to Otrabanda (literally means "other side") the bridge began opening. This bridge has a little engine on it and when ships need to enter it slings itself open. Well we heard the siren go off but thinking it was the normal 15min ordeal we decided to stay on the bridge as it provided some good shots. Some 45min later we were still on the bridge! Turns out a massive tanker was due in, so we were stuck on the bridge for close to an hour and watched the tugs pull in the tanker. Not the entertainment we were looking for!
Finally after the boat show we walked around the waterfront area of Otrabanda.After this picture we were told to donate to "the Shoe" but didn't have any change! John was so embarrassed to take such a touristy picture as well. Next photo tour we will spend more time in Otrabanda, but due to late buses and being stuck on the bridge we decided to go back to the Punda side to show you more of the colorful and historic buildings while there was light!The above picture is the clock tower downtown. On the hour when the clock strikes, all the bells chime out a little song. Also little mechanical people parade by on a track that runs in and out of the wall. Its a very showy clock.
There is a lot you can find by exploring the little alley ways and side streets that run through town. Sometimes when we are in town, its fun to explore between the alleys and find hidden cafes and restaurants.
There are several old plantation houses and mansion scattered throughout town. They are all built in the same colonial Dutch fashion. Some have been restored and turned into museums or business offices, but there are very many that still sit vacated. Sometimes we walk through the old neighborhoods just to look at these impressive old buildings.
As our plans currently are to stay on the island for a few more months, and to buy a new camera, we will be creating more "tours" of the different aspects of the island. What's next beaches, plantation homes, or maybe a round-up of our own neighborhood; Spanish Waters! Stay tuned.
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