Willemstad, Curaçao

Curaçao was inhabited by the Caquetio people, a branch of the Arawaks, as early as 2500 BC.  After the Spanish arrived in 1499, most of the indigenous population died of disease or were sent to work elsewhere in the empire.  Curaçao was ultimately taken over by the Dutch in 1634 and the island was divided into plantations in an era that lasted until the collapse of the Dutch West India Company in 1792 and the end of slavery in 1863.  In the early 20th century, the economy was jump-started by the construction of refineries to process oil from Venezuela and the island is now a regional center for commerce and banking.

Our ship is docked just inside St. Anna Bay and we go ashore and explore, walking over to the Queen Emma Bridge, a pontoon bridge across the bay built in 1888 to connect the Punda and Otrobanda sections of the city.

Welcome to Curaçao

Walking into town

Queen Emma Bridge

Looking both ways from the bridge

We cross the bridge from Otrobanda to Punda, the vibrant historic downtown district known for its colorful Dutch colonial architecture, pedestrian-only streets, and beautiful waterfront.  The two districts of the city Punda and Otrobanda stand for "Point" and "The Other Side".

Entering Punda

Looking back at our ship

As we wander into the city, we pass lanes and narrow waterways with great bridges leading to markets and residential areas.

Bridges

We stroll through the floating market where vendors arrive by boat and tie up behind their stalls.

Floating market

Past the floating market we pass the Marsha Nobo (New Market) with colorful stalls full of local crafts, artwork, jewelry, and clothing.

New Market

In the center of the Punda district, we find a park with a DUSHI sign, a word meaning "sweet," "nice," "good," or "darling," embodying the island's positive and welcoming spirit.  The word is used daily to describe good food, great experiences, or as a term of endearment.

Dushi

We're enjoying our wander through Punda and head down the narrow streets back toward the bridge.

Kayak/Snorkel Tour in Bonaire

One of the most notable features to greet us as we approach Bonaire is the distinctive line of white salt pyramids at the southeastern end of the island.  Each pyramid is roughly 50 feet (15 meters) high and contains approximately 10,000 metric tons of 99.6% pure salt.  The Bonaire solar salt facility, one of the largest in the Caribbean, covers approximately 13% of the island and utilizes a series of 50-acre condenser ponds that draw in saltwater from the Caribbean or a nearby brine lake and move it through a succession of ponds where the salinity is successively increased as the sun and wind evaporate the water.  When the salinity level reaches 25% to 30%, the solution is moved into crystallizer ponds where the salt begins to crystalize and precipitate out after reaching 37% salinity.  We are forewarned and spot several of the pyramids as we approach the island.

Approaching Kralendijk, Bonnaire

Salt pyramids

Views of Kralendijk

We sign up for a kayak tour from the port across the bay to Te Amo Beach in the southern part of Bonaire Marine Park, a fabulous snorkeling place along the reef just off the beach.  The park was established in 1979 to protect and manage the island's resources, starting at the high water mark and extending to 60 meters (200 feet) in depth, encompassing the narrow fringing reef around Bonaire which begins at the shoreline and extends to 300 meters (984 feet) offshore

Changing from cruise ship to kayaks

Heading across the bay

Arriving at Te Amo Beach

Marine Park

We enter the water and find the reef only a short distance from the beach.  The water around the reef is packed with schools of colorful smaller fish and larger (still colorful) fish that don't seem to be bothered by our snorkeling group on the top of the water.

Snorkeling above the reef

All too soon, it is time for us to paddle back to the port and return to our ship for dinner and a sail away to our next destination.

Kayaks back into the water

Although sone of the kayaking is challenging with a offshore beam wind blowing perpendicular to our direction of travel, we all make it, have a great time, and see the best collection of colorful Caribbean fish of the cruise.

Walking Around Kralendijk, Bonaire

Bonaire was populated by the Arawaks for thousands of years before Spain claimed the island in 1499.  In 1634 the Dutch took control and saw a future in salt production which lasted until the 19th century.  The island then alternated between Dutch and British rule for many years and, during World War II, was a protectorate of Britain and the United States.  After the war, Bonaire returned to direct Dutch rule as a special municipality within the Netherlands (sharing this designation with Saba and Sint Eustatius).  The Netherland Antilles was formally dissolved in 2010 and Bonaire is now an independent nation within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The capital, Kralendijk is filled with colorful buildings, restaurants, cafes, and bars.  We walk over from the dock and explore.

Walking tour

Motto to live by

We first walk past the waterfront, with restaurants and shops on one side and cruise ships and bars and more restaurants on the water on the other.

Town on one side

Harbor on the other

As we walk away from the harbor and then parallel to it on streets withing the town, we encounter fun artwork on the sidewalks and more art and vibrant colors on the walls of the buildings.

Sidewalk art

Colorful buildings

Art on the walls

In the center of town, a time capsule was set up in 2002 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Bonaire Lions Club with letters and contemporary articles, to be opened in another 40 years:  2042.

Time capsule

Circling back to the ship, we pass along the harbor and return to enjoy an on-deck barbeque as the sun sets and evening descends.

Returning to the ship

Sunset

Dining on deck

Thus comes the fabulous end to another great day on board and on shore!