Our intention for today was for it to be heavily walking-oriented. We've not been on Curaçao since we visited two years ago on the HAL Maasdam. At that time, the hotel area near the International Mega Pier was still under construction, although a few stores were open for business. Well, now it's a gorgeous complex, with winding brick sidewalks throughout. We first sought out some wifi, and easily found it at Starbucks. That's where I uploaded the videos I posted earlier today. We then continued on, walking along the waterfront to the floating pedestrian bridge that connects the two sides of Willemstaad. This entire area looks so much more developed than when we were last here, and it's a seemingly different island than when I first visited here in December 2000.
That was my one cruise that I took as a solo, and I criss crossed the Caribbean for two weeks from Florida to Caracas, Venezuela. It rained the entire time until we reached Curaçao and Aruba, and on both islands I rented 4-wheeled drive vehicles and explored the entire day.
Good times. Good times.
We crossed the floating pedestrian bridge, and wandered the streets and shops of Willemstad. It's a delightful mix of Europe and South America with its own flavor mixed in. I was afraid that it had perhaps gotten too "cosmopolitan" with all the fancy clothing and jewelry stores and feared that a Curaçao trademark, the floating market, featuring fruits and vegetables brought on boats from South America, might have been chased out, but no, it was still there.
By mid afternoon, the heat and the sun were taking their toll, and we wandered back to the ship. At that point in time, the pedestrian bridge had opened to allow a stream of boat traffic through, and we had to take a 5-minute ferry ride to the other side.
After lunch in the buffet and a soak in a hot tub (G) or pool (me), we were ready to do it again, and so showered and headed off the ship around 5pm. Bold as we are, we wanted to see up close the man made beach/infinity pool of the Renaissance Resort. We walked in and wandered our way out there. It was the most perfect place to be for sunset!
Photo 1: the Queen Juliana Bridge with the Grandeur of the Sea in the foreground. That used to be called the "good" pier; now I'm not so sure.
Photo 2: the floating pedestrian bridge and the colorful buildings for which Curacao is known
Photo 3: a closer view
Photo 4: just one stand of the floating market
Photo 5: and the boats that bring the produce from South America
