Tour of Curaçao

While I can say we chose this cruise primarily because its itinerary included what are generally known as the ABC islands – Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, it is rather unfortunate that the Lord – or was it the Spanish? – didn’t manage to arrange them geographically in alphabetical order!

Our day began with a close pass by the German ship 'Mein Schiff 5' as it moved in to berth next to us

Celebrity Reflection looking resplendent on the quayside

So, having done Aruba, one might reasonably expect the next island to be Bonaire, but no, it’s Curaçao with Bonaire the day after that, so in the order ACB and not ABC.

Our tour began with a drive over the very high bridge above the harbour inlet.  As this channel has to take some quite large ships, then it has to be high enough for them to pass underneath

Son on we sailed from Aruba to Curacao. We awoke to find ourselves in Willemstad, so quickly got dressed and had breakfast before joining our 'Best of Curacao' excursion. Again it was very windy and Mr A had to hold on to his hat because he’d forgotten to bring out his new acquisition and was once again relying on his ‘Three Lions’ hat.

Our guide was a lively girl called Anais who had the most unbelievable Afro hair.  She said that although she was black with Afro hair, she has a white grandmother who looks like us, a black grandfather who is descended from slaves and that she also has two cousins who are Dutch who are white and with blond hair and blue eyes.  She said that whenever they have family get-together and  group photo people may well wonder how on earth they can all be so closely related.

There are many fine buildings in Willemstad, be they houses or administrative buildings

But there are also many in need of restoration.  They were built with bricks containing salt and the heat, humidity and the salt all react together to mean that these structures are in decay and need constant care with the outsides needing to be painted often

More later ....