Curacao

Climate – We are talking perfect climate.  There has never been a temperature recorded on Curacao that was under 68 Deg F! High temperatures in the hottest Summer months are also moderated by the ocean. Curacao does not get as hot as you may imagine, given its proximity to the equatorial region.  The highest temperature ever recorded was about 102 degrees F and the average high temperature is about 92 degrees F in the hottest Months.  You can normally depend on temperatures in the mid 70s to mid 80s on any day. July and August Dog Days are a little hotter and there is a cooler (wet) season, but Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring, does not apply. It is paradise year round!

Be prepared and advised that nude and topless bathing is permitted on Curacao. There are mixed opinions about nude bathing among Curacao inhabitants and International tourists. Try to get a feel for the prevailing climate & appropriate degree of permitted nudity before you disrobe so as not to offend anyone.

People – Nothing about the Island Nation of Curacao is more appealing than its people. Curacao is a well developed industrial base and about 150,000 Islanders enjoy the highest per capita income in the Caribbean.  Shipping is very big business on Curacao and many Islanders are employed in this industry. Not to hate on other Caribbean islands, but in the morning, Curacao goes to work, just like you and me.  They do not go to the hotels to rob you blind and otherwise prey on tourists.  

I was surprised and very pleased that most Curacao Islanders consider themselves to be African Americans. It took a while for me to understand. Over 92 percent of the Island population has some African origin. Curacao is in the Americas.  African American, duh! Other racial groups and contributors are the Native Arawak Indians, Dutch, Latin American, and Brazilian. OK, now forget about that because race doesn’t matter! Curacao is the “island by the sea, with rainbow colored people, happy as can be”, that Teena Marie sang about. When these hard working people get off from work, it is time to play, …, every day, every way.  

The people are largely African, steeped in Latin culture with heavy influence from Venezuela and Colombia, with additional strong influence from Holland.  I once had a conversation with a well traveled, well cultured, lovely lady from Curacao. Her mother was Dutch and her father was Colombian and African from Aruba. I asked her how hard it was to learn to speak 5 languages fluently.  She said, “Look at those ships Ricardo. The people that got off of those ships taught me”.  

Curacao was a center for slave trading. The Dutch West India Trading Company was the largest trader of slaves in history. Over 95% of African Americans in the Western Hemisphere can trace their heritage through Curacao. The yard was notorious. Today a major refinery (ISLA) is located there at Asiento.  Curacao Africans are the remnant of the slave trade. The word “specimen” comes directly to my mind. Through my outsider’s eyes I saw deep dark skin with no racial mixture, ladies that stand six foot tall or more and that don’t walk like Big Bird, 70 year old men without grey hair, fine facial features, heavenly bodies, all from the Mother Africa.  The Dutch West India Trading Company! When racial mixing occurs in this location it consists of gorgeous African Specimens, Dutch, and Colombianos. The hybrid mixtures are astounding!

My Modus Operandi – Houston, American Airlines to Miami, 2 hours from Miami to Hato Airport; 20 minutes in Customs, over to the car rental offices, 5 minute ride to Willemstad to an Otrobanda Hotel, throw my bags in the room, grab a copy of K-Pasa to find out where the happy hour is, GO! You never know where the party will lead, but one thing is for sure, “There will be beautiful people around you”.  I remember the expressions on the faces of European male tourist as they got there first look at the island women. The look is like, “damn they are beautiful”.  And the side note, like the drunk that finally realizes his condition, “And boy do they have some nice big butts”. Never fails. If you never make it to Brazil, I do suggest Curacao!

You’ll want to shop for liquor, beer, tobacco, and other vanity and spiritual adjustment aides. I remember polling the Latin men that I worked with and there seems to be no consensus on the best cigars, rum, coffee, or women, except that they surely come from their home country.

can be found everywhere, especially when you consider the exotic locale. Restaurants will be keeping the spirits flowing to your total pleasure. You will be surrounded by local people, tourist and visitors from every corner of the globe, and everyone will be smiling and laughing. Find a favorite sidewalk café, and thoroughly enjoy yourself. I also took great pleasure in frequenting common fast food franchise type restaurants and getting close to the people of Curacao. Places like Pizza Hut, McDonalds, and Denny’s are wildly popular, have cable or satellite TV, and they are hang-outs for youths and families. Try a Pizza Hut on Sunday evening. They are very sociable and there is great enjoyment when the youth “Show Off” their mastery of the English language through conversation with you!

Campo – I first heard of Le Mirage, (Campo Alegra) on my first plane ride to Curacao as some older local Island women discussed the likelihood of plane passengers visiting the infamous house of pleasure.  They said, “some of them come to the Island only for Campo”.  Surely they were advertising because they were not speaking Papi!  It took a few visits to the Island for me to know exactly what Campo is.  A mile away from the airport on an old military compound sits the Caribbean’s largest and most popular open-air brothel.  Dominicans, Colombians, Panamanians, Brazilians, and others from anywhere in the Caribbean, South America in general, and a few from Eastern Europe and Central America  come to Curacao to grace the Island’s popular brothel. $25.00 is all you need to spend some time with the girl of your dreams. Well, at least the girl of your choice. Nearly 150 Latinas strutting their stuff around a compound with alcohol, bars, nightclubs, strip clubs, benches, courtyards, …, dressed in lingerie or other sexxxy stuff.  Wave to them and it is on. No worry about what language you speak. There is a universal language thing happening. Ladies night is Tuesday, I think. (Since this writing, Campo was forced to closed due to economic hardship resulting from the Covid Pandemic, and a reopening date has not been announced.)

Hotels – My personal experience with hotels on Curacao is very limited.  I have rented rooms at the Renaissance Resort and the Kura Hulanda in Wespunt.  Curacao has many new hotels, lodges, and houses. My thought is that I will spend precious little time in a hotel room while on Curacao. It is pleasing to have world class accommodations, but seek out what is exotic, wild, and sensuous while on Curacao. For a private experience I recommend Westpunt.

I was not a photographer when I traveled to Curacao. I did have my pocket camera that I used for documentation of engineering work. I dream of returning to Curacao with my Full Photography Bag.

Remember, 2 hours from Miami!