One of the ABC Islands, formally of the Netherlands (Dutch) Antilles, Curacao is the world’s newest country, that opted for autonomy within The Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010. Located 80 miles east of Aruba, 40 miles west of Bonaire, and 40 miles north of Venezuela, there sits the Island Paradise of Curacao. You probably have heard of Curacao and you have reference to the colorful-pastel, Dutch-Colonial Architecture, and of course, Curacao Liqueur. (Even though you probably are familiar with a cheap knock off) There is nothing like the real thing and there are many other flavors in addition to Blue. I was blessed to have work on the Island that required me to travel there weekly over the better part of 5 months. It really burnt up my passport and I enjoyed every moment of it.
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!
Beach – Northern beaches are for professional swimmers and divers only. Divers will feast on luscious coral reef that is not to be equaled by many locations worldwide. Caution is advised on the north because that side of the Island has strong, pounding waves and the reef is very unforgiving. Professionals only! For the rest of us beach bums, the southern beaches will not leave you wanting and luscious reef may be observed on the south also. I personally have enjoyed Mambo Beach, and Hemmingway’s (Just east of Mambo Beach), which is a delightful place to sip on a cool drink and enjoy its relatively un-crowded beach scene. For the hot events and the social mixing, drift back west to Mambo and you will not be disappointed. I also had the pleasure of enjoying the sunsets at Westpunt with the stunning red, orange, and yellow sky show.
Sunset at Hemmingway’s Just East of Mambo Beach
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!
Curacao is ultra progressive with heavy influences from the Netherlands. Do not underestimate the intelligence and sophistication of the natives. They will leave you in the dust. “Amsterdam of the Caribbean” is one of the island’s well deserved nicknames. I thoroughly enjoyed the “island mentality” as I recognized that natives gravitate to anything and everything that is from the outside and different, like Me! And you will find Wilhelmena or Rosa-Malinda sipping on a Mohito with a tear about to fall, because Barracuda or Snake did not come home last night, with her phat booty. Hmmm! I had to say that. I guess for completeness sake, I have had women tell me that there are not enough men on the Island, that there are not nearly enough straight men on the Island, that there are not enough professional men on the Island, that all of the good men are taken, and many other lines, with gaping openings for a player like you. But be careful because you are going to fall deeply in love!
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.
Food – I had two distinct experiences with food and dining while on the Island. My first experience was the cafeteria styled, “All You Can Eat”, from a 4 Star hotel. The variety was good and selections were interesting and new to me. The food was bland and repetitive and I do not recommend ever going for the all inclusive “All You Can Eat” route. Eating is an exotic adventure on Curacao. Take it from one that spent many, many weeks on Curacao, dining in the early evening at local Curacao restaurants can not be beaten in the Caribbean. The lists of fine dining venues is limitless, and the variety is staggering. Cheese is served with everything. Prepare to taste every cheese known to modern man! Pricing is an additional treat for the traveler. Very moderate pricing
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.)
Curacao is the top of a subsea mountain range with a very steep drop off. There is very deep ocean surrounding all of Curacao. For Divers, this means very few ship wrecks. But this is one reason that makes Curacao an attractive location for shipping. There is probably no size of vessel that can’t be accommodated at the Curacao Dry Docks, making Curacao an ideal service and maintenance stop for ships from all over the world. I spent approximately 5 months working at the docks and I can say that I have never seen a more vast array of ships of every size, function, flags, …, everything. Facinating!
Language – I am aware of 5 languages spoken on Curacao. Papiamentu, Dutch, English, Portuguese, and Spanish. It may be intimidating to most of us, especially if we only speak one or two languages. The simple trick is to speak your own language and rest assured that Curacao Islanders will understand you, and be more than willing to help you and enjoy communicating with you in all respects. Papiamentu is the lovely local Creole dialect. It is a lovely blend of African, Dutch, and other influences. The accent is decidedly African. I am sure that in Heaven, God only allows angels to speak Papi. Imagine Brazilian Portuguese, only Much Prettier!
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!
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