Curacao
Our next port was Curacao. It is just 15 miles North of Venezuela, we were told, although I have read that it is actually 35 miles North. Maybe it’s Aruba that is 15 miles North. One of them is! This is also a Dutch island, as seen from the architecture throughout the island.
The people claim descent from over 50 different ethnic backgrounds, and the native language, Papiamentu, is a creole mixture of Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, English, French, African, and some Arawak Indian. Our taxi driver told us that. It is also a very affluent island from it’s oil industry.
Our shore excursion took us on an early boat ride to van der Valk Beach where we lounged and explored. We did not have our complimentary beverage, however, because it was only punch. Who wants punch? A diet coke would have worked for me.
Three hours later we were transported back to the ship, had a shower and lunch, and shopped in Curacao…after wandering about wondering where the shops were and hiring a taxi that took us the long way around in order to make more money, only to realize when we got there that we had been across the bay from the shops but didn’t know it because the bridge was up…Aargh. I guess it helps to read the ship’s instructions about the port… :-).