VACATIONS FROM HOME: SEEING CURAÇAO

Friday, April 28, 2023

SEEING CURAÇAO

GOING OFF CAMPUS
When relaxing at a Sandals resort one can be forgiven if there is no interest in exploring the island further. Afterall, the charming upscale accommodations, the beauty of the grounds, the attentive staff and the many activities available on the resort, as well as great food, and free drinks all included, makes it is easy to slip through the days without a care or with every whim fulfilled.

Sandals is an all-inclusive adult couple only chain of Caribbean resorts headquartered in Jamaica. There are now 17 resorts scattered over 7 different islands with the opening last year of Sandals Royal Curaçao. We will be going to Curaçao very soon.

SANDALS RESORT

GOING DUTCH

Admittedly the free scuba diving offered by all the Sandals resorts is a major alluring feature, not to mention the food and drinks, and Curaçao is considered one of the best places to scuba in the Caribbean with colorful reefs and wrecks with great visibility because the dive sites are all protected from strong currents. Year round the weather is warm and one can scuba dive every day if one so chooses. On our four previous trips to a Sandals Resort we did just that and dove every day.

But because Curaçao is a former Dutch colony we thought we should see more of the island, and we booked an extra day so we could explore the island and her beaches and capital and not feel the pressure of being pulled in two different directions. This way we could experience great diving and explore a culture that is a rich fusion of European, namely Spanish and Dutch, and Caribbean.

LOVE BY IGUANA
WHAT?

The Dutch colonial buildings of the capital, Willemstad are painted in pastel Caribbean colors and the people speak Dutch and Spanish, English and the local creole language Papiamentu and we will likely hear Soca and Bachata, Reggaeton and Ritmo Kobima the music style that originated in Curaçao in the 90s, while walking through the colorful streets or having a Dutch beer or a Blue Curaçao infused drink at Netto's, the oldest bar on the island.

Blue Curaçao is a Dutch liqueur flavored with the dried peel of the local bitter orange Laraha, isn’t necessarily blue but can be clear or red or orange hued as well.

The palate explodes with foods influenced by Dutch Spanish and Caribbean cuisine items like Keshi Yena which are baked cheese balls stuffed with meats and vegetables, Arepas a traditional Venezuelan dish of cornmeal cakes with meats and vegetables inside, Poffertjes a sweet Dutch puffy pancake or Bitterballen which are Dutch tapas of savory meatballs.

Of course, there’s a lot of seafood, including red snapper, and Lionfish, an invasive species to the waters that is actively hunted and now served at some area restaurants. But, a visit to Curaçao must include a meal of fried Iguana. It may taste like chicken, but local lore says it’s an aphrodisiac! You think I'm making this up? You must be at least 18 to eat Iguana in Curaçao.