PHOTOS HERE —>>>Curacao July 2015
We flew into Curacao
with our grandchildren Ethan and Rhianna on the 2nd July. Our trip over was made ever so much 
more pleasant by Katie our daughter in law, who signed us into the Admirals Club. In there we had courtesy tea, coffee, snacks of all types, cold drinks and wifi. We all relaxed and only arrived at our gate 7 hours later as they were boarding our flight.
Curacao Marine
The flight arrived in Curacao later in the evening so when we arrived at Curacao Marine it was time for bed. The following few days were used stocking up with supplies, getting data and cleaning up. The boat had become covered with dust and needed a major wash down. After getting data in Willemstad we walked around visited the floating market and 
showed Ethan and Rhianna some of the unique city.
National Park Shete Boka
On Sunday 5th we took a drive to the western end of Curacao and stopped at the National Park Shete Boka. This is a national park, which is along the shoreline. There we walked along the paths that led us to fantastic erosion created by the power of the sea pounding the shore.
The sea here pounds mercilessly onto the rocky shoreline with massive waves that have rolled up. The spray drenches the air making everything and everyone salty not many plants can live in these conditions. We followed the paths to Boka Tabla and watched the power of the waves. We then explored the cave where you can see the sea rolling in under the ledge.
Then along the shoreline to Boka Wandomi where there is a natural bridge. We found some shade
for the car and ate our picnic lunch – you can’t sit in the picnic area unless you buy the foods for sale. The second two sites we visited after lunch featured a bay – Boka Kalki and then a massive blowhole – Boka Pistol. Again the power of the sea was astounding to watch.
On the 4th July the Americans in our marina
had a potluck barbeque in the Tiki hut. This was a fun evening where we caught up with some folks we knew and met others we had not met before.
Chico
had been staying at Cats and Pets while we were away. On the Sunday the day before we left Curacao Marine we drove to get him. Chico had been very well cared for but had matured. He is now only playful sometimes. He also was quite quiet upon his return and got very stressed when we left for Spanish Waters the next day.
Spanish Waters
The trip to Spanish Waters was only 5 miles, but it took us over 2 hours. Firstly the pontoon bridge took ages to open, as we had to wait according to the harbour master, why? Who knows? That is how they do things here. Then it was a 
slog into the wind, current and seas. The seas actually were not too bad, but the current was running at about 2 knots.
We arrived at Spanish Waters and have been pleasantly surprised by the
anchorage. We are in area B, the water is clean, the holding is great, there is an excellent breeze, no bugs, there is plenty of swing room for privacy and overall it is very quiet. You never seem to feel hot in Curacao as the humidity is fairly low and the wind blows constantly.
Caracus Baai, Spanish Waters
We have been exploring the area by walking the lanes and tracks near Caracus Baai. Along the 
way there are several beaches, Baya Beach, Tugboat Bay and Directie Bay and a huge rig off shore. This rig is apparently a pipe layer called Castoro 7. To me Castoro 7 looks like a giant metal dinosaur. Just along from the rig we climbed into an old fort – Fort Beekenburg, which had been founded in 1703. It looked to be under restoration, but 
was still interesting to wander around, explore and enjoy the views from 
the top of the tower.
Further along you find another bay, next to an oil tanker dock. This bay is Tug Boat Bay where there is a wreck of a tug. The wreck is supposed to be a good snorkeling and dive site. We hope to snorkel there soon.
Above Tug Boat Bay is another old, old building, which looked to be an old plantation type house. Again we spent time exploring the old building. From there we walked along a track to Directie Bay. This bay looks like a good snorkeling site, as the water is lovely and clear. The foliage is all thorn bushes and cactus so wearing shoes and staying on the paths and lanes is a must, as 
Rhianna found out the hard way. There are many very colorful birds everywhere, some are bright orange, others yellow and then there are the green and red parrots.
Willemstad
We caught the bus into Willemstad one morning and explored. Willemstad is divided into 2 sections – Otrobanda and Punda – by the waterway –Sint Anna Baai – that runs down the center. The bridges Juliana and the Pontoon connect the divided city.
We had a wonderful batido each when we first arrived. These batidos/licuados are similar to 
smoothies, but are Latin American, made from fresh milk, fruit and ice blended together and are wonderful. The Otrobanda is full of older shops, which sell any type of merchandise while the Punda has the narrow alleyways, and the more modern shops. Both areas have very old Dutch architecture, which is lovely and colourful. We wandered around enjoying the sites and visited the floating market for our 
fruit.
On the 14th July we rented a car as we had to get propane – all 3 bottles were empty – bad planning, plus do laundry and there is nowhere around Spanish Waters – and I was not washing sheets and towels by hand! So off we went, dropped off the laundry, got the propane and went to visit Hato Caves.
Hato Caves
Hato Caves is found along the northeastern end of Curacao, a very arid area. These caves were first used by the Arawack Indians and then the run away slaves. The Indians never went inside the caves, as they believed that 
undesirable spirits lived in them, but they used the outside walls for their drawings – petroglyphs. The runaway slaves hid in the caves and then were captured and returned to slavery with the caves being blocked from further use.
The guide explains how Curacao was thrust up from volcanic action below the sea bed thus the land we saw was I fact below the sea’s surface at one time therefore explaining all of the fossils of sea fans and such that can be seen in Curacao. The caves are large limestone caves 
with the usual stalactites and stalagmites. We had a very good tour 
through the caves, but were only able to take photos in certain areas as the caves and their inhabitants the bats are protected.
Petroglyphs
Following the cave tour we took a self guided tour of the grounds. Rhianna was our guide, reading the info to us in a very professional voice. We saw the petroglyphs – Ancient cave drawings, which are between 1200 to 1500 years old, many fossils 
and examples of the local foliage – cactus and brush which can 
withstand extremely dry conditions as is found in Curacao.
Westpunt – Watamula
For our second day with the car we headed towards Westpunt. We 
stopped at Watamula, which is on the shoreline. There we had our picnic lunch and explored. Again here the action of the sea is just amazing to watch as it pounds against the shore. There were many blowholes and other formations created by the erosive action of the sea. We walked a ways along towards 
the point, but didn’t want to go too far as we felt the car was quite vulnerable. (There is a major theft problem in Curacao)
From there we drove along the shoreline stopping at a few of the bay’s we had not previously 
visited. We were particularly impressed with Playa Grandi where there is the Alice in Wonderland dive site. We intend to return there to dive, enjoy the beach and spend the day with Gavin and Katie. We stopped at a few beaches to see what they were like and ended up swimming another bay Playa Jeremi where we had a lovely refreshing swim.
Tug Boat Bay snorkel
Today we walked with Kay, off Bad Bunny, a Swedish single-handed, (person who sails boat by self) Soren, another couple, the fellow Leo was from Argentina and his girlfriend was from Brazil to the Tug Boat Bay. There we all went snorkeling off the tugboat dive 
site and along the shoreline and pylons. The water is just crystal clear, 
the corals very healthy and abundant, the fish are numerous and of many varieties. It was a wonderful snorkel, after which we enjoyed chatting while eating and sharing fruit amongst ourselves and with the iguanas.
