| : Island of Wonder and Intrigue | | | | Funchi which is a cornmeal mush similar to polenta. Of |
| Sunny, warm and charming, Curacao [pronounced | | | | course, being an island community, there are always |
| 'koo-rah-sow'] is a beautiful resort destination that is | | | | plenty of fresh fish and other seafood dishes. |
| relatively unknown to many people. With it's Dutch | | | | Of course, there's also the one thing that many people |
| Colonial buildings and traditional Caribbean feel, it's a | | | | have heard of before they even knew there was a |
| unique place that incorporates the best of 55 different | | | | place called Curacao. What is it? The Curacao liqueur. |
| nationalities to create a purely individual culture. In fact, | | | | Developed here in the late 1800's, it started out as a |
| four languages are spoken here: English, Spanish, | | | | local experiment with the rinds of a locally grown |
| Dutch and their own Papiamento. It's cosmopolitan, but | | | | variety of oranges, which themselves weren't very |
| simple. And incredibly gorgeous. Where is Curacao? | | | | edible. How is it made? Curacao liqueur is processed |
| Located in the southern part of the Caribbean Sea, this | | | | with the dried peels of the "Laraha" (Curacao native |
| exquisite island paradise is off the coast of Venezuela | | | | orange), which when dried by the sun, contains an |
| and is the most populated and largest of the three | | | | etheric oil with a pleasing fragrance and even better |
| "ABC" islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao). It is part | | | | taste. |
| of the Netherlands Antilles, a self-governing part of the | | | | THINGS TO SEE AND DO |
| Kingdom of the Netherlands. The capital is Willemstad. | | | | Visit Historical Sites: Make sure you see the |
| This busy port city sees a lot of traffic from the | | | | restored mansions of Scharloo and Pietermaai, dating |
| island's large oil refinery, which is second only to | | | | from the 1700's. They are spectacular, and incredibly |
| tourism for the local economy. As of result of the oil, | | | | interesting. These neighborhoods have even been |
| Curacao is one of the more prosperous parts of the | | | | placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which |
| Caribbean region. | | | | commemorates unique value to the world's cultural and |
| Also well known here are the island's coral reefs. The | | | | natural heritage. |
| world's best divers and snorkelers have already | | | | Curacao Seaquarium: Built on the oceanfront at |
| discovered this wondrous vacation hideaway. Where | | | | Bapor Kibra in 1984, this exquisite complex is one of |
| are the hot spots? Most of them are on the south side | | | | the most unique in the world because of its |
| of the island. Especially interesting in Curacao is that | | | | "open-water-system," which allows seawater to be |
| the sea floor drops off steeply within a few hundred | | | | continuously pumped into the aquariums. Be sure to |
| feet of the shore. As a result, you can get to the reef | | | | watch a feeding show and experience the "touch |
| simply by swimming - no boat needed! In addition, the | | | | tank", which gives you the chance to touch live animals! |
| coastline of Curacao has lots of intriguing bays and | | | | Dolphin Academy: Get the opportunity to meet, |
| inlets, many of which are good for mooring. | | | | swim, and snorkel up close with Curacao's cute and |
| Surprisingly, Curacao has a semi-arid climate, similar to | | | | fascinating dolphins! Because you stand on a platform |
| the Southwestern U.S., with plenty of cactus, | | | | in the water about waist deep, the animals will swim |
| evergreens and warm weather native plants. If you've | | | | right up to you. |
| been to the big island of Hawaii, it's more along these | | | | Hato Caves: The Hato Caves are a must-see |
| lines, as opposed to a lush, tropical island rainforest. | | | | when you come to Curacao. Formed below sea level |
| Although always a possibility, Curacao typically misses | | | | millions of years ago, the Ice Age dropped the water |
| many of the hurricanes each season, as it's positioned | | | | level down and left these spectacular caves. Beautiful |
| away from the hurricane belt. Curacao's highest point | | | | limestone formations, romantic pools, a waterfall and |
| is Christoffelberg, rising 1,230 feet in the northwestern | | | | even a colony of fruit bats await! |
| part of the island. | | | | Punda, Willemstad: Location of many shops and |
| The Food | | | | tourist activities in Willemstad. |
| Ever tried Stoba? Well, you're in for a treat. A delicious | | | | Landhuis Brievengat, Curacao: A museum by day |
| stew made with lots of different ingredients, like | | | | and a partying live music club by night. This |
| papaya and goat, or beef. Stoba is a major dish of | | | | 18th-century plantation house is a great place to have |
| Curacao and part of the traditional fare, known as | | | | some fun. |
| "Krioyo". Similar to Caribbean and Latin American | | | | Amstel Brewery, Willemstad: Take a tour of the |
| cuisine, Curacao chefs use an eclectic blend of flavors | | | | factory and taste the only beer made with distilled |
| and techniques that bring out interesting tastes. Other | | | | seawater! |
| popular dishes include Jambo, a soup made from okra | | | | Handelskade, Willemstad: The famous street with |
| and seafood), a cactus soup called Kadushi, and | | | | the brightly painted 18th century buildings. |