Curaçao, located thirty-five miles north of the coast
of Venezuela, is the most populated island of the Netherlands Antilles and the
largest at 37 miles long and 7 miles wide at its widest point. The
distinctive culture of Curacao, its warm people, lively casinos and Curacao all
inclusive resorts, and beautiful beaches and water sports draw visitors from
around the world. Curaçao
was located first by Amerigo Vespucci in 1499. Spanish invaders exterminated
the Arawak Indians and in turn were expelled by the Dutch in 1634. The Dutch
turned Curacao into a tropical version Netherlands thumbnail. The
threat of the British and French invaders also forced the Dutch to transform
the island into a fortress narrow harbor entrance is guarded by thick walls,
and many high hill (some of which have been turned into restaurants) protected
the outskirts of the coast. Curaçao
has maintained a sleepy backwater until 1915, when the Royal Dutch Shell Oil
Company has built one of the largest refineries in the world here in order to
process Venezuelan crude oil. Workers
paid fifty countries in all inclusive Curacao, turning the island into a
multicultural and cosmopolitan community of 200,000 people.
Red lines covered, town
houses in pastel colors adorn the city center, and Queen Emma Bridge there is a
splendid view of old colonial houses of Willemstad in pastel colors. These
houses, three and four floors are crowned with pediments and Spanish tile roofs
steep oranges. The
houses line the streets and narrow lanes between the sea channel and entrance,
and they give the city an air of fairy tales. A
great way to explore Willenmstad is taken for one hour tram ride in cars with
side aperture pulled by a locomotive. Tours
depart Fort Amsterdam near the Queen Emma Bridge, 10 hours and costs $ 22.
Today
Waterfort offers boutiques, shops, ice cream parlors and is an excellent place
to rest in an airy terrace by the sea and enjoy an Amstel beer. Also
on the list of "must see" is Fort Nassau, built atop a hill in 1797,
commanding spectacular views of the coast. Much
of the surrounding resorts in Curacao is arid, like the American Southwest, and
dotted with divi-divi trees, cactus three pins and thorny aloe leaves.
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