Curaçao was inhabited by the Caquetio people, a branch of the Arawaks, as early as 2500 BC. After the Spanish arrived in 1499, most of the indigenous population died of disease or were sent to work elsewhere in the empire. Curaçao was ultimately taken over by the Dutch in 1634 and the island was divided into plantations in an era that lasted until the collapse of the Dutch West India Company in 1792 and the end of slavery in 1863. In the early 20th century, the economy was jump-started by the construction of refineries to process oil from Venezuela and the island is now a regional center for commerce and banking.
Our ship is docked just inside St. Anna Bay and we go ashore and explore, walking over to the Queen Emma Bridge, a pontoon bridge across the bay built in 1888 to connect the Punda and Otrobanda sections of the city.
Welcome to Curaçao
Walking into town
Queen Emma Bridge
Looking both ways from the bridge
We cross the bridge from Otrobanda to Punda, the vibrant historic downtown district known for its colorful Dutch colonial architecture, pedestrian-only streets, and beautiful waterfront. The two districts of the city Punda and Otrobanda stand for "Point" and "The Other Side".
Entering Punda
Looking back at our ship
As we wander into the city, we pass lanes and narrow waterways with great bridges leading to markets and residential areas.
Bridges
We stroll through the floating market where vendors arrive by boat and tie up behind their stalls.
Floating market
Past the floating market we pass the Marsha Nobo (New Market) with colorful stalls full of local crafts, artwork, jewelry, and clothing.
In the center of the Punda district, we find a park with a DUSHI sign, a word meaning "sweet," "nice," "good," or "darling," embodying the island's positive and welcoming spirit. The word is used daily to describe good food, great experiences, or as a term of endearment.
Dushi
We're enjoying our wander through Punda and head down the narrow streets back toward the bridge.
No comments:
Post a Comment