Page 9 - Hobe Sound Reflections - October '20

Hobe Sound, Page 9

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Curaçao ‘The Cure’ could supply enough food for all the island’s inhabitants.
Because of population growth and the dry years, the residents
By Don Kiselewski, MCC, depended upon Holland and the continent for food. Today,
D.S., Palm Beach Gardens enterprising merchants sail their small boats through the open
Travel Leaders water from the South American continent to bring fresh fruits
The “C” in the ABC and vegetables to the islanders.
islands, just off the coast Following the demise of the Dutch West India Company,
of Venezuela, stands for Curaçao became under the jurisdiction of the Dutch Parliament,
Curaçao. Curaçao, along but it was also ruled twice by the British from 1800 to 1803
with Aruba to its west and and 1807 to 1815. The island’s population in 1816 was 14,000.
Bonaire to its east, form the Today there are about 160,000 residents with as many as 55
very Dutch territory of the different backgrounds from all over the world living in Curaçao,
Lesser Antilles. However, it the largest and most populated of the ABCs. It became an
was the Spanish who were to autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1954.
record the first visit to the islands. Curaçao’s government is based on the parliamentary system,
On his way to South America in 1499, Amerigo Vespucci with elections held every four years, and is governed by an
left a few of his scurvy-afflicted sailors on the island to die. executive council (commissioners) and a legislative council.
Upon his return less than a year later, he expected to find them Willemstad, the largest city, serves as its capital.
dead, but instead was astonished to see them alive and well, Curaçao is 38 miles long and runs in a northwest to
having been completely cured. for this reason he named the southeast direction. It’s anywhere from two to seven and a Floating fishermen’s market in Willemstad, Curaçao
island Curaçao, based on the Portuguese word for “the cure.” half miles wide and lies 35 miles north of Venezuela, 42 miles
The news of “the cure” brought the Spanish settlers in the east of Aruba and 30 miles west of Bonaire. Perhaps they Willemstad is divided by the inlet to St. Anna Bay. In
early 1500s. They were followed by the Dutch, who captured should be called the ACB islands. The average temperature is 1634, the Dutch West Indies Trading Company settled on
the island and founded the settlement with Peter Stuyvesant 82 degrees Fahrenheit with very low humidity and refreshing the east side and called it De Punt meaning “The Point.”
becoming governor. When the Dutch West India Company year-round trade winds of more than 13 knots to keep things Over time, it was changed into what we now know as
took Curaçao from the Spanish in 1634, their intention was cool and comfortable, even under the tropical sun. Outside Punda. Fort Amsterdam, which is the oldest structure on the
to use it as a strategic base to fight their enemies. The ABC of the hurricane belt, the sun shines every day and the island, controlled the entrance from the very tip of the point.
islands had once been designated “inutile” (useless) because total annual rainfall is only 22 inches, with November and Punda was a well-planned and typical Dutch settlement.
of the dry climate, lack of fresh water and minerals but, as it December being the rainiest months. Otrobanda, on the other side of the inlet, was a happy-go-
turned out, Bonaire and Curaçao functioned as salt producers There are five locations on the southwestern side of the lucky collection of all kinds of buildings in twisted alleys
and Curaçao became a very busy depot, until the beginning island that provide a narrow passage for ships through the and streets, with monumental mansions rubbing shoulders
of the 18th century. coastline, which then opens up to a larger protected interior with the modest houses of the poor. The name Otrobanda
Trade had its high point in 1713 and then fell off. This bay. This feature provides excellent protection from the comes from the Dutch phase “otro banda,” which translates
decline turned the merchants of Curaçao to contraband and seas, as well as loading facilities for materials. Recognizing to “other side.” A fort known as the Riffort was built on the
trading expeditions with the surrounding region. Curaçao’s the shipping friendly attribute of these harbors, the Royal point of Otrobanda at the inlet.
climate and the industriousness of its Jewish immigrants Dutch Shell Refineries were
soon made it an international trading port, which furthered its established in the 1920s.
economic growth. Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, founded These handle the huge oil
in 1730, remains today as evidence of this movement. It is the tankers from Venezuela,
oldest active synagogue in the western hemisphere. processing the crude oil and
The basic need for communication among Dutch shipping to various world
Protestant Company representatives and soldiers, Jewish ports. These refineries caused
families from Portugal, native Amerindians, free people and the demand for employment
the mélange of traders and sailors, etc., led to the creation to rise and prompted sizeable
of Papiamentu, a Creole language still spoken today by emigrations from Europe
the majority of residents. In addition to Papiamentu, most and the surrounding regions
residents are also fluent in three other languages: Dutch, of the Caribbean. During
English and Spanish. WWII, Curaçao served as an
Curaçao became the site of several large plantations but American base for allies and
was never considered a real plantation colony. Maize, sugar oil-transshipment facilities,
on a small scale, peanuts, melons and other fruits were grown. and its unique harbors served
Sheep and goats were plentiful and in good times the island the war effort well. Floating fishermen’s market in Willemstad, Curaçao – another view

Access between the two sections of Willemstad
was limited to boats until a unique floating bridge was
constructed across the inlet.
The Queen Emma Bridge is built in sections that
float on pontoons; each of these pontoons is propelled
by individual motors, and the entire bridge swings open
and closed using a fixed tugboat on the free end in
Punda. The fixed end of the bridge pivots from a point
on the Otrobanda side and rotates until the other end
lines up with the opposing bank in Punda. Pedestrian and
motorized traffic can then transit the inlet. When open,
the bridge is tied to the bank along the Otrobanda side
of the inlet.
The last 30 years have brought the island modern
highways, fresh water from its desalination plant, and
the 197-foot-high Queen Julian Bridge to span the inlet.
It also has brought tourism. Curaçao has all of the first-
class tourist attractions, including gambling, diving and
water sports, shopping and world-class accommodations
and cuisine. These are served up with a Dutch flair and
atypical fashion for a Caribbean island.
Hospitality flows freely on Curaçao. The people are
glad to help you in any way, so don’t be surprised if you
get invited into some of the homes.
Don Kiselewski writes from his personal experiences,
having traveled in 122 countries and cruised the oceans,
seas and rivers of the world. Palm Beach Gardens Travel
Leaders, his family owned and operated agency, is
located at Mirasol Town Square, 11360 North Jog Road,
Building A, Suite 102-6, Palm Beach Gardens. The agency
has been serving the travel needs of the South Florida
area for over a quarter of a century. Contact him at (561)
694-9696 or Aussie@PBGTravel.com.

Photos by Don Kiselewski