Page 14 - The Islander - October '20

Page 14, The Islander

Travel

Curaçao ‘The Cure’

By Don Kiselewski, MCC, D.S., Palm Beach Gardens Travel Leaders
The “C” in the ABC were grown. Sheep and goats were plentiful and in good Curaçao is 38 miles long and runs in a northwest to
islands, just off the coast times the island could supply enough food for all the southeast direction. It’s anywhere from two to seven and
of Venezuela, stands for island’s inhabitants. Because of population growth and a half miles wide and lies 35 miles north of Venezuela, 42
Curaçao. Curaçao, along the dry years, the residents depended upon Holland and miles east of Aruba and 30 miles west of Bonaire. Perhaps
with Aruba to its west and the continent for food. Today, enterprising merchants sail they should be called the ACB islands. The average
Bonaire to its east, form the their small boats through the open water from the South temperature is 82 degrees Fahrenheit with very low humidity
very Dutch territory of the American continent to bring fresh fruits and vegetables and refreshing year-round trade winds of more than 13
Lesser Antilles. However, it to the islanders. knots to keep things cool and comfortable, even under the
was the Spanish who were Following the demise of the Dutch West India Company, tropical sun. Outside of the hurricane belt, the sun shines
to record the first visit to Curaçao became under the jurisdiction of the Dutch every day and the total annual rainfall is only 22 inches,
the islands. Parliament, but it was also ruled twice by the British from with November and December being the rainiest months.
On his way to South 1800 to 1803 and 1807 to 1815. The island’s population in There are five locations on the southwestern side of
America in 1499, Amerigo Vespucci left a few of his 1816 was 14,000. Today there are about 160,000 residents the island that provide a narrow passage for ships through
scurvy-afflicted sailors on the island to die. Upon his with as many as 55 different backgrounds from all over the the coastline, which then opens up to a larger protected
return less than a year later, he expected to find them world living in Curaçao, the largest and most populated of interior bay. This feature provides excellent protection
dead, but instead was astonished to see them alive and the ABCs. It became an autonomous part of the Kingdom from the seas, as well as loading facilities for materials.
well, having been completely cured. for this reason he of the Netherlands in 1954. Curaçao’s government is Recognizing the shipping friendly attribute of these
named the island Curaçao, based on the Portuguese word based on the parliamentary system, with elections held harbors, the Royal Dutch Shell Refineries were established
for “the cure.” every four years, and is governed by an executive council in the 1920s. These handle the huge oil tankers from
The news of “the cure” brought the Spanish settlers in (commissioners) and a legislative council. Willemstad, the
the early 1500s. They were followed by the Dutch, who largest city, serves as its capital. Travel on page 15
captured the island and founded the settlement with Peter
Stuyvesant becoming governor. When the Dutch West
India Company took Curaçao from the Spanish in 1634,
their intention was to use it as a strategic base to fight
their enemies. The ABC islands had once been designated
“inutile” (useless) because of the dry climate, lack of
fresh water and minerals but, as it turned out, Bonaire and
Curaçao functioned as salt producers and Curaçao became
a very busy depot, until the beginning of the 18th century.
Trade had its high point in 1713 and then fell off. This
decline turned the merchants of Curaçao to contraband
and trading expeditions with the surrounding region.
Curaçao’s climate and the industriousness of its Jewish
immigrants soon made it an international trading port,
which furthered its economic growth. Mikvé Israel-
Emanuel Synagogue, founded in 1730, remains today
as evidence of this movement. It is the oldest active
synagogue in the western hemisphere.
The basic need for communication among Dutch
Protestant Company representatives and soldiers,
Jewish families from Portugal, native Amerindians, free
people and the mélange of traders and sailors, etc., led
to the creation of Papiamentu, a Creole language still
spoken today by the majority of residents. In addition to
Papiamentu, most residents are also fluent in three other
languages: Dutch, English and Spanish.
Curaçao became the site of several large plantations
but was never considered a real plantation colony. Maize,
sugar on a small scale, peanuts, melons and other fruits

CDC COVID-19 Travel

Recommendations

By Country

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/
map-and-travel-notices.html
Floating fishermen’s market in Willemstad, Curaçao

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