Curaçao - Wow!

 

Curacao was a surprise, besides the heat it was very much like being in Holland. Only 400 miles down the road from Grenada and a very different feel. Arriving in Spanish Water anchorage, which reminded us of the anchorage in Salinas, Puerto Rico, the first thing I noticed was no American or Canadian flagged boats. All European, German, Finish, Danish, Norwegian, English and of course lots of Dutch. No French strangely. 

The dinghy dock was very small and crowded, Dinghy Soup. You had to climb over lots of other peoples boats to get to your dinghy.

We had to get the bus in the main town, Willenstad, 30 minutes away to check in. The bus was air conditioned and still only cost £1. Such a colourful town. As soon as we got off the bus Mandy was in vegetable heaven. The floating market was amazing, so much cheap, fresh vegetables all from Venezuala. Best veg in the Caribbean.

 

 

 

The check in process required about 1.5 hours of walking around Willenstad to immigration, customs and the harbour master. This was not a problem as we saw a lots of the town, including the superbly engineered Queen Emma bridge which opened many times during the day with only a generator connected to a big propeller. 

Power source to open and close bridge

After checking in, which was very easy and the officials were super friendly, "Welcome to Curacao, no hurricanes here" we went to a pub called The Swinging old Lady where we has a pint of Dutch lager and a chilli dog to reward ourselves for successfully checking in. We had a great conversation with a very young Brazilian couple who where on their honeymoon. They took the below polaroid of us. He was in the Brazilian merchant navy and had sailed to Liverpool. He completely convinced me that we must go to Brazil. So the latest plan is not go through the Panama canal and go around through the Magellan straits. 

We staggered back to the bus stop weighed down with vegetables and fruit and a new shirt for me. People kept talking to Mandy in Papiermento the local language, a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, German and English. I think she looked like a local with all her vegetable produce.

Back at the anchorage we had a catch up with our friends Chris and Amy on Saffron Star who we first met in Almerimar and hadn't seen since Guadaloupe. They were part of the gang we joined before crossing the Atlantic and it's always special for me to meet with the people we lost our Atlantic crossing virginity with.

We hired a car for a few days so we could explore the island and I could drop Mandy off at the airport. First stop was Knip beach. Beautiful warm, turquoise water with so many colourful fish. We ended up spending the day here. Trotty, you'd be proud of us.  

Pina Colada smoothie con alcohol

The rain was a welcome relief

We went to a place called Williwood to see the flamingos.

2 flamingos in the background

While we had the car we took a visit to the Hato caves, the highlight being the stalactite with an uncanny resemblance to the virgin Mary.

Then it was time for Mandy to fly back the uk and leave me on anchor off the coast of Venezuela for 2 weeks. I wasn't lonely, there were loads of people around to help if things went wrong, and to have beers with. And of course I got loads of jobs done. The batteries are at 100%, both water tanks now working and full. Actually Mandy helped with that before she went.

The watermaker is making 70 litres per hour and I have to run it everyday so the wee beasties in the very nutrient rich water don't start decaying and make the water pong. So we are water rich and Mandy can wash her hair every day if she wants. The generator got a service and I changed the fan belt and cleaned the engine. I even played my guitar. Two weeks flew over and she was back.

Time for some fun.