34
Curacao - Beyond the Handelskade by Susan Campbell
E
Dive Curacao by Stan Bysshe
ven for those who’ve never visited this colorful little Dutch Southern Caribbean tropical gem, chances are good you’ve heard or tasted its famous neon blue liqueur or seen photos of its candycolored waterfront of colonial houses called the Handelskade. But there’s so much more to this island than that. However, some of its best attractions and most pleasurable pastimes are not so easy to find, some even hidden in plain sight like the incredible coral and resplendent marine life right beneath its shores! Thankfully there is an organization that helps you to find all the best dive sites
and operators - DiveCuracao.info is the onestop portal for everything under the sea like how to explore the surreal Blue Room sea cave and the island’s fascinating shipwrecks. Pocket Neighborhoods
Curacao can be a complicated puzzle of stand-alone communities scattered all about the island. But let’s start with downtown Willemstad that’s divided into two by Sint Anna Bay. The two sides- Punda (The Point) and Otrobanda (The Other Side) can be explored on foot- they are connected by the pedestrian floating pontoon bridge called the
Queen Emma. But if you really want to get a taste of local color and culture, head to Punda on a Thursday night for “Punda Vibes” – an outdoor festival of local food, dance, and music. The neighborhood shops also stay open late that night and it ends in a fabulous firework display. Pietermaai Pleasures
Right beside Punda, you’ll find this amazing colorful little neighborhood which has become a trendy, foodie, and entertainment epicentre. It’s a very compact grid of side-byside venues and I recommend you stay at