Curacao

Curacao Wednesday morning we set the sails again and entered the Spanish (Spaanse) Waters on Curacao early afternoon. The entrance is picturesque, inside the sea is spreading into many bays, but the entrance is to narrow for the water to flow enough. So there is no swimming there. Many boats are anchored in the designated areas only, leaving room for regattas of all categories, windsurfing and kite surfing. We took the bus to Willemstad, the Capital, that caters cruise ships with to many shops, but also has an interesting floating market of fruits and vegetables. The city is built in Dutch style, it is charming in pastel and rich bright colors. It is divided into two parts with the canal and connected with three bridges and a ferry boat, when the pontoon bridge is open for the sea traffic. Touring the island was like going into the forgotten land. Forgotten from people, fortunate to live in Willemstad, forgotten from politicians, that are looking at us from the boards along the road. Curacao is a desert island with tall cacti competing for water with thorny brush. Plastic bags and papers caught on thorns stay there, discarded bottles and cans will burden the next generation’s love for their country. Modest homes scattered, one with a rusty swing in front, very few surrounded with flowering bushes. Oases in this sad land were the aloe plantation and the ostrich farm. We took an interesting tour there, but most fascinating was the shop with crafts from Zimbabwe, where the owner of the farm originated from. Back to Klein Curacao We left Spaanse Waters Saturday at the day break and try to sail for a few hours. It is a short distance, but sailing East means fighting head on wind, waves and the current. We gave up and motored the rest of the way to Klein Curacao. On Sunday the beach there came alive. Music filled up the air, from visiting boats coolers were dragged under the umbrellas. By late afternoon everything was quiet again. When we got up on Monday, the stars were still bright. We left the anchorage early to arrive to Bonaire before the sundown. The wind was favoring us and we made it close to the island without tacking. The last few NM we motor sailed to the mooring, where we will stay another week.