COLORFUL CURAÇAO & curious
By Kathy Marris
I think the most curious thing about Curaçao, the sixth stop on our cruise, is the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, which joins Punta to Otrabanda districts in the capital of Willemstad. Also known as the “Swinging Old Lady,” it swings open using two powerful ship motors, allowing ships to access the port. So, you can be crossing the bridge and all of sudden be “swinging” through the middle of the harbor on this floating structure! The next most curious thing about it? The name “Curaçao” has become associated with a shade of blue because of the deep-blue version of the liqueur named Curaçao produced on the island. This liqueur is made from the dried peel of the laraha citrus fruit (a bitter orange), and doesn’t just come in its trademark blue color, but also can be red, orange, green, yellow, brown or clear. This Dutch Caribbean island is approximately 65 kilometers north of the Venezuelan coast. It has all the ambiance of Old Amsterdam with its Dutch-inspired, multi-colored buildings and a wide range of historical structures in and around Willemstad, which has resulted in the capital’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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