Curaçao > The Anna Bay of Curaçao

Early in the morning, we head to the breakfast buffet. At 8:30 a.m., our excursion on the island of Curaçao begins. At the bus, we meet Layla. She is our guide for the day. As we drive across the island, she tells us about the landscape, the inhabitants, and the history. Some parts of her story overlap with what we heard yesterday on Aruba. Interestingly, she urges us to return and explore this island in more detail, whereas yesterday Aruba was especially praised. On the other side of the island, we arrive at the Hato Caves. These caves formed thousands of years ago and once provided shelter for escaped slaves. Only in recent decades have the caves been protected, and now visitors can tour them with a guide. Rainwater seeping through the rock creates stalactites and stalagmites. Due to the limited rainfall, the formations grow only one centimeter per year. A colony of bats lives in the cave as well. These tiny creatures, just five centimeters in size, hang from the ceiling. The guide shows them to us with his flashlight. Bats are essential for the pollination of cacti on the island. Due to the dryness, hardly anything else grows here.

Curaçao - A guided tour through the Hato Caves on Curacao

The cactus fruits are eaten by birds. No bats, no vegetation. No vegetation, no birds. After the caves, the bus takes us to Mambo Beach, located west of the capital. On the way, we cross the Queen Juliana Bridge. This 65-meter-high bridge across the Anna Bay was completed in 1974, allowing traffic to pass from one side of the bay to the other. It’s busy at Mambo Beach. We follow Layla to a reserved section of the beach. Sunbeds have been set aside especially for the cruise groups. Earlier this morning it was a bit cloudy, but by the time we arrive at the beach the weather is lovely. Just off the coast of Mambo Beach, a stone breakwater has been built. This makes for relatively calm swimming in the sea without strong waves. I let myself dry off onshore. Around noon, we’re taken back to the ship. We have to wait a bit before our bus arrives. There are three cruise ships docked in Willemstad today, and we’re not the only group. Just after 12:30 p.m., we’re back at our ship. We bring our swim gear back to the cabin and grab a quick lunch in the restaurant. In the afternoon, we walk to the center of Willemstad. The Rif Fort once served as defense of the bay. Nowadays, it’s a place filled with restaurants and tourist shops. A smart move, as all cruise passengers pass through here. Just past the fort, we already have a view of the Anna Bay. The Queen Wilhelmina pontoon bridge spans the bay. On both sides are the iconic colorful houses of Willemstad. Legend has it that a governor had the houses painted in pastel colors because the reflection of the sun on the white buildings gave him headaches. As we cross the pontoon bridge, I see the Waterfront with its historic colored buildings and the tall Juliana Bridge. What a beautiful sight. On the other side, we wander through the narrow streets. It’s Sunday and fairly quiet. Yet every house and every street seems photogenic. We cross the Windgat, a side branch of the Anna Bay, and pass the Maritime Museum. We return via another bridge. At a terrace, we order a local Brasa beer—in Dutch. It’s a bit like Corona. As we head toward Fort Amsterdam, we hear the signal that the Wilhelmina pontoon bridge is about to open.

Curaçao - The impressive Queen Juliana Bridge connects the two parts of Willemstad

The blue flag is raised. This means the bridge will remain open for about 45 minutes. Pedestrians can use the ferry to cross to the other side. It’s interesting to see the entire pontoon bridge being moved aside. We don’t see a ship approaching yet, so we first explore Fort Amsterdam. Today, the parliament of Curaçao is housed in the former fort. The buildings look stunning. The church within the fort is now a museum, but it’s not open on weekends. We walk around the fort to Wilhelmina Square. When we return to the Anna Bay, we just catch a glimpse of a container ship sailing out of the bay. The bridge closes again. We cross the Anna Bay and return to our ship. On the top deck, we order a drink. From here, we have a great view of the city and the large hotels along the coast. After dinner, the evening show “Secret Garden” takes place in the theater. It’s performed by the dance troupe, this time without singers. The storyline is a bit hard to follow, but the artistry and movements are impressive. We're just in time to see the ship depart. Well, sort of—right after leaving the port, the ship comes to a stop. The distance to Kralendijk on Bonaire isn’t far after all.