Willemstad (Otrobanda Side), Curacao

28-Jun-2012 • Willemstad Curacao

Otrobanda was another part of Willemstad that we needed to explore. We just had to. The Kura Holanda Museum was located here and it was a must see for both Marc and me. The museum was about the African Slave trade in Curacao centuries ago. The museum was huge and its galleries were very beautiful. The collection of artifacts was quite extensive. Once again, it felt as if I was in Holland since all the visitors at the time of our visit were Dutch and the museum employees, though locals from Curacao, also spoke Dutch. I must say, I had always been proud to speak three languages (Filipino, English, and Spanish) very fluently, but the citizens of Curacao were something else. They spoke more. Heavens!

Otrobanda seemed more for the locals. When Marc and I went there, there definitely were more businesses catering to the local population. Punda seemed to be built more for the tourists with its abundance of duty free shops.

Just to show the languages spoken here, the info engraved on the base of the marble monument is in Spanish while the Monument of Dr.Moises Frumencio Da Costa in Punda had info in Papiamento.

The statue of Luis Brion, a famous statesman from Curacao

This statue sits a a tiny plaza facing the river separating towns of Punda and Otrobanda

Luis Brion

The facade of the Basilica Sta. Ana

The statue of Martinus Joannes Niewindt, the First Apostolic Vicar of Curacao in front of the Basilica Sta. Ana

Informative inscription on the plaque by the entrance to the basilica

One of the entrances to the Kura Holanda Museum

By the main entrance to the Kura Holanda Museum

I first heard of this museum from Burt Wolf's travel program on KQED. It is a definite must see for anyone visiting Curacao.

Sitting next to this cute statue of a lady by the main entrance to the museum

Marc and I hadn't entered the museum yet but art was already everywhere to be found.

Info about the restoration work on historic buildings going on throughout Curacao

I cannot deny the fact that Curacao is one of my most favorite destinations in the Caribbean. It is so chic, with so many different cultures living side by side (The Dutch, the Spanish, and the Indigenous people).

Another view of the buildings of the Kura Holanda Museum

The Kura Holanda Museum is a big site, composed of many buildings. This is one of them.

The entrance to one of the many buildings of the Kura Holanda Museum housing exhibits and artifacts

As far as I can recall, this cream colored building housed lithographs and prints depicting the life and times of the island and its inhabitants.

This is a very interesting metal sculpture. In the front, it looks like the face of a person, on the side it is actually the map of Africa

This is a recreation of the interior of a boat that transported Africans from Africa to the New World to become slaves

A mural at the Kura Holanda Museum, Hotel, and Spa

I didn't realize the museum was attached to a hotel.

Anyway, this is the place where I would want to stay if and when I return to Curacao for a few days. Hotels in Curacao charge outrageous amounts for their hotel rooms especially if they are by the beach. Rooms here at the Kura Holanda Museum, Hotel and Spa are more reasonable (around $100 per night). This is due to the fact that it is not beachfront property but rather in the middle of the city. Frankly, after peeking into the hotel's cabanas, they looked very beautiful, upscale, and artsy. This is the place for me.

Within the premises of the hotel adjacent to the Kura Holanda Museum

Art in Otrobanda

A Royal Caribbean cruise ship docked at Otrobanda

A view of Fort Amsterdam from Otrobanda

By day's end, we headed back to the ship. We wanted to rest enough so that we would be awake for the New Year's Eve celebration on board.

Little Switzerland at RIF Fort

What a view!

The ship was just going to dock off the island of Curacao and not travel overnight. Actually, it turned out to be a good idea since we were able to see the fireworks all over the island of Curacao at the strike of midnight. Everyone on board dressed well for the New Year's Eve party. The dining rooms were full and the big dinner for the night was the lobster tail. It seemed everyone had it including us.

Marc and I at New Year's Eve dinner on board the Grand Princess

These balloons were released at the strike of 12 midnight or New Year's Day 2010 in the main deck of the Grand Princess. We chose to celebrate the arrival of the New Year on the top deck of the ship to view all the fireworks in the island of Curacao. It was fantastic!