All About World Heritage Sites
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A Dutch Caribbean island with a lollipop-coloured capital city and long stretches of sandy beaches, Curacao sits pretty just north of Venezuela. With visitors from Canada on the rise, it’s
Source: Going Dutch in the Caribbean: Checking out Curacao
But colorful public areas aren’t just ideas for story books. There are a number of colorful cities all around the world waiting to be discovered.
Source: The 13 Most Colorful Cities All Around the World – Arch2O.com
From a cheerful fishing village in Italy to a walled colonial city in Colombia, these colorful cities and towns will add a jolt of vibrancy to your next vacation.
Source: The World’s 11 Most Colorful Cities and Towns | SmarterTravel
Cosmopolitan Curacao is a melting pot with a pastel-painted capital city that last year celebrated 20 years as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Source: Hurricane-free Caribbean: Cool reasons to visit Curacao
My husband and I recently visited the amazing Dutch island of Curacao. It is a southern Caribbean island vibrant with Colonial architecture, and known for Dutch Creole cuisine. Curacao, called the Ruby of the Caribbean, has a population of about a hundred and sixty thousand people. The capital is Willemstad, the government is autonomous with the Netherlands, and it is listed on the UNESCO world heritage site. Today one can find more than 55 different nationalities that include its African heritage, a European flavor, and a well-established Jewish culture. Most of the residents speak a number of languages: Papiamento, the native language, Dutch, English, and Spanish.
Curacao has the honor of being the first Caribbean destination to be independently mapped for Google Street View. Watch for this new street view option and also visit the Curacao Tourist Board or the Curacao Hospitality and Tourism Association, or check this travel Curacao Travel Guide.
We stayed at the lovely Baoase Luxury Resort, the only Five Star Plus luxury resort on Curacao.
Read more from source: Temple Mikve Israel Emmanuel Review -The Oldest Synagogue In the Western Hemisphere
For travelers seeking something a little different, this former Dutch colonial outpost offers culture and luxury.
The drive into the capital of Curaçao, the Dutch Caribbean outpost that is the “C” in the ABC islands, allows you to pass by the usual colorful privation of the Caribbean, tiny houses of cracked cinderblocks painted in bright corals and greens, the yards stripped of vegetation by goats and chickens, the homes interspersed with the roadside restaurants that serve as fast food, where workers in dusty boots queue up in front of barred windows for meat pies so rich grease runs to their elbows.
This island, blessedly out of the path of most hurricanes, is a contrast of options, of a centuries-old city and modern seaside resorts, of poverty and affluence, of waves crashing against limestone sharp with the bodies of ancient crustaceans, and of tranquil cerulean bays where a thick purple horizon separates the sea from the sky, and the water is clear as rippled glass.
Read more from source: Distinction Travel: The two sides of Curaçao
We were in port at Willemstad, Curacoa for the full day from 7 AM in the morning until 11 PM, so we had plenty of time to explore and enjoy the area. The ship pulls into Willemstad and that is a blessing because there is so much to do.
As you know my first part of the day in Curacao was spent in a private tour seeing the things that are beyond walking distance. After the first part of our day, we then did what I will refer to as part two of the discovery of Willemstad, Curacao.
There are 10 things to experience and see in Willemstad Curacao and they are totally accessible by walking from the ship port along the path. While you will need to allow at least an hour, we spent about 3 really taking it all in.
Lavishly live walkable travel time out loud and enjoy these 10 things to experience in Willemstad Curacao close to the ship port.
Cruising is about discovery and unlike any other method of travel, you can see so much each day and unpack one time.
Today’s adventure in Willemstad, Curacoa was well-planned and with the best private driver service, I could find. To source my choice driver, I read travel forums and I look at their websites. Punctuality, safety, and knowledge are the key points I need to see.
We have to be back to the ship on time and safety is our number one priority. Choosing not to take a cruise ship excursion is a personal decision, but as a travel writer, I seek out the best of the best then share them with you.
Buckle up and meet the best private driver service in Willemstad, Curacao. Lavishly live the city highlights and countryside west out loud in Curacao.
PLANNING AND CORRESPONDENCE
First things first, finding a great private driver service is not as easy as hopping into a cab. Research, send emails back and forth and look for responsiveness. Su scores big kudos here. Sulainy (her full name) was not only responsive but descriptive in choices.
My email was responded to in less than 24 hours and was well-articulated.
WILLEMSTAD – Punda is unique compared to many other islands in the Caribbean. Curaçao’s city center has authentic historical buildings and our Handelskade is on the UNESCO world heritage list. Cruise tourism is growing rapidly, and tourists are spending locally. Punda is doing well, but we’re not there yet.
Old Punda, New Punda
In the old times Punda was the throbbing heart of the island. When you needed to get your shopping done or if you were looking for entertainment, you went to Punda. The city was full of life and it had an atmosphere that attracted large numbers of people on a daily basis. Then other shopping areas began to emerge around the island and Punda lost some of its luster. This trend developed further and at a certain point Punda became empty.
WILLEMSTAD – It is 20 years ago that Curacao was placed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO. According to Minister Zita Jesus-Leito, UNESCO is still satisfied with the way in which Curaçao deals with its monumental buildings.
The government and agencies are working hard to keep it that way, says the Minister of Public Works. She points out that a lot of attention will be paid in the coming period to give historic buildings a proper use. The other project is the alley area in Otrobanda, part of which is owned by FKP, another of Monument Care.
When Willemstad was just on the UNESCO list, the ‘vijf gezinnen’ burned down in Scharloo.
