january-2012

Photo: Jerry Sharp/Shutterstock.com
COLONIAL COLOURS IN WILLEMSTAD TROPICAL BEAUTIES
Taking it easy
Colonial charm meets chilled-out Caribbean cool in Curaçao. Enjoy the island’s easy-
going ambiance while taking in fascinating historical monuments, colourful diving and
spicy Creole cooking.
WHAT TO SEE
Sea history
Dive into Curaçao’s seafaring
history at the Curaçao
Maritime Museum
(curacaomaritime.com) or The
Curaçao Museum (Van
Leeuwenhoekstraat, Willemstad;
+599 9 4623873) in a handsome,
19th-century mansion. Wild and
beautiful Christoffel National
Park (christoffelpark.org) offers
hiking in a landscape of cacti
and orchids, or swimming and
diving in the clear blue sea.
WHERE TO SHOP
Breadwinner
Housed in a distinctive building
near the Queen Wilhelmina
footbridge, stallholders at the
New Market (Punda, Willemstad)
sell woven baskets and palm-fi bre
bags, as well as an array of spices,
fruit and freshly baked bread. Pick
up Curaçao’s signature ceramic
miniature kunuku houses at
specialist potter Keramos (Kaya
Col, Kay Winkel 2, Willemstad;
+599 9 7374676).
WHERE TO EAT
Fusion at its best
On an island where local cuisine
draws on infl uences from over
50 cultures, exploring the local
cuisine is a holiday highlight.
Thursday night is lobster night
at seafood eatery Brakkeput
Mei Mei (brakkeputmeimei.com),
while menus at upmarket Bistro
Le Clochard (bistroleclochard.
com) and Belle Terrace
(avilahotel.com) provide the
perfect excuse for a
gastronomic splurge.
HOW TO GET THERE
KLM operates several direct
weekly fl ights to Curaçao
International Airport from
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Tourist information
curacao.com
Looking for handy, up-to-date
travel information? Check out
KLM’s Destination Guide pages
– and book your fl ight – on
klm.com. Content provided by
Frommer’s Unlimited © 2012,
Whatsonwhen Limited.
TOUCHDOWN CURAÇAO
Photo: Picture Contact/Alamy/Imageselect
DON’T MISS
Hello submarine
KLM is giving away a fantastic
trip to Curaçao. The prize
package includes two roundtrip
tickets, a stay at the
Dolphin Suites Hotel, a swim
with dolphins, a 150m-deep
underwater tour in a minisubmarine
from Substation
Curaçao, and more. The
contest is open until
31 January. Scan the code or
go to the link below for full
details or to enter.
bit.ly/HH_Substation
SCAN FOR A CHANCE TO WIN
Holland Herald 77