one of the old houses in Otrabanda
until 2014 the international cycling season was closed with the Amstel Curacao Race, shown here near St Willibrordus
Memorial to the Slave Revolt of 1795 at the Jan Kok salt ponds
my favorite hole at Blue Bay Golf is number 5, a par 3 over the ocean
a Carnaval Queen with in the background the Pietermaai Cathedral
Playa Forti at Westpunt
In the Christoffel Park the roads are small and steep and the views are great
Curacao's rugged northern shore, here seen at Shete Boka
but in 2008 storm Omar caused major damage to Daaibooi Beach
the ruins of the mansion of Plantation St Marie built in 1840
The northern section of Curacao is called Banda Abou, meaning the lower side.
Apart from
Ortobanda, the part of Willemstad that
sits north of the St Anna Baai, Banda Abou is the more rural and quiet part of the island. In the past it would take
you a couple of days to travel from Otrobanda to
Westpunt via hamlets like
St Willibrordus, Soto and Barber.
The
west coast sports several small, secluded beaches that are very popular by the locals.
Here you find also a couple of
up-scale gated resorts like Blue Bay and Coral Estate.
The
golf course at Blue Bay is my all time favorite where I have played
many rounds.
The north eastern shore has a completely different landscape where huge atlantic Ocean waves
crush on the arid and rugged shoreline.
view over Otrobanda with a US aircraftcarrier moored at the Mega Pier
a cruise ship is moored at Otrobanda
the rugged shore at Blue Bay Golf's hole nr 18
the salt ponds at Jan Kock as seen from the ridge of Rif St Marie
around the winter solstice the sun sets behind the Pico Cristobal Colon way back in Colombia
Daaibooi Beach is a nice secluded beach, ideal for parents with small children
