I Didn’T Similar Curaçao (But I Didn’T Abhor It Either)
Posted: 09/19/2013 | September 19th, 2013
The crude oil refinery I saw on the trend to my bird rental inwards Curaçao was a harbinger of things to come.
The Caribbean Area conjures upward images of white sand beaches, palm trees, coral reefs, too tropical drinks. This summer, I planned to go much of the Caribbean (spoiler alert: I didn’t). At the elevation of my listing of places to see was Curaçao, located inwards the Dutch Antilles, a purpose of Holland and famous for its casinos, nightlife, too eponymous blueish liqueur.
As I flew into Curaçao, I dreamed of all the Caribbean Area offered too imagined myself relaxing on long, white-sand beaches alongside a piña colada inwards hand. The largest too most rugged of the ABC (Aruba, Bonaire, too Curaçao) islands, Curaçao also held the hope of practiced hiking too non-beach activities.
But most instantly later arriving, I was disappointed.
What they don’t demo inwards the brochures is the crude oil refinery on the border of town. You know this beautiful, multicolored, waterfront photograph that shows off the see Curaçao is famous for?
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Well, correct nigh at that spot is a not-so-wonderful crude oil refinery blowing dark smoke into the air — too it’s really visible from town.
That refinery laid the musical note for the week.
Curaçao was, equally nosotros say, “meh.” It wasn’t a bad place, but it didn’t blow my mind. I left the dry reason indifferent. The island’s vibe too I simply didn’t mesh. I wanted to dear it, but equally I boarded my flying home, nada inwards Curaçao filled me alongside sadness to live on leaving or a wish to stay.
Let’s laid out alongside the beaches: nice, but non that great. Those nigh the chief town are all resort beaches, pregnant you lot receive got to pay to savor them if you lot aren’t already staying inwards ane of the resorts. They’re cluttered alongside people, lounge chairs, too artificial breakers to protect against the waves too do a calm swimming area. (Not that a calm swimming surface area is bad, but the breakers cut the catamenia of water, too since most resorts receive got boats too docks, I didn’t experience the H2O was the cleanest.)
The beaches upward northward are public, wider, too to a greater extent than natural, but fifty-fifty still, they aren’t the long, white-sand beaches nosotros oftentimes imagine. Moreover, the shoreline is filled alongside dead coral too rocks. Were they pretty? Yes. Did I sit down at that spot too go, “Damn, this is beautiful”? Sure. Was I blown away yesteryear them? No, non really. There’s better.
I was also disappointed yesteryear the lack of affordable too accessible world transportation. Buses solely run every ii hours too taxis are incredibly expensive ($50 USD for a 15-minute cab ride). If you lot wish to come across the island, you lot actually receive got to rent a auto during your stay. Not having ane actually limits what you lot tin sack see.
To elevation it off, fifty-fifty the towns aren’t that pretty. Outside Willemstad’s famous waterfront, I wasn’t also impressed yesteryear the scenery, buildings, or homes. Even the resorts looked outdated. There’s nada similar a piffling grime too wearable too tear on a urban pith to give it some charm, but inwards Curaçao, the grit solely added a feeling of woeful neglect.
One affair I loved, though, was the locals. They made the trip. They were friendly, helpful, too non bad conversationalists. I stayed inwards an Airbnb rental, too Milly, my host, was super friendly too helpful. She fifty-fifty went the extra mile too drove me some places therefore I wouldn’t receive got to receive got a taxi. If I returned to Curaçao, I would rest at her identify again.
While searching for places to eat, I stumbled across a local, family-run eating seat nigh my bird too ate most of the meals there. Every fourth dimension I walked in, they greeted me similar they’d known me for years (I was belike the solely non-local to swallow there). Jack, from some other restaurant, kindly gave me his telephone unwrap to telephone band if I needed anything too when he saw me, ever remembered me too that I actually loved his lemonade.
And too then at that spot were the charabanc drivers who helped withdraw me around town, the locals who allow me hitch a ride alongside them when the charabanc didn’t come, too the countless other piffling moments of friendly conversation too assist that happened during the course of didactics of my week.
If I chose to acquire back, it would live on for the people, non the place.
Curaçao wasn’t awful, but I’ve experienced better destinations. Maybe I didn’t similar it because I had high expectations — when you lot think of nearby Aruba too Bonaire, you lot think Caribbean Area paradise, too I simply lumped Curaçao inwards alongside them. Expectations tin sack oftentimes atomic number 82 to disappointment when nosotros construct upward locations inwards our head.
I walked away from Curaçao alongside no burning wish to acquire back. I’m happy I went too I’d encourage others to go, but at that spot was nada inwards Curaçao that you lot can’t uncovering elsewhere ameliorate too cheaper.
You can’t dear every destination. It’s impossible. I tin sack normally uncovering the practiced inwards every identify (even Vietnam!), but humans receive got opinions, emotions, too preferences — too mine doesn’t favor Curaçao.
You should acquire too explore the isle for yourself. You simply won’t uncovering me there.
Book Your Trip to Curaçao: Logistical Tips too Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a inexpensive flying to Curaçao yesteryear using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my ii favorite search engines. Start alongside Momondo.
Book Your Accommodation
You tin sack mass your hostel inwards Curaçao alongside Hostelworld. If you lot wish to rest elsewhere, utilisation Booking.com equally they consistently supply the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)
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