Willemstad, Curaçao...

I got off the ship later than usual and headed for the Punda District. My plan was for a quick trip, nice walk and a few photos along the way.  I stopped at the RIF Fort and climbed up to the Fort wall to get a better vantage point for seeing the ship and across the harbor.  It is always a nice jaunt crossing the Queen Emma Bridge from Outrabanda area to Punda…It is impossible to resist the multiple photo opportunities when crossing the floating bridge with its great sights of the waterfront with its colorful Dutch colonial buildings, the Queen Juliana Bridge, the Fort Amsterdam and endless ocean views. That’s where my plan began to unravel…  took more time, way more photos and thankfully more miles…  I explored the streets and alleyways of the Punda area looking for street art. Passing the market stalls, we crossed the bridge to the Scharloo district. Scharloo district has a long history…In the old days it was a neighborhood where wealthy families constructed big villas in the colonial style. After a period of decay and neglect, came a period of restorations and renovations. This area had some lovely street art and buildings that show beauty in their decay. I explored a bit further today and found myself in an area where I perhaps didn’t belong.  I just smiled, had a nice chat and escaped with some nice photos.  After touring this off the beaten path area, I returned to Punda, explored some more and headed back to the ship. We all spent the afternoon in the Retreat.  I took a lot of photos as we sailed away, never can resist Curaçao…  Always take too many photos!