Zaandam Holiday Voyage, Willemstad, Curacao...

Normally, I start the blog with sail in photos, however this visit to Curacao is an overnight and with photos from an evening walk. Leaving Ann and Cathy at the Rif Fort, I walked towards the Queen Emma Bridge…the Brionplein was packed with people. Thursday is Punda Vibes, a weekly food and entertainment nighttime festivity.  In addition, there was beautiful display of fireworks lighting up the sky above Willemstad. There was a great atmosphere and both locals and tourists having a good time. It was a completely different experience from our day visits, the bridge was a spectacular site with the festive Christmas lights. Fast forward to the morning and Cathy and I got off the ship early and headed to town. We stopped at the RIF Fort and decided to go to the Punda district of town. It is always a nice jaunt crossing the Queen Emma Bridge from Otrobanda area to Punda…it 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 Emma Bridge, the Fort Amsterdam and endless ocean views. We 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 is the original settlement of Willemstad. This area has great street art and buildings that show beauty in their decay. After touring this off the beaten path area, we returned to Punda crossed back to Otrobanda known as other side and did find some new wall art. The sky was threatening rain, so we beat it back to the ship. My sun time was limited due to the rain, so I decided to take the opportunity to pack a few things in anticipation of our move to the Rotterdam on January 5, 2024.