April 3 Willemstad Curacao.

Willemstad is the capital of the Netherlands Antilles and lies about 64 kms off the Venezuelan coast.. It is the largest of the islands and was discovered in 1499 by one of Columbus' lieutenants, Alonso de Ojeda together with Amerigo Vespucci.and Juan de la Costa. They called the island The Island of the Giants as they were met by Indians taller than themselves. In 2010 Curacao gained its independence and is now a self governing state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The island has variously been controlled by Spain, France, Britain and was handed back to the Netherlands in 1954.

When the Dutch came to Curacao in the 17th century they discovered one of the finest deep water ports in the Caribbean and set about building a town in traditional Dutch style. The buildings were all originally white but the governor of the day decreed that as they gave him migraines due to the glare they should be painted in colours. Today the style and exuberant colours make this a magical place.

We arrived early and the Queen Emma swing bridge, floating on 8 pontoons was open to let us enter the harbour. There is also the Queen Juliana bridge which joins the two halves of the township. The population of Curacao is around 400,000 and after completing school many students go to Holland to attend University, funded by loans from the Curacao government.

After a morning wandering around the town we returned to the ship and then took a tour which started at the Curacao Liqueur distillery. Curacao is made from the dried peel of the Valencia oranges introduced to the island by the Spanish in the 16th century. The climate and soil did not suit the oranges which were small and bitter but the skins made the liqueur.Production is small and all by hand.

We also visited a Museum which showed how life was on Curacao in the 1800's and finally the Hato Caves which are coral having been thrust up from the seabed in an earthquake. Slaves who had escaped from the sugar plantations took refuge in these caves for many years. Slavery was abolished in the 1860's.

This was a magical port and we had a great time in Curacao. Now we are sailing towards Bridgetown Barbados.