Curaçao, the Perfect Vacation Spot
Margaret Bae JD/MBA '04
Issue date: 2/20/02 Section: Diversions
As one of the ABC islands, Curaçao is located in the southwestern Caribbean, 35 miles off the coast of Venezuela, next to Aruba and Bonaire. Over 1,700 miles from New York, it is the perfect vacation spot for an MBA student just finishing her first semester at the Johnson School.
The largest of the five islands that comprise the Netherlands Antilles (Curaçao, Bonaire, St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius), Curaçao is unlike the majority of islands in that it offers numerous activities, besides tanning, to keep the more active traveler entertained. For the diver, there is superb scuba diving off the beach, all over the island. In as little as 15 to 20 feet of water, you can see the most beautiful and colorful underwater life. Coral branches and sponges, fish of all shapes and colors, shipwrecks and other submerged articles are eye candy for both novice and experienced divers. If you have never dived before (or if you have poor vision), Curaçao is the perfect place to learn because of the high underwater visibility, easy access to the reef, and numerous PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructor) approved courses.
For the sightseer, downtown Willemstad alone is worth the trip to Curaçao. Recognized as the most photographed Caribbean architecture, the historic buildings are painted in bright, almost fluorescent, colors that line the waterfront of the St. Anna Bay. Legend has it that one day, the governor awoke with a migraine which his doctor blamed on the glare of the intense sun reflecting off the white-washed buildings. That day, the governor decreed that every household was to paint its building any color besides white. The bay separates the oldest urban areas known as Punda ("the point") and Otrabanda ("the other side") via the world's only floating pontoon bridge. Affectionately called "the swinging old lady". Several times daily, cruise ships, oil tankers or container ships are escorted through the harbor, past the sunburned tourists with their tropical drinks at the waterfront restaurants and cafes. It is interesting to note that the Plaza Hotel, located on the corner of the St. Anna Bay, is the only hotel in the world insured against collisions with ships.
The largest of the five islands that comprise the Netherlands Antilles (Curaçao, Bonaire, St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius), Curaçao is unlike the majority of islands in that it offers numerous activities, besides tanning, to keep the more active traveler entertained. For the diver, there is superb scuba diving off the beach, all over the island. In as little as 15 to 20 feet of water, you can see the most beautiful and colorful underwater life. Coral branches and sponges, fish of all shapes and colors, shipwrecks and other submerged articles are eye candy for both novice and experienced divers. If you have never dived before (or if you have poor vision), Curaçao is the perfect place to learn because of the high underwater visibility, easy access to the reef, and numerous PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructor) approved courses.
For the sightseer, downtown Willemstad alone is worth the trip to Curaçao. Recognized as the most photographed Caribbean architecture, the historic buildings are painted in bright, almost fluorescent, colors that line the waterfront of the St. Anna Bay. Legend has it that one day, the governor awoke with a migraine which his doctor blamed on the glare of the intense sun reflecting off the white-washed buildings. That day, the governor decreed that every household was to paint its building any color besides white. The bay separates the oldest urban areas known as Punda ("the point") and Otrabanda ("the other side") via the world's only floating pontoon bridge. Affectionately called "the swinging old lady". Several times daily, cruise ships, oil tankers or container ships are escorted through the harbor, past the sunburned tourists with their tropical drinks at the waterfront restaurants and cafes. It is interesting to note that the Plaza Hotel, located on the corner of the St. Anna Bay, is the only hotel in the world insured against collisions with ships.