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|
Just
a small slice of the beaches at Avila Beach Hotel |
Curaçao
Spend a Day in
Port
Part Two
by
Linda Coffman
How
are the beaches?
Stunning! I'm not one to spend too long in the sun, but I enjoyed
some down time at beaches nevertheless. More often than not, I
prefer to have facilities close by--whether it's a place to change
or grab a cold drink. I'm just not comfortable on a deserted beach
and have run across fellow cruise ship passengers who feel the same.
One of the beaches with full facilities and a small entrance fee is
adjacent to the Sea Aquarium.
Caribbean resorts are
often known to welcome cruise ship visitors by selling a "day
pass" to their premises. I checked that out in Curaçao and
discovered that some resorts (including Avila
Beach Hotel, the Marriott
Resort, and Lodge
Kura Hulanda) welcome non-resort guests within reason. If
cruise passengers want to spend time at their beach properties, all
the hoteliers ask is that the cruise ship visitors patronize their
restaurants and bars to eat and drink.
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Bistro
Le Clochard--beneath the "sails" alongside the
Riffort |
Speaking
of food, what's good?
Curacao is a Dutch island,
so it stands to reason that you'd find some great, and inventive,
dishes featuring cheese. One advantage of spending a few days in Curaçao
was that I was able to dine in restaurants that are only open at
night.
Blues
Restaurant at Avila Beach Hotel is as terrific as its
location atop a pier jutting out over the ocean. I tried keshi yená,
a chicken and vegetable dish covered with a "crust" of
sliced edam cheese.
Cruisers don't even
have to go out of their way to eat at Bistro
Le Clochard; when going to town from the cruise ship
terminal it's built right into the Riffort, the fortress alongside
the harbor that protected Curaçao from pirates. Ask for a table
outside for the best views of the Willemstad waterfront and order
cheese fondue (save room for the chocolate fondue dessert).
Another great view
across the bay is from the patio facing the water at Gouverneur
de Rouville Restaurant & Café, a Dutch mansion that was
once the home of the governor. Try the local dishes--particularly
the soups and their version of keshi yená. While there's no view at
Grand Café de Heeren, you know the food is good by the
number of local patrons. Salads are
their specialty and, following my cheese-y theme, I can highly recommend the
goat cheese salad. For more restaurants and beach bars, check out The
Big Red Restaurant Guide online.
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Lodge
Kura Hulanda
& Beach Club |
What
were some of my favorite experiences?
Here's a tip for the best mojito on Curaçao--the Emerald
Lounge at the Marriott serves them frozen.
Dinner at Jaipur
Restaurant beside the Hotel Kura Hulanda's eco-pool and waterfall
is romantic and the Indian-influenced food sublime.
Shopping, shopping,
shopping. Stop in at Penha for perfume and gifts.
My choice for the best
beach and most scenic spot on Curaçao, especially if you are
fortunate to be there at sunset... the Lodge Kura Hulanda &
Beach Club.
However you decide to
spend your day in port, I
promise that you'll want to revisit Curaçao.
Masha danki (thank you
very much!) for joining me.
Back
to Part One
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