Monday, December 30, 2019

Monday, December 30, 2019

Tonight's picture was taken on December 9, 2007. Every December we would take Mattie to the US Botanical Gardens. This was an incredible indoor space, especially in the cold weather months. For Christmas, the Gardens decorated in full style. Using plant materials they created replicas of historic buildings... like the US Capitol.  


Quote of the day: She watched the gap between ship and shore grow to a huge gulf. Perhaps this was a little like dying, the departed no longer visible to the others, yet both still existed, only in different worlds. ~ Susan Wiggs

We arrived in Curacao today. You can always tell that you are in Curacao because of the big bridge in the background.... The Queen Julianna Bridge! 

The Island was occupied by the Dutch since 1634. The official language is Dutch, but English, Spanish and Papiamento (a creole mixture of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French, English and Arawak Indian) are spoken. There are about 160,000 people on the island. 

The island also has traditional Dutch architecture, that has been infused with the vibrant colors of the Caribbean.  

Here are some Papiamento words:

1) Bon Bini: Welcome
2) Bon Dia: Good Morning
3) Danki: Thank you
4) Mi gusta korsou: I love Curacao

A local artist has tried to beautify the island and has painted murals over many homes. If you look closely you can see two love birds painted down below. Apparently these two birds came to visit at this location at 3pm everyday. So the artist painted the birds into the scenery.

Our tour guide was Myrae. She said it is costly to maintain properties in Curacao, as the houses truly needed to be re-stuccoed every year due to the heat and humidity. As it is 90 degrees YEAR ROUND! 

In the historic part of town, the homes and buildings are very colorful. The legend is that a man who owned a paint company on the island encouraged people to paint with vibrant colors. He said that WHITE triggered migraines. The funny part is that people believed him, and naturally this made his paint company a vibrant business on the island.

The historic, down town area is absolutely charming. 

Another example.

Curacao is most likely derived from the Portuguese word for "cured." Early Spanish sailors suffering with scurvy, found themselves miraculously healed after landing here, most likely from eating local fruits rich in vitamin C.

Willemstad, the capital of the island, is divided into two sections. Punda is the section that boasts an eclectic collection of over 750 historic buildings, which have earned a place on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. 

Murals every where! 

I think this picture captures the Dutch architecture and the colors of the Caribbean perfectly. 

Our first stop on the tour was to the heart of the historical Scharloo district in the city center. It is here that a group of local artists, artisans, craftsmen and historians have joined forces to form the Nos Kos (Our Thing) initiative. Their artwork is sold at a pop-up market in Leyba Park. 

We met a husband and wife team who basically are responsible for transforming this park. Anna explained that her family was going to visit Disney World in Florida. Her 10 year old daughter felt she did not have enough spending money to go to Florida, so her mother suggested she raise money in some way. The daughter decided to create an all natural lip balm and sell it. Apparently the lip balm was a hit on the island and Anna and her husband basically built off of their daughter's idea. They run a shop that sells all natural products. However, the park in front of their shop was a disaster. Lined with liter and drug addicts. Anna and her husband picked up trash daily for three months, and what happened is that the people living in the park began catching on. They too began to pick up trash and beautify the park. Anna wanted all of us to know that from one small idea (daughter making lip balm), that a whole community can be changed and the lives of people can be improved and a community can be united. It was very touching to hear her family's story and to see what they built.

After Anna's presentation, she introduced us to Jessie. Jessie showcased a traditional papiamento costume (which was one time made out of left over materials found in one's home.... curtains, tablecloths, etc) as well as demonstrated the Curacao version of the waltz and mazurka. 

This is Anna's shop, called Hello Skalo.

My mom and me with Anna. Not that I needed lotion, but I wanted to support her store and her mission... so I bought two lemon grass lotions and one mango lotion. 

I liked this sign in Anna's store... 
To do list

• Be Awesome
• Smile A lot
• Bless others
• Stick to your principles
• Do everything with love

Later in the morning, Jessie picked people who she wanted to dance with.... and she chose Peter. I actually caught Peter's dance moves on video. He did a great job. 

In this same park was this creative art piece entitled... sea monster. It is made out of all sorts of plastic pieces that have washed up on the beaches of Curacao. It is said that these pieces of plastic have come from all over the world. 

After the art park, we visited a Curacao Liquor Distillery..... Chobolobo Estate - Blue Curacao Liqueur Factory.

This early 19th-century Dutch colonial mansion has been converted into a small distillery that crafts the Blue Curacao liqueur. Created from the peel of the Valencia orange planted by the Spaniards when they discovered Curacao, the unique spirit has been produced on the island for over 100 years using a traditional recipe dating back to 1886. 

Apparently Curacao is famous for this blue liquor. Which we had the opportunity to taste. Perhaps it was the fact that I was drinking something that was electric blue, but it tasted sickly sweet and unappealing to me. 

Inside the distillery, was some information about how the products are made. What caught my attention was the sugar, dried out orange peels, cloves and cardamon which are used in the process!

By the way all the liquor is KOSHER!!! One of the contributing factors of the kosher certification is the fact the genuine Curacao Liqueur is distilled using an ethyl alcohol derived from natural cane sugar. The Dutch West India Company brought sugar cane to the region, and imported slave labor as it became the most valuable crop. The sugar mills would grind the bottom of the cane stalks where gravity pulled the sweet sap, and the resulting juice would be fermented for several days, then heated in a still. Resulting vapors, cooled by water, condense back into the clear alcohol to be used for the Genuine Curacao Liqueur. 

In 1634, when the Dutch took control of Curacao from Spain, an interpreter with the fleet became the first Jewish person to set foot on the local islands. His name was Samuel Cohen and he arrived from Amsterdam. In 1659, a group of 70 Sephardic Jews from the Portuguese congregation of Amsterdam emigrated to Curacao and bought with them the first Sefer Torah, a handwritten version of the Jewish Holy Book dating to the early 1300's in Amsterdam and housed it in the Synagogue Mikve Israel Emanuel, built in 1732, which today is the oldest continuously operating synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. Because of the Senior family's place in Curacao Jewish community, it was important for them to seek kosher certification for their Curacao liquor. Following stringent testing of all the raw materials used, including the alcohol, the kosher certification was granted. 

A display of the modern and antique liquor bottled used. 

The last stop on our tour was to an Aloe Vera Farm. This farm has 10 acres, with 100,000 aloes planted on it. Curacao is gifted with an abundance of natural aloe vera plants, long reputed for their natural healing and medicinal powers. The plantation and manufacturing facility showcase aloe products and offer insight into the plant and its uses. 

While on the farm, we had a demonstration of how to cut a big aloe vera frond. In fact once you slice it open, a caramel colored fluid drips out. She said a teaspoon of that liquid serves as a natural laxative. Then as she sliced off the skin off the plant, she cut the flesh inside for people to taste. She lost me literally and the whole thing grossed me out. So needless to say, I did not eat the aloe. Then she offered us a tasting of pure aloe juice.........all I can say is YUCK!!! It wouldn't go down, despite how wonderful it is for one's immunity and health. Peter said it tasted like nail polish remover. I can't say I disagree. 

My mom and me pictured with a Chichi! Chichi is a well rounded Caribbean figure. She represents the vibrant, dynamic and responsible older sister. She is handmade and hand painted in bright Caribbean colors by local craftsmen and painters at Serena’s Art Factory in Curaçao. They also sell dolls and other figurines of chichi for people to take home as souvenirs.

Chichi is the Papiamento word for ‘big sister.’ She represents the eldest daughter of the family, who binds the family together in a loving and caring way. She is a much appreciated female role model in the Caribbean community of today and a very live part of its colorful heritage.



Meanwhile all over the Island today, you could hear what sounded like gun shots. But it wasn't guns, it was fireworks. People are getting ready for New Years and apparently fireworks are VERY popular. At first, it is quite scary as you can't understand what is happening or where these loud sounds (that go on for minutes) are coming from, but once you are told what is going on, then what you quickly deduce is ......... New Year's Eve must be a pip here.