the triangle



Photos from private collection
Please do not copy without permission
First image 1933, third image 2011
(I love the first image)

Every week-day morning I drive (in my tiny car) from the East side of the island, over the Juliana Bridge to Otrabanda (this sounds far...but really its a 18 min drive.....with traffic). Otrabanda is part of the historic centre of Curacao. The streets are filled with beautiful momuments, most of them restored to their original state.

This is the building I work in. Last year the renovations were finalized.
It is such a wonderful building to work in. Beautiful on the outside, modern on the inside; splendid all-around.

off to fuikdag





Fuikdag. 

If you are one of the regular beach go-ers, then you are probably heading to Fuik in your lovely boat... however there are quite a few people (I would say the majority) gets in there in whatever floating devise they can put together that weekend. Fuik is usually a quite bay along the East coast of the island. (as seen in the second image). One day a year this is transformed to a huge beach party, bringing together people from the surrounding islands (and anyone able to find a boat ride to the island, as getting there by car is seriously difficult). 

Hope you are having a great weekend as well.  
With loads of laughter, dancing and smiles. 
xx
Pris

hello monday, happy new year

Video by Mode de la Funk.
For more fun about Fuik Dag visit Ful Trot

Good morning and welcome to the first beautiful Monday morning of 2012.
For some of you still a wonderful day off and for others (like myself) the work week has started.
This week though we have an spectacular party to look forward to; Fuik Dag.
On Sunday we all head to Fuik for the party of the year (yep all that Christmas and New Years celebrating just isn't enough for us.....we close of the season and open the new year with an amazing beach party).

Have a splendid week.
Laugh much.
Smile loads.
Enjoy all the wonderful things this year will bring.


xx
Pris

the cuckoo clock

The Anna C

A few days ago (hmm this is now a few weeks ago), while driving to work over the Juliana bridge making my way down into Otrabanda, the voice of Robert Fulghum coming from my computer told a story about a cuckoo clock he once bought for his wife for Christmas. This story reminded me of a cuckoo clock that my grandmother had in her home in the Netherlands. I somehow remembered this clock as being a distinct feature in her home; one that was wound up every evening. It was the highlight of the day when we were visiting. The history behind this clock somehow escaped me. (probably due to my age…. Or at least some lack of consciousness regarding the history of things).

My curiosity for the clock took up most of my free time during the days to follow. I talked to my father about it, e-mailed my aunts in the Netherlands and had a distant cousin (who happened to be visiting Curacao that week) bring some old family photos. It was a part of each of our lives and represented something special. We all remembered it in our own special way.

In 1962 the Anna C left the harbor of Curacao. It was to be a grand journey. (Though I obviously don’t know this from experience I can imagine that a journey from the Caribbean to Italy on a cruise ship, taking along a family of 5 (and a car) can only be defined as ‘grand’). In my mind, I see them leaving an almost empty house, packing up whatever would fit into the Morris Oxford (I gladly admit I had to look this car up on google) for the 6 month trip they would be making through Europe. I picture them driving from their home, with great anticipation towards the harbor and onto the boat. As the horns echoed through Willemstad, the Anna C made its way to Naples, Italy, a place my grandfather noted: ‘ one must see before one dies’. My grandmother (I’d like to believe) dressing up for dinner (and surely lunch as well) in chic dresses and enjoying the cool sea breeze for 3 weeks of sheer bliss.

They left Naples for Pompeii, Vesuvius, Rome, Genua, Ivrea and Milan, slowly making their way towards Switzerland where my grandfather bought the cuckoo clock for my grandmother. What an impressive journey this must have been. To visit the old Italian cities- appreciate the immense amount of art all around and drive through the serene county side. How exceptional that only a few weeks earlier their very own car was limited to the sixty kilometers of our tiny island and it was now driving through Europe with the very same passengers.

The cuckoo clock made its way back to Curacao and hung in their house at the Dr. Maalweg until my grandmother moved back to the Netherlands in 1978. The clock, delicately crafted in Switzerland, was no match for the Caribbean breeze and did not function during the years it spent here. It was only back in Breukelen, The Netherlands that the tiny cuckoo bird made its way out of the clock again. How delighted my grandmother must have been; not only at the sound but mostly of all the memories this very special cuckoo clock must have brought with it.

I now sit in my office and hear the horns of the ships entering and leaving the harbor. As I drive over the bridge (which was not build yet in 1962) I can picture the ship leaving the harbor, my grandparents standing on the deck and the children waving towards whoever might be looking on as the ship departs on its journey. Oma and Opa have passed away. The clock however is still hanging in my grandmothers old home and I do hope that the little cuckoo bird still makes it way out of the clock every half and full hour of the day, simply as a remembrance to my grandparents.

all that jazz III

Image via Yahoo

This weekend is the 2nd edition of the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival.
Last year we had an amazing time and I suspect that this year will be great as well.
It's a grand event for the island, with concerts throughout the week at different locations and so far I have heard that people are having a wonderful time.
If you are on the island, get your dancing shoes out tonight and practice your moves!


"Remember to dance like no one is watching"
-Lindsay Kolb-


Go to Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival for more info

happy friday



Photos from own collection
Hoogstraat, Otrabanda
Curacao

You cannot help but smile when you drive into the Hoogstraat. Though there is still some construction going on, the colours of the buildings will bring out happiness in anyone. So this morning, as I stood infront of the entrance, I took a few pictures to share with you. ( These were taken with my phone.... as you might notice my my photography skills are from far great but even less so with a phone. I hope you like them though). 

Have a wonderful weekend. 
Smile loads. 

xx
Pris 

west punt










Images from own collection 
West Punt, Curacao 


This weekend was happily spent at West Punt. Just relaxing with the sound of the waves always in the background, eating delicious food, swimming in the gorgeous crystal blue waters and taking the Saint out for a ride along the coast. Curacao is a relatively small island, yet the one hour drive still seems like an eternity as it brings you to a world of peacefulness. Early in the morning as the sun is slowly coming up, the fisherman make their way for their daily catch, the vast blue ocean, in all the possible shades, lies before them. It is a lazy Sunday morning, quiet, with only the sounds of the birds in the background. We "relax" (also the name of the house where we are staying....quite appropriate), on the gazebo while having breakfast. It is nice to notice that time somehow stands still on such days.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend as well.

xx
Pris




a bit from otrabanda

Image from here

Since last week I have been working in the neighbourhood of Otrabanda; part of the historic capital Willemstad (though quite small compared to others, it has however served as an important one throughout history). Both sides of Willemstad are filled with (newly restored) monuments, most of them now housing offices instead of families. Their sheer size and colours make it impossible not to admire them.
Across from my office there is a building which looks much like the one in the picture. I will check later on if it is indeed the same one. Somehow you feel more connected to the history and legacy of the island when driving through the streets of Otrabanda every morning. It is a nice feeling.

emma bridge


Photos from own collection 

Yesterday for about an hour we were on the Emma Bridge, enjoying the view, the subtle movements and the wonderful feeling of being on the bridge when it opens and closes.

The Emma Bridge, built in 1888 by Leonard Burlington Smith, and named after Queen Emma (1890–1898), this bridge connects the Punda and Otrobanda districts in Curacao.
The 16 floating pontoon boats support the “Pontoon Bridge.” Also known as the “Swinging Old Lady,” it swings open using two powerful ship motors, allowing ships to access the port. From 1901 to 1934, people had to pay a toll to cross the bridge, with the exception of pedestrians going barefoot. 

the lights

Photo from Own collection 
Octagon, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles 
Houses the Simon Bolivar Museum

It was a warm September afternoon in Curacao, the sun was setting over the Caribbean sea as we made our way through the busy streets to the Avila Hotel. It was buzzing with people and music, all emerged in the spirit of Christmas (yes, I know, quite odd... It was 28 degrees, in September and here we were at a Christmas market with a Santa Clause and all). The bottles of water and the ice-stand replaced the hot chocolate and gluhwein, while we enjoyed the view of the beach and all the wonderful lights shining on the Octagon. 

Yet another interesting Saturday afternoon on this wonderful little island. 

Hope you had a light-filled weekend as well.