My goodness I woke up to us docking at the small ship port in Willemstad, Curacao. This dock is up under the high bridge at the oil refinery. I could smell diesel oil at times. The last time
I was here we docked back the other side of the bridge and it was much more convenient.
After having our breakfast we ventured dockside and started to walk towards the town, however we were approached
by a tour Company to take a city tour. Bob just wanted to walk but he was outvoated 3 to 1 so away we went. First they filled a nice sized tour bus but then they started putting down aisle seats and packing us in. They drove us down town to the Large Cruise
Pier where the Crystal was docked and then they off loaded us and put us on another larger bus, which wasn't as comfortable.
We then were driven all over the city, both sides of the harbour but
the only stop they did was a craft shop which was in someone's home. They did let us out on the deck to take photos of the view, as we were very high up in the hills. They then took passengers back to our ship or we could stay on and thet took you back into
town where you were let off and found your own way back. This is what we decided to do.
As I had been here just a year and a half ago I basically remembered how to get around the town. We had
a short wait to walk across the swinging bridge as a small boat was going through. Then we walked across and i took them into the square but since it was hot we continued on and i took them to see the "Floating Market". Since Eric started and own's the "Masstown
Market" at home we spent a bit of time at this floating market, checking it all out and buying Bananas to eat as we looked around.
The produce and everything here is brought over from Venezwalea
which is only about 40 miles away.
After a good look around we walked back to the Prinsendam and had a light lunch in the Lido..
Bob
chilled and read the papers on our deck and I went to the Creative Craft class on making festive Christmas cards.
Dinner tonight in the La Fontain Dining room was featuring Dutch
Dining. The menu had all the classics - pea soup, dover sole, roast chicken, French fries, Dutch steak mushroom sauce among lots of other great items on the menu.
After dinner tonight we
went to the Explorer's Lounge and listened to Adagio until they quit for a break.. Then we went to the Ocean Bar and listened for a while to the Ocean Dreams play.
Next it was off to the Lido
Pool for a party. The Ocean Dreams played for dancing and the Cruise director along with the Location Team were leading dances and a bunny hop. It was fun but it didn't start until 9:30PM so about 10:00PM we decided to go to the Showroom to get a seat
for the Filipino Crew Show.
The showroom was almost packed but we found 4 seat's together. The crew work so hard and in their spare time they practice to put on a show for us about their country
and their customs and music. It si so late, 10:30PM , as that is when they can get their station's cleaned up and are able to perform. Our Wine steward, Marty, was the MC and he also performed.
They always do a great show and are so talented; I was glad to see that there was such a great turnout.
As the others retired to our cabins I went to the Lido and made myself a cup of green
tea and got an ice water and followed Bob to our cabin.
Goedenavond--- pronounced "goo-duh-NAH-vunt" in Dutch. Meaning " Good Evening" in Dutch.
So, Goedenavond to all..