Joined: 05 Aug 2006
Posts: 7
| Researching Caribbean destinations:icon_smi: ? Thought I'd tell you something about this beautiful little island where I was born:hotsun:.
Curaçao
Curaçao's best kept secret are its beautiful white sandy beaches and secluded coves but the island has a lot more to offer than sun, sea and sand.
Curaçao is part of a federal monarchy with Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands at the head of the monarchy. Curaçao as a partner in this federation has its own government, parliament and monetary currency. The Netherlands, as many European countries with colonies, owes much of its success to the exploitation of Curaçao during the Dutch Golden Age (1584-1702). Arguably the Dutch evaluate their former colonies as being a ‘less equal' partner due to their demographic and economic superiority, which they ironically achieved thru their colonization.:thumbdow:
For most of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the Dutch were active participants in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean slave trades. For brief spells during the seventeenth century they even dominated the Atlantic slave trade. Curaçao emerged as centre of Slave trade during this period. The Dutch conquered Curaçao during their war against Spain in 1634 and shipped all its inhabitants to the Netherlands as prisoners. Whatever Curaçao has become is a direct result of its colonization; Curaçao's present is deeply rooted in its past. Long lasting colonial dominance, looting, pillaging, plundering, busy slave trade, slave riots, prosperous times, Dutch trade spirit, feuds and invasions all a part of Curaçao's lively history. Curaçao's rich history is clearly visible in for instance its architecture. Large plantation houses are set on the islands' highest grounds, from which they dominate the landscape visually, and can profit from the northeast Passat wind. This wind makes the tropical heat bearable and even very pleasant; it also makes the island an El Dorado for windsurfers. Curaçao also has some of the best diving locations in the Caribbean, with six of its more than 80 dive locations ranked amongst the best in the world e.g. Watamula and Klein Curaçao, with historical ship wrecks and a 12,5 mile coral reef which has protected status as a national park. Curaçao offers a busy and exciting nightlife, from traditional music festivals to casinos, Curaçao has something for everyone!:hotsun:
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