Curacao is one of five islands of The Netherlands Antilles and as such is part of The Kingdom of The Netherlands. The island is the most populous of the Dutch territory islands and is one of the ABC islands--Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. It is off the coast of Venezuela and has three main languages: Dutch, Spanish and Papiamentu (a patois of Dutch, African, Spanish and some Portuguese). English is also widely spoken .
The origin of the name of the island of Curacao remains a mystery. Two similar theories attribute the name to the Spanish and Portuguese words for heart. In Portuguese the word for heart is "curação," which allegedly referred to the island as the "heart" of trade. In Spanish the word "corazón," also meaning heart, is thought to refer to the shape of the island, as it is heart shaped.
The Spaniards were first to inhabit Curacao in 1499 and exported most of the indigenous peoples to other parts of their colonial empire, where workers were needed. The Dutch took over in 1634, and by 1662, its location proving ideal, the Dutch West Indian Company used Curacao as a main port for slave trading.
It changed hands many times during the 18th and 19th centuries but was returned to full Dutch rule in 1815. The discovery of oil prompted Royal Dutch Shell to open a refinery and make it a central and prosperous place with immigrants flocking there for work.
Curacao has little fluctuation in its weather. The warmest month is September, averaging a high of about 85 degrees F and low of 78. The coldest is January, with an average high of 80 and low of 77. Trade winds bring cool air, keeping the weather relatively temperate for an island so close to the equator. The dry season runs from January to September.
Curacao is 40 miles off the coast of Venezuela, and its proximity to the equator and the associated wind patterns make the Lesser Antilles a bit too far south to be affected by hurricanes. In fact, Curacao is the least likely island in The Caribbean to be hit by a hurricane, as it lies outside the hurricane belt.
According to the book "Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao" by Donald Nausbaum, the people of Curacao come in all colors and religions. Curacao has the oldest Synagogue in the Americas that remains in continued use. It has been used since it opened in 1732, though Jewish presence on the island began in the mid-1600s. Later arrivals of Jews during World War II boosted the population and, as with its neighboring Dutch islands, particularly Aruba, Jews have been very influential. There are also Muslim and Hindu populations and all forms of Christianity.
Curacao is a multilingual culture. Most people speak Dutch, which until the early 2000s was the sole language schools taught, Papiamentu, which is also offered in schools on Curacao as a primary language. Spanish and English are offered as supplementary languages. Most people speak English mainly because of the influx of North American tourists and also Spanish because of South American tourism.
The southern beaches are rich in sea life and coral reefs, making scuba diving and snorkeling popular activities. The main attraction among tourists is relaxing. The beaches and resorts offer a wealth of activities, from jet-skiing, scuba and snorkeling, parasailing, wind surfing and sailing and water sports, including waterskiing and banana boat rides. Boat tours are also popular. Mountain biking, horseback riding, guided tours, shopping trips (duty free), hiking and Jeep safaris are also offered.
There is no particular dish considered "the" typical dish in Curacao, as there are far too many. Whatever the main course is, it will surely be surrounded by fried plantains, aros moro (rice and beans), and funchi, a polenta-like dish. Krioyo is a local food and a must try. Fresh pika, a very hot pepper and onion relish, will never be absent from any Krioyo table. Meals are hearty. Stews are made not only with the traditional meat and chicken, but also with goat, konkomber, a spiky relative of the cucumber, conch, green papayas, even iguana lizards. Seafood is also a local favorite. Tiny red snapper is fried whole, then topped with a tomato, onion and green pepper sauce. Bakiou (salted cod) and scabechi, a pickled salted fish, are also popular. Soups are also prevalent and diverse. Pumpkin is cooked with cinnamon and made into a hearty meal. Gumbo, similar to that found in New Orleans, is also a favorite.
