Curacao

Up until now, the only thing I knew about Curacao was that it had the same name as a drink mixer and they always have a real good team in the Little League World Series. There is, in fact....so much more. Read that last sentence like you're the host of Access Hollywood for full effect.

ENOUGH OF THIS TEXT-BASED COMMUNICATION! I TIRE OF IT! PHOTOGRAPHS!

Town square in Willemstad. Am I spelling that right? I. Don't. Care.

Entrance to the old colonial fort that protects the Colombian Emeralds store from 18th century pirates. Shit gets real down here.

Ah! My favorite thing about Curacao. Engineering geeks take note. This is the Floating Bridge. It is the bridge on the river that divides Willemstad, and it gets it's name from the fact that it is floating in the river on pontoons. When a boat needs to pass, the bridge disengaged on one side and swung in total through the water to the adjacent side. It's basically a horizontal drawbridge. Pontoons and a hinge. Voila. Floating Bridge.

Here it is up close, swingin open to let a Coast Guard cutter through.

The interior of Mikve Israel Temple, the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere. The ENTIRE Western Hemisphere! How cool is that! Curacao had a large Jewish community made up of Spanish Jews that were thrown out of Spain during those lovely Inquisitions they had, right around the time Columbus was saying "Wait, guys, is this India?" while looking at the coast of Jamaica. The Spanish Jews set up shop on Curacao under the protection of the Dutch, and built this temple. The Jewish population of the island has decreased since, but the synagogue and adjoining museum are still active.

Again, oldest on this side of the planet. Mazel tov.

PINK TRAIN TO UNICORN TOWN! At least that's what Carisa kept yelling.

One of the many flea markets selling fruits and other products from Venezuela, which is five feet from Curacao.

A quick walk through the wall garden, and then back to the ship.

Should a butterfly be that big? Oh God.

Let's go.