Bon nochi (Good evening or Good night).
I hope your day was dushi dushi! (dushi means really sweet but can also mean good, tasty or delicious, pleasant, sweetheart., beautiful. If you say it twice, it's extra dushi).
Curaçao has the loveliest language, Papiamentu, which is a blend of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French, English, various African dialects, and the language of the Arawak or Papiamentu tribe. It's the first language of all three of the Dutch ABC islands -- Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. I say, why don't we all learn it? It's fun. The words are spelled exactly how they sound. And, since so many cultures have added their piece to it, it’s sort of universal.
Do you see the statue of the woman in the picture above. There are statues like this in many places in Willemstad. They are larger statues of the island's popular Chichi dolls. Chichi is the term for the oldest sister in a family, who always plays an important role in the family dynamic. The dolls represent the strong and loving Caribbean woman. If a young girl turns to a favorite aunt, an older sister, a mom, a grandma, or a female family friend, that older woman is said to be the girl's chichi.
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| View of the iconic painted town. |
Along with Papiamentu, Curacao residents speak Dutch and English.
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| Hato Caves |
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Mambo Beach
Docked in Willemstad. Of course, Holland America loves the Dutch islands.
Floating bridge that can swing aside for ships. Willemstad.
All of the houses are painted in color. An early politician claimed that the light bouncing off of traditional white Dutch Colonial houses gave him migraines. So, people started painting their buildings in soothing colors. Turns out, he also owned a paint store. Have you seen all of the white Dutch colonial style houses with black accents that have popped up in Nashville?
Great solution to keep folks from putting locks on the bridge.
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Whenever you read this, I hope you Pasa un bon dia. (Have a good day).
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