SHOPPING SPREE
SIETSE JAGER/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
C U R A Ç A O
Willemstad’s bustling shopping areas, the Punda and Otrobanda districts, boast a few hundred shops and vendors offering an enticing grab bag of international items: Italian silks, French perfumes, Swiss watches, Lladró collectibles from Spain, Hummel figurines from Germany. But what about finding a gift that specifically reflects the island’s proud Dutch heritage? Among the most popular mementos is blue Delft porcelain and ceramic, crafted into lovely pieces such as plates, tea sets, tiles, candleholders and decorative replicas of Dutch windmills and houses. Hand-embroidered linens from Holland add a cozy touch to home décor. Shoes, clogs and even tulips carved of wood are famed national symbols. Other gifts satisfy the palate. Wheels of Dutch cheeses — aged Gouda, slightly salty Edam — are easy to transport home. Dutch licorice and other candy
LLADRO
will satisfy any sweet tooth, as will
TOP LEFT: An aerial view of Punda District, filled with great shopping. ABOVE: Lladró figurine.
Dutch chocolate, which can be of the dark variety, mint-flavored, or mixed with hazelnuts and raisins. Dutch cookies and jams make great welcoming gifts for those visiting Curaçao for the first time. Curaçao’s artists combine both Dutch and island heritage in their work. An oil or watercolor painting with a scenic view of Willemstad’s timeless Dutch architecture is an unforgettable keepsake. —R. V. 144
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES FUN ASHORE
1166.indd 1 1112 POC Curacao.indd 182
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