Wednesday, September 13, 1995 - Curaco

Roy wanted to work on the boat, and he always likes to have me out of the way, so I disappeared. I'd been wanting to go on another ten- kilometer walk at Christoffel Park. Long-distance walking isn't one of Roy's favorite forms of recreation, so I figured this was my ideal opportunity. My plan was to catch the seven-o'clock bus from Spanish Water, get downtown about 7:15, liberate some cash from an ATM, eat breakfast at McDonald's, and catch the eight-o'clock bus to the park. That would get me there by quarter to nine, while it was still fairly cool and give me plenty of time to walk around. I got up a couple of minutes before six, rushed like crazy, and actually managed to catch the seven-o'clock bus. It hadn't occurred to me there might be rush-hour traffic on Cura‡ao. As soon as the bus got on the highway, it was trapped in endless crawling traffic. By the time I got downtown, it was too late to eat breakfast. Stopped at an ATM on my way to Otrobanda. The machine was weird. It said, "I want to give you 50's, 25's, and 10's. Would you rather have all 100's? Yes or No." If there was anything I didn't want, it was 100's, so I answered, "No." It gave me two 100's and two 50's. Oh, well, at least I got a couple of 50's. Got to the bus terminal in Otrobanda about ten till eight. Saw a bus that said "Westpunt", which was the one I needed. Waited until the driver showed up. But when I went to get on it, a supervisor told me the next Westpunt bus was at nine o'clock! I showed him the schedule that listed an eight-o'clock bus, but he said that had changed. So all my rushing was in vain. Well, at least now I had time to eat breakfast. Got to the bridge just as the bell was ringing. I thought, "Great. Now I've got to ride the ferry across, and it isn't even at the dock, so it will take forever," but to my surprise, the bridge opened just enough to let a small boat through and then it immediately closed again, so in a few minutes, I was at McDonald's. The breakfast was surprisingly good. Had delicious scrambled eggs, an English muffin, and orange juice. So I guess it was just as well there was no eight-o'clock bus. Finally got to the park. Thought I'd be able to get in for half price again, but the woman insisted I pay the full 15 guilders. I wouldn't have gone if I'd known I'd have to pay the full amount. Followed the road to Zevenbergen. Passed an old copper mine, where there was still a hole in the ground. Went up to the magasina (storehouse) where much of the slave rebellion of 1795 took place. It's all overgrown now, but the walls still look sturdy. By losing that hour, I wasn't able to make the entire circuit. Got up to where I had a great view and then turned back. By 3:30, I was draped over the water cooler, slurping eagerly. When I got back to Punda, I had an hour's wait for the bus, so I went to McDonald's for a chocolate shake. Then I pulled a really dumb stunt. I had run out of anything to read, and I always hate to wait for a bus with nothing to read, so I got the brilliant idea of taking a minibus as far out Caracasbaaiweg as it would go and then walking the rest of the way. Thought I could beat the big bus. Ha ha. The bus I got on went out Santarosaweg instead of Caracasbaaiweg. Went through Santa Rosa and Monta¤a. I wondered if I'd ever get home. Finally I asked the driver if he went anywheres near Caracasbaaiweg. He said he was going there now, so that made me feel better. In a few minutes we were on Caracasbaaiweg, and I got out and started walking. After all it was only 3 kilometers, and the time was about six o'clock. Nothing to it. Of course, the big bus went tearing by when I still had a mile to go, and I wasn't at a Bushalte. By the time I got to my Royak, the sun was setting. Looked in my drybox for my little light. It was gone. I had another little flashlight in there, but it was soaking wet and wouldn't light. So much for dryboxes. It was pitch dark when I reached the boat. Swam for a few minutes and then took a shower. Roy had fixed supper. What a sweety pie! He had also resoldered the wire on the handheld VHF. Now the microphone works, but it still needs a new speaker.