A little about Hugh, the cab driver…Hugh spent most of his adult life in Europe and South America working in the travel and tourism industry before moving back to Curacao. He speaks more than four languages and it is common in the Dutch ruled Caribbean islands. Papiamentu, Dutch, Spanish and English are most commonly spoken in this island.
Within fifteen minutes, we discovered our tour guide/cab driver whom we paid $200 (US $ for four hours) is not your ordinary tour guide. He’s got an attitude…and lots to say about slavery and the past…we were in for a discovery we never asked for.
Our first stop was the Monument in honor of Tula and the rebel slaves in the south coast of Curacao. On August 17, 1795, Tula led about 50 slaves in a quest to fight for freedom. He went into jails, sugar plantation like Saint Kruis and on to other farms to free slaves. Hugh said, “if they were thirsty, they were given salt water” and “if they were sick, they were asked to swim back to Africa”.
Interestingly, he made a stop at a farm and ordered a goat for himself. He said one kilo for $4 if the goat is not butchered and $8 for a butchered goat. According to him if any goat were to pass through the fence to your property, the goat belongs to you. So you can slaughter your neighbor’s goat and sell it for profit.
Without warning, he took another stop at a gas station for gas. While we were there, he began to voice his frustration and got out of the cab and yelled at the owner of the car in front of his. He yelled, “these Dutch…on and on…and more.” The owner left her car unattended after filling her tank at the gas pump, chatting with her friends across the street.
Obviously showing his dislike for the Dutch….
The Dutch claimed Curacao in1636 and by 1700 there were about 1,500 slaves in Curacao to work in the plantations and all the hard labor that went with developing a new island. By the mid 1800s there were more than 7,000 slaves in this tiny island.
Today, this multi-cultural nation is filled with people from all nations including the Dutch and descendants of slaves. From our experience with Hugh, his conversation and attitude, we sensed an unforgiving spirit, judgment and anger.
How long will the people of this little island live in peace and harmony with each other?
We came to discover the beauty of this island, and indeed found a piece of paradise with diverse natural beauty, colorful and unique houses and architecture and untouched beaches and crystal clear seawaters.
Curacao is a beautiful island…”bon bini!” Today we discovered Curacao beyond the beautiful beaches and colorful buildings. Have you been there? Let us know.
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