Caribbean cruise - Curacao - March 2022

 The ship docked in the Mega Pier cruise terminal while in Curacao. It was a short walking distance from the city center and the main attractions in Willemstad downtown. Just like Aruba visit, we had a long stay in Curacao from 7:00am to 10:00pm. We took a taxi to tour both sides of the island: Otrobanda and Punda.

Chichi's statue on the top in the background

The Queen Juliana bridge connects Otrobanda and Punda

Santa Familia Church

Flamingo Sanctuary

View of Willemstad from Queen Juliana Bridge

A stop at the Curacao Liqueur Distillery

A neighborhood street in Willemstad

Wilhelmina Park - downtown Willemstad
DUSHI means "Sweetie"

Hendrikplein Z/N - The oldest surviving temple/synagogue in America.

Former Floating Market - Willemstad city center

Vegetable stands at the floating market

Fish stand at the floating market

WILLEMSTAD : is the capital city of Curacao. The city center, historic old town has its unique architecture and harbor entry, is the UNESCO World Heritage Site. We crossed the Rif Fort and walked on the pontoon/swinging bridge called Queen Emma Bridge to Willemstad's city center from the ship terminal. 

Rif Fort

Love Lock at the beginning of the Queen Emma Swinging Bridge

Queen Emma Swinging Bridge, also a floating bridge

Historic Old Town of Willemstad

Pastel-colored colonial architecture - Waterfront of Willemstad 

Curacao Willemstad Governor's Palace

Waterfort Arches

Artist Alley

Artist Alley

Artist Alley

Molenplein 12-19 Curacao Monument -Former merchant house built in about 1750

Caribbean Cruise - Aruba - March 2022

 After a few cancellations on cruises since the Covid pandemic, we decided to take our first cruise to the ABC islands of the Caribbean. It was a nine day round trip from Ft. Lauderdale. Our ship was the Celebrity Equinox. We got an upgrade to a "balcony" cabin as the ship sailed half full. It was very nice.!

Bonaire was not open to tourism at this time and our itinerary now included: Aruba, Curacao, Jamaica and Nassau.

ARUBA:  After two sea days, our first "port of call" was Aruba. The ship docked near the business downtown of Oranjestad. We had a long stay in Aruba from 8:00am to 11:00pm. Ed and Jan, a couple we met on the ship went in with us to share a taxi to tour the island.

Coming to Aruba at dawn

First stop on our island tour - Casibari Boulders

Casibari Boulders - With Ed and Jan

Alto Vista Chapel - First church on the island

California Lighthouse in Aruba

Promenade along Oranjestad downtown

Shops along main street in Oranjestad

View of Aruba Port 

Commemoration of Free Masonry in Aruba

Museum of Industry

Registro Civily Censo

Main Church in Oranjestad

Public art project - Paardenbaai (Horse Bay)

Marina at night

Johannesburg - Pretoria - Soweto - South Africa - November 2021

 Johannesburg is informally known as Jozi, Joburg or "The City of Gold". It's the largest city and the financial capital of South Africa. Our hotel, the Marriott Melrose Arch is located in the center of  Birnam, a trendy suburb of Johannesburg.  

Brand new Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch in Birnam, Johannesburg

Pedestrian Mall by the hotel 

A half day city tour took us to Pretoria for its famous landmarks and a stop at the Union Building/ Parliament. Pretoria is one of the South Africa's three capital cities serving as the seat of the executive branch of government. It has a large settlement of Botswanans and serves as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa. 

Kruger's house and museum.

Dutch Reformed Church (Bosman Street Church) in Pretoria.

High Court 

Tudor Chambers - Southeastern corner of Church Square in central Pretoria

 

Old Bank Building next to Palace of Justice - Church Square

Famous intersection @ Pretoria Central: Madiba & Mandela

A short drive from Pretoria Central and the historic Church Square is the Union Buildings, Pretoria. The Union Buildings are impressive and well designed, form the official seat of the South African Government. It also houses the offices of the President of South Africa. The surrounding grounds are huge with perfectly manicured lawn and terraced gardens. 

 

The Union Buildings in Pretoria

Delville Wood South African National Memorial @ The Union Buildings

The Union Buildings viewed from the steps leading to the gardens and grounds

The gardens.

Group picture @ statue of Nelson Mandela - the Union Buildings in the background

 

There are many embassies located in Pretoria, near the Union Buildings

US Embassy front gate.

US Embassy in Pretoria

The purple Jacaranda trees line the Pretoria streets.  
 
From Pretoria, we headed south toward Johannesburg to make our last stop in Soweto, a township of the City of Johannesburg Municipality in Gauteng.   

Former De Beer's company headquarter in Johannesburg.
The building has 28 facets like a diamond.

Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque in Midrand, a suburb of Johannesburg

Evans Park Mosque in Gauteng, Johannesburg 

Bleached mine waste (tailings) all over Joburg's landscape

Soweto is an abbreviation for South Western Township. It is an incorporated municipality in the City of Johannesburg. Soweto is famous since it's home of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. 

Archbishop Desmond Tutu's home in Orlando West neighborhood of Soweto

Nelson Mandela National Museum (Mandela's home) 

Photo of Mandela in the museum

Famous photo of Nelson Mandela taken by David Meyer in front of the house.

Soweto also is known for its riots in the morning of June 16, 1976.

16 of June 1976 Memorial Park

Antoinette Sithole standing by the photo that made her an icon of the Soweto's June 1976 uprising. On June 16, 1976, she ran beside her brother who was shot and being carried. He was declared dead on arrival.

With Antoinette at the June 16 (1976) Memorial Park.