Crown Princess ABC islands Jan 12 to 20, 2018

[Bimmer09]

I take bus window pics as I can't get off the bus and I may never pass this way again and it gives me more flavor of the island.

The ship's videographer (not in shot) is in the back seat with her tripod along for the ride.

She is coming with us to record the excursion for the Reflections DVD (which features Carol at one point)

 

 

 

Local color

 

 



 

 



 

 

[Bimmer09]

 

 

 

 

 

far from the city



 

 

Next up-Tigers!!

[Jasperdo]

Excellent photos from the Queen Juliana Bridge.

[Kiwis Afloat]

Thank you for taking the time to complete this review. I am enjoying living vicariously! :)

[hockeyguru32]

 

We are slowly approaching Curacao's capital Willemstad and I have enough time to pop into the buffet for a plate of food. We are off the ship and meeting a tour guide at 8.45 a.m. Carol plans to eat at the IC as she'll be waking at 7, around the time we tie up.

The buffet seems shockingly small and tight compared to the Regal but the food is good

and having a waiter quickly bring me coffee and OJ (Simpson but I had no time to talk to him) saved me some precious minutes. I needed to eat fast to (a) get it while it was hot and (b) get back outside with the camera incase there would be a good sunrise.

 

 

Clean plate and back on deck.

SUNRISE



 

 



 

 



 

More...

 

 

My favourite time of day Sunrise and breakfast

[Bimmer09]

 

We have arrived and we get off the bus, leaving Kenneth and any valuables we don't want to take with us.

 

 

These birds are moseying around

 

 



 

 

There's a gift shop and some local art



 

 



 

 

I see some little parrots in a cage...

[Bimmer09]

 

 



 

 



 

There are restrooms here so once everyone is um, rested, we walk a short boardwalk onto the back of an open air bus. Here's the bus (taken later on the tour).

 

We have a very colorful guide, wearing a very colorful shirt and I can't recall his name darn it! but he was very witty and knowledgeable about his ostriches. Once onboard we set off on the dirt roads between the far-flung ostrich corrals at a leisurely pace.

[Bimmer09]

DEFINITELY NOT TIGERS

 

We stop to watch a male (black feathers) chase a female with the intent of starting a family

 

 

This goes on for maybe 3 minutes, chasing round and round-think Indy 500 but with feathers. The female occasionally crashes into the fencing which she has apparently never noticed before.



 

He gives up on the idea for now

 

Some of the ostriches have forgotten to put on pants before dining. Their feathers are plucked off by other ostriches. They would not get into Da Vinci dressed like that, even if they were claimed to be an emotional support animal.

[Bimmer09]

Further along we stop at a corral to feed some ostriches. It's dried food like cat or dog food served in a plastic bowl.

The videographer is there to capture the passengers taking turns to stand with their backs to the fence holding the bowl over their shoulder while the ostriches with their long necks (who knew?) reach over to feed and spill the food all over the place. No table manners but then they don't have tables. Carol takes part and shows up in the Reflections DVD we bought at the end of the cruise, as we usually do. It's a video snapshot of the cruise we are on. It cost $18 if I recall correctly.

 

 

 

I have moved away from the group and a couple of ostriches follow me

 

 

A touching moment



 

 

Back to the group. Our guide is at extreme left.



 

 

We drive on down this road

[Bimmer09]

The guide wants to stop and show us an ostrich that he can make dance. The videographer gets off the bus to set up.

 

No dancing pics as I was running the camcorder (video to follow)

We were enjoying this morning. Perfect weather around 80 degrees F but with a gentle breeze blowin' in the wind. Plus it was different from our usual Monday mornings which is what we look for in a cruise. We head back towards the Welcome Center.

Those that wish to can stay on the bus for another 10 yards but some of us get off here to see an ostrich egg.

 

 

Folks can take turns to stand on the egg, which can hold up to 400lbs.



 

 

Our guide



 

 

I just liked the roof line at the center



 

[Bimmer09]

We had 15 minutes to shop etc. I was thirsty. There was a restaurant with a bar.

 

 

I took my beer ($4 U.S.) and sat out front to have a cigarette.



 

I am very active on TripAdvisor so I will give the Ostrich Farm a good review. I love to see chickens roaming around free...

 

Back on the bus and off to an artist's studio out in the hills somewhere .

 

Norris

[CruiserRob]

 

DEFINITELY NOT TIGERS

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful plumage, the definitely not tigers :D

 

Robert

[Sadebud]

Hi Norris!

 

Really enjoying the journal so far!! It's helping me get through the wait until we do same itinerary in November!! Can't wait for more!! Your pictures are fantastic!!

 

Cheers,

Tracy

[jefa]

Your last post has had me really laughing out loud!!!! I have been following you from the beginning of this review and really enjoying it. Thank you!!!!

[MisterMet]

DEFINITELY NOT TIGERS

 

We stop to watch a male (black feathers) chase a female with the intent of starting a family

 

 

This goes on for maybe 3 minutes, chasing round and round-think Indy 500 but with feathers. The female occasionally crashes into the fencing which she has apparently never noticed before.



 

He gives up on the idea for now

 

Some of the ostriches have forgotten to put on pants before dining. Their feathers are plucked off by other ostriches. They would not get into Da Vinci dressed like that, even if they were claimed to be an emotional support animal.

 

 

Too funny!

[macmax]

$4 for a Carib? OMG!!!!..... but any port in a storm I guess.;)

[Bimmer09]

Thank you for taking the time to complete this review. I am enjoying living vicariously! :)

 

Thank you for reading and commenting! Nice to have you following along from NZ.

We both have New Zealand on our bucket list of places to visit (thank Lord of the Rings)

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Excellent photos from the Queen Juliana Bridge.

 

Glad you liked them and I am happy I was able to use the best camera for those birds-eye views.

I have lots of shots of the town from ground level later.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

My favourite time of day Sunrise and breakfast

 

Ditto 1,000 times over. Add being on a cruise ship experiencing both...keeps drawing me back.

I will always try to be up early when at sea.

Even on land when on vacation I like to be out on the streets with a coffee and a camera before the city wakes. we are going to San Francisco in June and I am salivating at the prospect of the early morning walks to the Ferry Building and Chinatown, both of them near our hotel on California Street.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Hi Norris!

 

Really enjoying the journal so far!! It's helping me get through the wait until we do same itinerary in November!! Can't wait for more!! Your pictures are fantastic!!

 

Cheers,

Tracy

 

Welcome Tracy!! Great itinerary and one we would do again.

Glad you like the pictures.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

$4 for a Carib? OMG!!!!..... but any port in a storm I guess.;)

 

Yes-they had a captive audience out there in the countryside but it was still cheaper than the ship or any bar in Chicago. Thanks for the comment and for following along on this lengthy tale!

Norris

[perfect match]

I love the pictures from the ostrich farm. :cool:

[Bimmer09]

I love the pictures from the ostrich farm. :cool:

 

Then I hope you'll like the OSTRICH VIDEO

 

ujwFlBaJZZA

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

We left the Ostrich Farm and drove for 15 minutes or so and arrived here, out in the hills

 

Serena Janet Israel is a German sculptor who moved to Curacao and she creates the moulds for her statuary and then passes them to local women to color. You can see some of them in downtown Willemstad including Rif Fort the shopping area just off the ship.

 

 

These things-"Chi Chi Women"

 

 



 

 



 

 

They make the moulds here and fill them with plaster



 

More...

[Bimmer09]

The art studio is set in a nice little garden with random pieces of art here and there

 

 



 

 

There's a little playground for the kids



 

 

As in Aruba, cactus can be used for fencing to deter miscreants from entering



 

A 15 minute stop and then we are back on the bus