Day 14 - Casa Abou with a hint of Karakter

Porcupine Fish

Since this was our last full day on the island we decided to take the kids to Casa Abou. We had gone there for an afternoon while the kids were doing their PADI certification last week. The beach is one of the most beautiful on the island. White sand, coral reefs, tiki type shade umbrella with loungers, small outdoor kitchenette and bar with relatively few people.

Brain coral almost at the surface.

We had a fantastic time and saw lots of new marine life. Thomas even did a little improvised fishing and caught two.

We left the beach for Karakter around 3pm. Karakter was one of the first places we visited and truly enjoyed. Not going there one more time would have been amiss.

Food was spectacular and the view magnificent. We hung around there until 6pm. Headed home and started to pack. All are sad that the time has past so quickly.

Splendid red and purple color. Picture does not do justice. Size about 1.5 ft wide.

This turned out to be the world's largest cannonball splash!!!!!

Two shrimp hiding in a coral.

Moray Eel rapped in some coral at Casa Abou 

Framgipani Nipples

Colorful Coral

Day 13 - Back to Jan Thiel

The catamaran apparently did a number on all of us. Being on it in the open sun for over four hours added the final crisp to our already burnt skin. We had made plans to go out and do an ATV tour or go to one of our favorite beach on the north side of the island, but to how everyone was feeling we decide to stay closer to home. Jan Thiel would be the target and shopping would be the preferred activity of the afternoon. (Preferred by only half of the party - The "T's" went along for the ride.)

We rode around Jan Thiel a bit looking at some of the amazing seaside homes and then headed to Kyoto for a well deserved sushi lunch. Thomas and I ate there the other day and wanted Anna and Olivia to try it. Jamie, the host, greeted us at the door and welcomed us in. We all tried different sashimi and rolls we had not had before. Everything was great.

After lunch he headed to the shops on the beach and walked around a bit. An hour later we were done with shopping and decided to head back toward Santa Barbara. On our drive back we detoured to the ostrich farm. We would spend the remainder of the day there.

While at the ostrich farm, Anna and I met a local mosaic artist, Susan Rudolph and her daughter, Nancy. We chatted for quite some time and then were invited to come visit her studio. Her place was not far from the Ostrich farm, so Anna and Thomas walked with them while I drove the car back to their place.

Susan, born in Hungary, moved to Curacao back in 1999. She is very passionate about her work and it definitely showed in her enthusiasm and pieces. Very talented. We left here place around 7:30pm.

Day 13 - Got the PADI Video of the kids

Took a while, but I managed to load this video in the ground yesterday on the hotel computer. It is the last  PADI certification dive at Lions Dive Resort in Curacao of both Thomas and Olivia.

Day 12 - Kleine Curacao

Our sea going vessel!!

Phenomenal! So, explanations are in order. Today we went to a small island just south of Curacao called Kleine Curacao. Kleine means small. This was the island of sea turtles and sea horse, or so we were told. We arranged a catamaran trip out to the island yesterday with an organization call Bounty Adventures. The vessel picked us up at the Santa Barbara Resort Marina at 8:10am. It had picked up passengers at several other resorts prior. We were the last stop before heading out to sea.

Photo about 3 feet from the surface. 

The water was pretty still in the channel, but when we hit the waves - we "hit" the waves. It was to take us about 1.5 hours to get out there. No more than 15 minutes into the ride, people were starting to head to the back of the boat to expel some unsettled breakfast. By the time we were half way, there were at least 12-15 people (close to half) that were not doing so well. Everywhere I kept moving to on the boat, someone would lose their lunch next to me. Let me just say I was happy when we arrived at the island.

The island could not have been but 1 mile long with maybe 3/4 mile wide at the thickest point. Blinding white sand, coral weathered rock, handful of huts, few trees and minimal ground cover blanketed the island. This was definitely the place of pictures, magazines and dream vacation advertisements.

Flying fish. I was never able to capture a picture of it spreading out its fins/wings fully.

Flying Fish.

Without a doubt, all that was said about the island by the locals was true. We saw a lot of sea turtles. They are such a majestic animal and seem slide through water with zero effort. Thomas and I could swim with them and get to about a foot distance from them. They did not seem to have any fear. I believe they have become somewhat numb to the humans. Not good.

Anna peering out the window at the lighthouse.

After our first swim, Anna and I went for a walk to go look at the lighthouse. Been vacant for well over a decade, maybe two. Spent about 15 minutes or so there and headed back to swim again with the kids. Lunch was a 12:30pm and the crew did a fantastic job. I shovel my pie whole full and went back into the water. The boat was leaving the island at 2:30pm to sail back to the resort, so we wanted to get as much sea turtle time as possible. Ended up seeing 8 turtles before heading out.

Olivia walking back towards the catamaran.

The ride back was very enjoyable and Anna as usual made several new friends. The cat dropped us off back at the resort and the entire staff and passenger waved and yelled goodbye. Pretty cool!!! One the crew members even flashed us his tits. Not the one I particularly wanted to see flashing us, but Anna gotta thrill!

The rest of the day was just hanging back at the pad. Wonder what's in store for tomorrow. I'm thinking ATV, caves and beers!!

Green Sea Turtle

Kleine Curacao Beach. Anna is in the distance.

Thought this was funny. In the middle of the island with no water around, not sure how it got there. 

The Schifferteens enjoying the ride back from Kleine Curacao back to Santa Barbara Marina

Day 11 - The Females wanted a day of Rest

Danger.......

The ladies wanted some rest today, so the men decided to go off on their own today a couple of times. Thomas and I ended up going to Jan Thiel beach to do a bit of snorkeling and then hit the local Sushi restaurant, Kyoto. Very good sushi. We even tried the Lion Fish Sashimi. Afterwards we hit the old quarry. It was forbidden, but then again so are most Schiffers' adventures. This sign to the right was the most legible and newest in the complex. All the others were pretty rusted. The operation does not look like it has been up in running for at least a decade or two.

Old Quarry Road. Not sure what he was pulling out of his shoe, but I turned and thought this to be an awesome shot.

We both needed a little nutrition to get the day started!

A Tuna Lover Roll, Taku (no longer on plate), Maguro, Lionfish, and a Celebration Roll

Ground Dove. We see them at the beaches quite a bit. Cute guys about 8 inches long.

Venezuelan Troupial

Green Parrokeet. Usually seen in pairs.

Day 10 - Recap of the Flamingo and a little Architecture

I don't think I did the Flamingo justice the other day, so here are some better pics.

Anna says, "It looks like he walks on water!"

Mural Anna spotted from the road. Picture is fitting for the subject.

The water area in which these Flamingos are standing actually use to be salt flats at the turn of the century.

A view down one of the better alley ways.

I think Thomas might have a job in billboard posing.

Right at the point of Punda. This is the corner you come to once you cross the walking bridge from Ostrabande.

Great view, but we did not eat here.

Governor's Mansion. For some reason we were not invited.

Day 10 - Last for PADI Certification

I awoke to the music of some unknown bird songs at around 6:15am. I am so excited for the kids this morning. Today they become PADI certified. The last three days have been pretty strenuous for the kids. Classes have been from 8:30 to past 5pm everyday. The attention span seems to wane immensely as the day wears on for our young Jacque Cousteau.

Brain Coral

I have been asking if I can participate in one of their dives all week. I figured I didn't want to be the overwhelming "in your face" dad for the first two days, so I waited. I was giddy yesterday hoping to go out with the kids, but it was simply not in the cards. The PADI instructor only has room for four people and honestly I do not think he wants anyone else tagging along. I think it would distract his students and I totally get it. Today, however, is different. This is to be the kid's last dive and the instructor said depending on room on the boat, I could possibly go along.

Ernst, the instructor, wants to take the kids today and swim with the dolphins for their last dive. That would make for an amazing last dive and I am hoping to go along. The only dolphin I've ever swam with was maybe my toy flipper in the bath tub when I was five.

As we got to the dive center, I was told that because of their age that I would not be able to go with them on their last dive. It is apparently PADI supervision rules. I will simply just have to scuba with them tomorrow.

This curious guy was sitting right behind our beach chair by one of the thick bushes.

Anna and I just went snorkeling while the kids went out.