Day 9 - Dinner at Fisholicious

Had dinner at Fisholicious, which was super Yummy!!! For all those who enjoy food like I do, here is a little food porn,

Barracuda with greens and rice

Shrimp with onions.

Tuna Tartar

Dove Sole with Greens. Fell right off the bone. 

Fisholicious Restaurant. Small and great place!!

Anna and Olivia laughing. Can't say why though....

Day 9 - Some additional photos from the day - City and Sea

Here some additional pictures from all different times of the day. Enjoy

A shot of the Punda side of Willemstad. Very Colorful!

Breakfast and coffee at the cafe at Rif Fort.

Day 9 - Almost Done with the Certification

The day started again with us dropping off the kids at the Lions Dive Resort for the PADI class. They start their class at 8:30am. Today we got there right on time with 5 minutes to spare. Ernst, the instructor, is a joker and has taken to Thomas. They both giggle and fool around. Ernst just happens to be a whole lot bigger. He has been great with the kids and helped them along tremendously in the PADI class.

After we dropped the kids off, we drove to Punda, the heart of the city. Basically the right side. When you look at Willemstad and see the channel you will always notice two names. Punda (the original city)on the right and Ostroband (means the Other side) on the left. As Punda got too big, they expanded the city on - "the other side" - now Ostroband. They now have a pedestrian water swing bridge that connects the two sides together.

We ended up parking the car and went to Rif Fort, where we had been at on the second day. It was a great little cafe in the middle of the old Fort and the food was quite good. Coffee and beer wasn't too shabby either. I swear, I feel like I've eating about every three hours here. Anna says I'm a growing boy. Thomas just says I'm growing out.

After a little nutrition, we walked the shops and grabbed a couple of things for the kids. We headed back to the resort to have lunch with the kids at 11:30am (again eating). We got there right as they were being let out of the class. Perfect timing. We all had lunch together and then shoved them back to Ernst.

Anna and I went snorkeling for about 1.5 hours after lunch and had an amazing time. It truly is mind boggling to grasp all that nature has to offer. The sheer madness to the difference in nature is just astounding. Fish and coral of every kind, size, color and shape.

The pictures we took simply don't do justice. I can't wait to go scuba diving with the kids on Friday.

Kids finishing their first dive of the day!

I think she's happy. Right after her dive!!! Yeah, she's happy!!!

Day 8 - Back at Lion Resort

Dropped of the kids this morning at Lions Dive Resort for their day 2 of PADI certification. Afterwards Anna and I headed to a beach called Casa Abou. Really Beautiful!!!! I will let the pictures speak for themselves today. We got some great shots - here is a handful.

What a kissy face!!!

These guys were changing colors on a whim!! Truly amazing.

The photo doesn't show the real vibrance of his colors.

Scorpion Fish. Very poisonous. Blends well.

Another shot of a Scorpion Fish. 

Real master of disguise. Look in the center. Look for eyes.

This guy is about to pop out some gills on his neck!!

Someone know where all the divers are????

Add a cooler and call me a fisherman.

Day 7 - Some additional shots of the day

See if you can spot the handsome one... I'll give you a hint. Look left.

Ahhh...Yes.... Sheer Beauty.

Not sure. On the rock. Looks pretty prehistoric.

Beautiful Water Lilly Anna took a picture of.

Weather Glass block. Just looked cool.

Anna is standing on a massive anchor. It is one leaning on a much larger one.

Entrance to the Sea Aquarium. Bon Bini means "Welcome".

The cove where the children did their diving.

Day 7 - Lions Beach Dive Resort

The big day arrived for the kids to start their PADI certification. I think I was more excited than they were. I got up about 6:30 am and took a shower. Woke the kids quickly thereafter and slowly got all of our gear together. Their class started at 8:30 am. Since we did not know how long it would take to get there with traffic and no knowledge of where it was, we depart our place at 7:45am.

The kids were amped up!!! The dive center was located right next to the Sea Aquarium. We grabbed our flippers and snorkel and head to the dive shop. Ernst was the instructor that would be doing the certification for them today. Luckily it was just our two kids along with one other couple that would be taking the class. The other couple was only scheduled for a two day class, so the great thing is that they will have an instructor for just Thomas and Olivia for the last two days.

Anna and I have been hanging out at the restaurant which is right on the beach. It is right by the school and we have been watching them go out diving in the ocean. It has a nice palm leaf roof and it has allowed us to sit in the shade and partake in several Amstels, Polars and Sols. The beers here are only 8 oz., so there just big enough for about 3-4 swigs. I will say though, its not a bad way to keep'm cold.

Thomas and Olivia ended up finishing their morning session at around 12:30pm. They ended up having lunch with us and headed back to class at 1:30. I believe they will be doing theory this afternoon. Ernst, the dive instructor, says they are natural born fishes and are doing extremely well. No Fear - No Problem!!!

After their first dive, I asked them what the neatest thing that they saw was. Both said the squids and cuddle fish. They dove near a reef very close to the beach for about an hour. Olivia thought she was about 10-15 feet below the surface. Thomas had no clue. He was just excited.

While at the restaurant, I have been trying to catch a couple good shots of some local birds and crabs. Both are quick and very camera shy. I will continue to make some futile attempts.

Getting ready to go out on the first scuba dive with Ernst, the instructor.

My new scuba buddies!!!!

See if you can see our two.

Seven Days and she still likes me... I think...

Map of Curacao

So you have an idea of where we are and where we have been, I decided to put in a link for a map of Curacao.

I also wanted to give a couple of stats on the island, as I wanted to know them myself before I got here. The island is about 38 miles long and between 3 and 8.6 miles wide, depending on the location. Curacao has a land mass of around 275 square miles and located about 42 miles north off the coast of Venezuela.

Click here: Map of Curacao

In case you are not able to click the link or it does not come up, you can access the map at: http://www.lapalmeraie-curacao.com/files/map.gif

Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort where we are staying for our entire stay is located at I-16 on the map.

Playa Lagun, along with Knip Beaches and Westpunt that we visited yesterday are located at 2-C & 2-B.

Jan Thiel beach where we went on day 3 is at I-14.

Willemstad is in the center and is highlighted by a white box on the map. The port with all the pretty houses and where the cruise ships come in are at I-12. It is hard to see but there is a small channel inlet.

Christoffel Park is on the north of the island near West Punt. We will be going there sometime over the next week.

However the next four days we will be dropping off the kids at the Lion Dive Center for their PADI dive certification. It is located near the Sea Aquarium between I-12 & I-13.