Thursday 6th December 18
We get to Willemstad late afternoon. Thursday is party day all across town and we would not miss it for anything. While we wait for the sun to go down we explore another part of town, some of which has been lovingly restored, some of which has just been left to decay. Most of the houses have been turned into restaurants, bars and boutique hotels, but you still have some alleyways conveying the smell of old sea port town. Again the colours are something else.
Back to the centre for the Christmas lights ceremony. Complete with much dancing and singing on the Otrobanda side, then everyone troupes on the bridge to light up the old town. Great atmosphere there are bands and music everywhere. A night market is lining the main street and all the other streets also have some entertainment going on. Interestingly, there is even a fashion show for Polo… nice young men sashaying with the latest fashion and new swimwear… and that lead us to the clou of the show… the fireworks , stunning over the bridge.
The real jump up is next to the bus station, all the locals are there and the music is brilliant. Can’t stay there for long though, bus is taking us home.