Celebrating Queen’s Day in Punda

koninginnedag 2009 willemstad

Zhané is selling Curacao souvenirs of Memento Vivi during the street market in Punda {and no, the doll is not for sale!}

On April 30, the Dutch celebrate Queen’s Day. It is a national holiday to commemorate the birthday of Queen-mother Juliana. It is by far the most widely celebrated holiday in the kingdom of the Netherlands. Curacao – as part of the Kingdom – has its own way to celebrated Queen’s day. A little bit typical dutch {wearing orange clothing} mixed with krioyo stuff. This year, there are a lot of activities – all most too much, I think -, like food festivals, drag races, softball games, dance parties… Memento Vivi has chosen to join the street market in down-town Punda.

30 april punda militza en tiara

Militza & Tiara are selling jewelry during the Queen’s Day streetmarket in Punda

Ten must-do activities on Curacao

photography © Memento Vivi

Curacao is the most beautiful island in the Caribbean. I think. It has everything to make your trip the best you ever had. If you’re looking for white beaches and crystal clear turquoise water, rich history and unique architecture; you’re at the right spot. Oh, and don’t worry about the weather… Curacao has a warm and sunny climate all year round!

{There is so much to see and do on Curacao and I only may choose ten??}

1. Visit the beaches at Banda’Bou. You will be stunned looking at the crystal clear water. Occasionally you may see dolphins swimming along the coasts;

2. Experience and learn about more than 300 varieties of herbs and plants from Curacao in Dinah Veeris’ Botanic & Historic Garden. Here you can also buy Dinah Veeris’ products, which are home made with much love and dedication;

3. Enjoy the distinct historical architecture of Scharloo. This quarter of Willemstad consists of beautiful mansions, built in the classicist style by rich Jewish families during the 18th century. It is a reminder of the of a golden period in the history of Curacao;

4. Climb the highest hill on Curacao – the Christoffelberg – in the biggest national nature park of Curacao. Also known as Mount St Christoffel. It is an enjoyable climb with views across the forest to the coast in all directions. An early start and strong walking shoes are recommended;

5. Take a hike at Jan Thiel. A unique area with its variety of salt lake ponds, lagoons, cliffs and panoramic views. There are different trails. Also excellent for biking;

6. Go sunbathing at Seaquarium Beach with its palm trees and white sand. It has a good selection of shops, bar, restaurants, and facilities for water sports. Ideal for children. The place to be {seen};

7. Enjoy the tremendous power of water at Shete Boka. The rugged coast of Boka Shete with its crashing waves is accentuated by beautiful bays and caves that are half immersed in water. The terrain is quite rough, be sure to wear good walking shoes;

8. Meet the fascinating ostriches at the Curacao Ostrich Farm. You can touch them, feed them even ride them {for real daredevils only}. Every hour a safari truck will take you on a remarkable tour through the farm corals. All you have to do is announce yourself at Restaurant Zambezi.

9. Catch Captain Goodlife’s watertaxi at Santa Cruz and go diving or snorkeling at Boka Santu Pretu. This beach is off the beaten track and only accessible by sea of a road through a idyllic and shadowy forest. It differs from other beaches with its black sand;

10. Don’t forget the best Aloe Vera of the world found at The Curacao Aloe Vera Plantation. Discover the secrets of Aloe Vera for yourself and enjoy the entertaining tour of the plantation and the production plant.

10a. Look for the souvenirs of Memento Vivi: dushi T-shirts of Curacao

I guess there are a thousand things you could do on Curacao. I really would like to read what you think is a must-do activity on Curacao. Leave a comment.

New edition of Cpost with pics of harvest festival

curacao magazine oogstfeest

photography © Bea Moedt

A new edition of Cpost is online with plenty pictures of the Seú {Curacao harvest festival}. Many thanks to Bea Moedt, Jeff Sybesma, Elodie Heloise, Pien, Susanne van Sambeeck, Charlotte Doornhein, Roy Evers, Theo Reichgelt and Velma Solomons

Like to subscribe to online magazine Cpost? It is free! Send an e-mail to abonnee@cpost.nl subject “aanmelding”.

The beauty of Curacao • Seú-parade 2009

curacao seu 2009

photography parade Seú 2009 Curacao © Memento Vivi

Today, the day after Easter, Curacao was celebrating Seú, the annual harvest festival. A vibrant and colourful parade with approximately eighty groups went through the main streets of Otrobanda, the east side of Willemstad. While they paraded, they sung and danced on music that has its origins in African culture.

In the next edition {releasing date 15 April ’09} of online magazine Cpost more pictures of the Seú-parade.

The red soil of the Hato Plains

hato vlakte windmolens rood zand

photography the Hato Plains © Memento Vivi

Taking pictures for the Curacao Calendar 2010 at the Hato Plains. Today the sky was perfect blue, which made the rust-coloured soil of the Hato Plains even more beautiful.

WordPress & my heart

Inspired by Andreea S.’s image & the text of Neil Gaiman {Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn’t it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up…}

I was wondering… If your heart was a product like a plugin for wordpress. A plugin that would promiss you to get more emotions and love after you’d installed it. Would Neil Gaiman install it?

I would, although it would be easy to deactivate it from time to time.

Now available: dushi T-shirts of Curacao

This is SOOOO 2009 > PLEASE visit the website of shirts&words > www.shirtsandwords.com

In Papiamentu ‘dushi’ describes all the good things in life: beautiful, sweet, soft, darling… When the locals talk about the island of Curacao, they call Curacao ‘dushi Kòrsou’.

.

tanktops dushi shirts

Dushi tank tops
sizes • small, medium, large & xlarge
colors • pink & black
Available at Souvenir City {Mambo Beach}, SPLASH skateshop {Fokkerweg – Saliña}, Kiekebooh – only size small – {Promenade Shopping Center} & Webwinkel Curacao books.an

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tshirts dushi kinderen

Dushi t-shirts for children
sizes • 2-4 years, 6-8 years, 10-12 years en 14-16 years
colors • purple, black & white
Available at Souvenir City {Mambo Beach}, SPLASH skateshop {Fokkerweg – Saliña}, Kiekebooh {Promenade Shopping Center}, PortoMari Sports {Playa PortoMari} & Webwinkel Curacao books.an

.

dushi kraamcadeau curacao

Dushi baby shirts
sizes • 6 months, 12 months & 18 months
colors • pink & white
Available at Souvenir City {Mambo Beach} & Webwinkel Curacao books.an

In the Netherlands the dushi T-shirts are available at Webwinkel Curacao books.an

concept © Actiff • realisation & distribution © Memento Vivi • print © Grafitex

Read the latest information & find new models of shirts&words t-shirts of Curacao

Memento Vivi _ remember life

photography © Memento Vivi _ remember life

Enjoy life…

Proofs Dushi T-shirts of shirts&words approved

Read the latest information about t-shirts of shirts&words

T-shirt dushi curacao

photography & shirts&words © Memento Vivi • concept shirts&words © Actiff

Just approved the prints of the new Dushi T-shirts of shirts&words at silk-screen printer Grafitex. The T-shirts will be ready at the beginning of next week.

zeefdrukkerij Curacao grafitex

Watch the movie of the making of shirts&words on youtube

Beauty of Curacao: flowers & cactus

curacao caracasbaai flowers and cactus

photography flowers & cactus © Memento Vivi

Yesterday Jenny, Mark and I took a trip to Banda’riba {Caracasbaai-island, Dinah Veeris’ botanic and historical garden Den Paradera, Aloe Vera Plantation & Playa Kanoa} to make new pictures for the Curacao Calendar ’10 and the next edition of online magazine Cpost.

Contact Memento Vivi

graphic design agency
Emmalaan 2 in Emmastad
Curacao
call] +5999 738 48 57
info@memento-vivi.com

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