PHOTO LINK —>> A quick visit to Curacao
We departed Bonaire and had a rolly 6-hour downwind sail to Curacao. We had left at 9am and we entering the entrance at 3:00pm.
Willemstad harbour
The entrance to Willemstad harbour is unique as it is a channel the Sint Anna Bay, which separates the Punda on one side and Otrobanda on the other side. The Sint Anna Bay, leads into the large natural harbour called the Schottegat, as well as the Scharloo 
and Pietermaai Smal quarters, which are across from each other on the smaller Waaigat harbour. There is a pontoon bridge at the entrance, which opens upon request. This is a huge 
pontoon bridge, is moved by what almost appears to be a large outboard engine.
After calling and requesting the pontoon bridge be opened we motored through and looked for customs and immigration. We had been informed by a cruising guide, which was the only info we had that in Curacao we first must check in with customs and immigration, plus get an anchoring permit by trying up at the main docks where the ships also go.
Checking in process/ordeal
So we looked and figured we would try the port authority dock 1st. No, not there, we were sent across the Chanel. We went across the Chanel 
and tied up to a disgusting ships dock. There we finally found immigration where we checked in. Upon leaving they mentioned that we might have to move Aeeshah as an oil tanker was arriving soon. Not seeing any oil tanker we walked along the Chanel side, as directed by the cruising guide, to the pontoon bridge, over it and down the other side to customs. There we were nearly finished when a call came in telling John he had to move 
the boat for this tanker. So out he goes leaving me to finish the process. I quickly followed him about 5 minutes later and had just crossed over the pontoon bridge to the other side when I saw him in Aeeshah coming down the Chanel. He signaled to me to walk along a bit where he would pick me up. John pulled in just behind the Scientologist Cruise ship: Fairwinds. This made coming along side number 3 times in an hour a record for us. John then set off up the dock to get our anchoring permit. Well it was 4:30 and they had already shut for the day.
We decided to head to Curacao Marine and go dockside for the night. Then the port authority called on VHF to tell us we had to stand by for the tanker that was approaching down the Chanel. We were directed stay along side until the all clear was given, this was a right nuisance, we wanted to get to Curacao Marine before it shut too.
So there we sat alongside the ships dock while a massive tanker pulled
into customs, a great big tug pulled up right off our stern, huge freighter came down the Chanel being towed by a tug, pilot boats and tugs went by, more ships passed, on and on and not a word said to us. So we decided that would be our dock for the night. It was too late to proceed, we already had nasty black tire marks on Aeeshah’s port side and so we stayed the night on the Curacao customs dock. During the night the Scientologist cruise ship left, the cable ship left and so did the tanker. It is a very busy port. We were ready to leave dockside by 8:00am John called the Port Authority, they gave the all clear and we motored around the corner to
Curacao Marine.
We had booked a dock space for the month that we were away and they were ready for us. The dock space is not very large and we do hang off the stern and the bow does loom over the dock, but it is floating. The marina does have good wifi, security, services, excellent showers, but no laundry just a laundry service.
We deceived to hire a car so that we could get Chico to the pet hotel, “Pets and Cats”, do laundry, pick up supplies and drive to the airport. Into Willemstad we walked and hired from Budget a great car at an excellent rate.
Meanwhile Chico was being Chico the boat brat/cat. We had him
harnessed and tethered to the boat but he slipped out of the harness 3 times. The second time John found it hanging off the side like he had fallen between boat and dock. Each time his slipped off we would frantically hunt for him. Each time he was on the neighbours boat checking it out like he owned the place. He wouldn’t let them pick him up to bring him back, he basically hissed at them like he was saying “Hisssofff!!! I’m doing what I want!!” They said they were fine with his antics, but by the third time we could tell it was a bit much. So he was confined down below or had to be supervised on deck. This meant I couldn’t get anything done.
So the day after we arrived Chico went with us to the pet hotel.Pets 
and Cats
The hotel is situated towards the other end – northern end, of the island in the middle of nowhere. We were quite hesitant as we drove through the scrub land passed dilapidated properties looking very inhospitable, then there was the place, looked nicely kept, but in the middle of the bush and cactus…….the owner Bryan greeted us and we 
went in the gate and WOW!! Its divided into areas for different animals. Chico is of course with the cats. Their building is a cottage it has an open wired in front garden with birdbath, tree limbs, gravel and various plants.
Then in the open-faced building is a couple of rooms set up just for cats. Brightly painted boards/ladders run up and down to the ceiling where there are walkways and perches. There are toys, balls, containers for climbing in, beds, more branches to climb and a feed station. Really an excellent set up. At present there are 16 cats, but you hardly even see 6 – 8 of them as they are all tucked away on the perches, in the hides or on walkways.
I put down his cat box, opened the front, he tentatively started to climb out, some cats went to say hello, he told them to back off, but no really 
unfriendly hiss of cry. In fact he crept out and ended up exploring, never even bothered with us and when we left he seemed to be trying to play with one of the cats. The cats there vary from a Bengal, to a Mancoon, a water cat from Belgium and the regulars like Chico. We were happy to leave him and know he will have a fun time.
We had many chores to do before leaving; laundry alone took me half a day, as we had to find a laundry, which seems to be a rare find in Curacao. There are many dry cleaners and people seem to take their 
clothes there, which is very different to what we are used to. Well we tracked down a nice laundry, and got all the covers and other large boat items, bedding and clothes washed. We stocked up with all we need for our return with Ethan and Rhianna. We washed all the Bonaire dust off everywhere from rigging to decks to inside surfaces etc. We repaired, cleaned, stored and managed to get everything completed.
A quick drive around Curacao
On the Sunday before we left we took the day off and drove
to see some of the island. We found that it is an extremely dry, arid, rugged but low-lying terrain. The flora is mainly all the cactus and thorny plants one can imagine in type and size. It would be impossible to trek overland as the vegetation is formidable.
The shoreline is also formidable, rough and rocky. The few beaches we did drive to were down 
tracks over private property. The property owner charges a rate for you to use their access tracks. We could understand this, as there is upkeep, plus the people need some sort of income from the 
use of their property.
We checked out the Spanish Waters area where we will return to with the boat later in the summer. It looked very sheltered and nice.
We were both surprised by the amount of trash along the road/tracks. Many of the homes as well seemed to be drowning 
in mounds of trash, vehicles rusting out, appliances dumped and such. Or maybe there are many people in Curacao that are hoarders and can’t seem to get rid of anything? Maybe they do not realize how bad fit is for the environment that they depend on to treat it as a dump?
We are looking forward to visiting the ostrich farm, caves, aloe and cactus farms, the 2 national parks and all the forts and museums.
Overall Curaçao is very different from any other island we have visited. Maybe the closest to its type is Trinidad with all of the industry and oil, oh and trash. But Curacao is even more a hodge podge mix of so many cultures and types. There are over 55 different nationalities here. It is very colourful, lively, historically rich, but modern too.
We are both impressed with Willemstad, the architecture is wonderfully designed, colourfully painted. It has a wonderful market, alleyways everywhere, and very interesting shops selling everything imaginable I am looking forward to exploring when we return.
Bermuda
We arrived in Bermuda on the evening of June 2nd and then left for the UK on the 6th. Those few days back home were hectic to say the least. We had appointments of all sorts to sort out, family to visit with and just so much to try to catch up on.
Visit to the UK
PHOTO LINK–>> Visit to the UK
This visit to the UK was from the 6th to the 14th of June,
but only 6 of those days were spent actually there as we had to fly via Boston, then a red eye to Heathrow going there and coming back we flew a red eye to JFK and back to Bermuda. To say it was an ordeal getting back is an understatement! JFK is a nightmare when arriving at 00:00 their time – 5:00am UK time. First we were delayed getting off the plane and then secondly faced with an hour and a half in the visitor’s line. Now that made us absolutely deadbeat and too late to go through to departures. So we had the delight of crashing out in the arrivals hall, on the hard cold floor for hours.
Honestly we stretched out beside a window near the entrance along with all the other forgotten folk.
We had a lovely time in the UK. The major reason for going was John’s Dad Dick was very ill. He had fallen, hit his head and consequently suffered a bleed aka a stroke. The other reason to visit was John’s brother 
Alan was turning 60.
It was quite shocking at first visiting Dick as he had been so active and with it at the ripe old age of 93 and now he was bed bound, very weak, dreadfully tired, awfully skinny and quite unhappy. This was especially difficult for John, but he felt he was very Blessed to be able to visit with him. We spent time each morning and some afternoons with Dick and actually found that he was improving as each day passed. However maybe we were just adjusting to him?
Alan’s 60th Birthday was celebrated with an enjoyable evening at a Steak House. Alan’s family, wife Pat 
and daughter Harry were there too, plus John’s sister Lynda and her hubby Pete. It was a fun night! Just 2 of us were not yet 60 year olds.
John and I tried to have a walk each day. One day we walked in the grounds of the hotel we were staying at and along the bridle paths nearby. The hotel was called De Venues at Theobald’s Park and it was just wonderful except for the lousy wifi. It had been a 
stately home or estate home back in its heyday, and is now excellent accommodation. John just loved the 
buffet breakfast where he could get the full breakfast with large mushrooms.
Another day we went with Alan and Pat while Pat walked her Doggie Trails dogs. She runs a dog boarding and walking business and that day she had their 
own 2 plus 4 or 5 others. We walked around the grounds, woods and meadows of Trent Park where I used to go to college. Again it was another lovely sunny day and such a lovely walk.
London
We went into London and did urban hiking. We literally walked to as many sites as we could get to within the time we had, starting off by leaving Piccadilly heading to Charring Cross, along the River Thames all down Southside, back across the Millennium Bridge to St Paul’s Cathedral, back through Charring cross to Hyde Park, St James Park, passed the site for the Queens Birthday Parade to Buckingham Palace, where we saw Prince 
Charles arriving being escorted by all sorts of security.
By then it was time to head back as we were so very foot sore from pavement pounding. It had been a 
hot, (for England) day, very sunny and just lovely seeing all the architecture, sites and different types about.
We drove to Helen and Martins new house, (my 
niece and hubby), on the Friday afternoon and enjoyed seeing the countryside where they live, their lovely new house and having an excellent pub dinner too.
We managed a visit to Sean another brother and spent some time catching up one morning.
On the last day Sue and Brian, (John’s older sister and partner) drove back early 
from their Devon holiday to see us. This was a short visit but again excellent to get to spend time with 
them. It was a very enjoyable if quick visit to the UK and John is so very happy to have seen his Dad and all the rest of the family.
Chico
We heard from Chico several times while we were away. He was having a grand time at his hotel. He had made friends, loved the toys and was getting along fantasticlly with the owner.
Bermuda again
LINK TO PHOTO ALBUM—>> Back in Bermuda
John and I had from the 15th of June until the 1st of July
to complete 101 different projects back home in Bermuda. These ranged from painting the exterior of the house, to getting doctor visits for my Dad and us, to vets visits, to visiting our lawyer, to power washing …. The list seemed endless, however we really did complete nearly all the 101 tasks.
John was the main house painter. He also had some 
help from Ethan and then Ivan took 2 days from work too, plus Chrissie, Kate, Taze and I also pitched in at different times. It was not just a simple paint over, but the walls had to be scraped, cracks patched, dry lock applied and in areas 2 coats of blue applied. I’d say we are 80% finished and the place looks 100% better. It 
will be finished when we return.
My doctor appointments were multiplied when I had to undergo extra tests, but all went well and I was cleared for flight. After I arranged to return in August for more follow up testing, uck!! My Dad’s doctor appointments were a test of patience and endurance on my part. The 
main necessity was getting his ears cleaned and the 
hearing aids tuned/overhauled. This proved difficult, as he was not being cooperative, but again just before I left success was achieved and he can nearly hear …… Hurray!!
Katie had a Birthday celebration. As a family we gathered at Gavin and Katie’s place for a lovely barbecue and get together. The cake was extra special, as was made of iced donut balls from Glaze – the kids of all ages loved it.
We had a wonderful time at one of the Warwick coves one Sunday afternoon. 
Again we met there as a family group, had a lovely picnic lunch and enjoyed the beach, swimming in the 
surf and sunning on the sands. It truly is such a beautiful island home, 
beautiful Bermuda.
That evening we went to the Sea Breeze Restaurant at Elbow Beach with Chrissie, Ivan, Kate and Jae. There we had excellent selection of tapas and sushi and drinks overlooking another fabulous beach. It was a wonderful day and evening.
We met with friends Sue, Richard, son Mark and girlfriend Claire for an excellent curry at the best curry place ever, House of India. The food was amazing as 
always and we had an excellent time catching up after 
two years.
A few evenings before we left we had friends and family to the house for the annual gathering. It was excellent being able to catch up with those we had not seen for a 
year or two. A good evening was had by one and all.
So we again said goodbye to Bermuda, friends and 
family, but next time we return it will be for much longer. We realize we need to spend some time at home, we have a grand baby arriving, the family feels neglected and the property needs tending to. A special thanks to Katie who supplied Admiral’s Club passes for our 7 hour layover in Miami Airport. The kids/teens were very happy as seen here.
“Then followed that beautiful season…Summer… Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape lay as if new-created in all the freshness of childhood.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, from “Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie”
“Wherever we want to go, we’ll go. That’s what a ship is, you know. It’s not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails. That’s what a ship needs. But what a ship is, what it really is, is freedom.” author unknown
