Culinary excursion to the countryside and unexpected turtle encounter

Day 6 and 7:

Oops, here I am again! Yes, I actually took a break from writing yesterday because it was Sunday and I just lazed around on the beach and nothing adventurous happened, so I thought I'd save my lyrical outpouring 😂 But here I am again and I have another wonderful day to report on! Read all about my experience swimming with turtles and trying something extraordinary in today's post.

What sounded like a dream for many citizens of the DDR back then became reality for me today: I went to the West! Although I didn't come back with colorful bags and good jeans, I did come back with beautiful memories. I actually wanted to take a trip to Westpunt (the westernmost point of Curacao) yesterday, but since the buses here only run after 12 on Sundays because the locals all go to church, it wouldn't have been worth it, so I postponed my trip to today and everything worked out perfectly! So don't let anyone tell you that the buses here are not suitable - that's nonsense! I traveled from one end of the island to the other and back again, and it was definitely not difficult or dangerous. So this morning, I took a bus to Punda to catch the bus to Westpunt from there. In Punda, I had some time to spare, so I walked around the market, looked at various spices and oils, and finally bought myself a really good mango shake, which was prepared for me by two super friendly Mexican women. With this, I sat in the sun for a while and waited for the bus. It arrived on time and took me to Westpunt in no time. The journey took about an hour and went through the countryside of Curacao - no houses, no trees, just dry land, cacti, and a road that had luckily been newly paved, so the ride wasn't like a roller coaster. There were no tourists on this bus either, so basically, there was almost no one else on the bus except for me 😂 When I arrived in Westpunt, a herd of goats crossed the road. What immediately caught my attention was the incredible silence. No traffic noise, no people, it was completely quiet except for a few exotic birds chirping and tweeting. In Westpunt, there is a steep coast, so I had to go down the stairs to get to the beach. There were maybe 5 other people there - no one else. There was a pier and a small dive shop. The beach here is not as fine and white as the dream beaches, but rather rocky. This is mainly due to the coral remains from the sea. But I thought it was cool because I could look for shells. And indeed, I found some nice ones and even a long sharp tooth... I wonder which monster it belongs to? 😱 However, my mom said I should leave the stuff here because of customs. I wouldn't want to get arrested for a few seashells 😂 Stranger things have happened.

Today, I also had the snorkel with me for the first time. I was only brave enough to use the diving goggles before, but today I thought the day had come: my snorkeling deflowering! Westpunt is popular and known for its beautiful coral reefs and diversity, so it was the perfect opportunity! So I swam out and dove underwater, and what can I say? It was beautiful, and I was underwater for at least 20 minutes without coming up for air! Until that one moment when I got so scared again that I was on the verge of a panic attack 😂 The water darkened and something big swam past me: A GIANT TURTLE! I was so amazed and fascinated and was really happy to have seen one! Great first snorkeling experience. After the excitement, I stayed in the bay for a while, but then it started to get cloudy, and I decided to walk around Westpunt a bit and maybe look for something to eat, hoping it wasn't a lost place. I have to say that I found nature a bit eerie compared to the rest of the island that I have already seen. Here, there are only cacti, dry bushes, iguanas, colorful tropical birds, lizards - nothing else really. As I walked a few meters, I actually found a cute local place, so I went in to have a cold beer and something to eat. Apart from a couple, this place was also not crowded, and I was greeted very friendly and took a seat at probably the most beautiful dining spot in the world. Right overlooking the coast. When I looked at the menu, I immediately noticed: Iguana! For those of you who don't know what that is: I can assure you, I didn't know either before I came here, but it means iguana. I had read before that iguana soup is a specialty here and often ends up on the table. Did you know that the consumption of iguanas is only legal in America and a few other countries? Curacao is one of them. Here, the iguanas are also called green chickens or chickens of the trees. So I thought to myself: if I don't try it now, I probably never will in my life. So I ordered marinated iguana in BBQ sauce with salad and French fries. At first, I was a bit skeptical because I'm actually a bit of a wimp when it comes to trying new things, but I have to say that I finished the plate in a matter of minutes. It was really tasty, and I can agree 100% with the comparison to chicken. I hardly noticed any difference in taste - only that there were clearly more bones, which reminded me more of fish bones. But it was a culinary experience that I'm glad I tried (but don't need to try again).

After my delicious meal, the bus picked me up again and took me back to Otrobanda, where I arrived safely again with a beautiful sunset! However, I have one more thing to say. In the words of Otto: 'black-brown is the hazelnut, black-brown is what I am' - after a week, I have really gotten quite tan! 😱😍 But the tanning will continue, and I hope you won't recognize me anymore! Best greetings back home!