Daniel, N1ZZ is currently active as PJ2/N1ZZ from Curacao Island, IOTA SA - 099.
He is working on HF Bands.
QSL via home call, LOTW.
Ads for direct QSL:
DANIEL W GRAVEREAUX, 1221 SEMINOLE DRIVE, INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH, FL 32937, USA.
Shaken but not stirred: the island of Curaçao
Curaçao is considered the youngest island nation in the Caribbean - it gained independence just three and a half years ago. In fact, Curaçao cannot be called a fully independent state. Officially, the island is still part of its overseas patron, the Netherlands, and its status is defined in the constitution as a “self-governing state entity”.
This means that the inhabitants of Curaçao have the opportunity to manage the internal life of their country: to elect a parliament, to conduct their own economic policy. Everything else, including foreign policy, remains in the hands of the Netherlands. It should be said that Curaçao was quite dependent on its patron: regular supplies of fuel and food, influx of European tourists and attraction of investments - all this made life on Curaçao easy and carefree.
After the reorganization, Curaçao experienced a slight economic downturn. But we must pay tribute to the new government of the new country: here they did not pursue a course to distance themselves from the European world. On the contrary: modern Curaçao seeks to integrate as much as possible with the civilized world. The banking sector is developing, mining is underway and, of course, the tourism sector is being exploited to the fullest: after all, Curaçao is famous not only for its eponymous cocktail, but also for its magnificent beaches, ideal climate and clean sea water.
Caribbean cocktails: how to make history
The history of Curaçao is vague and goes back at least three thousand years BC. Back then, South American Indians (territory of modern Venezuela) - Arawaks - arrived on this green island and established a permanent settlement here. Up until the discovery of Curaçao by European explorers, life on the island was relatively peaceful. Tribal feuds, sacrifices and other delights of those times had passed by. Partly because of this, there is virtually no historical heritage here: one can only speculate about those times based on residual data and stories of the locals.
The measured course of life of Curaçao was interrupted by the intervention of European civilization. At the end of the 15th century, a crew of one of the Spanish mission ships landed on the island, whose sailors were exhausted by scurvy. The locals welcomed the white men warmly: the Spaniards left their men here for almost two years, and on their return found them safe and sound. A detailed report on the climate of the island, the way of life of the natives and its convenient location was laid on the table of the King of Spain: so Curaçao was proclaimed an overseas colony in absentia.
Thus began the era of expansion: more and more Spanish soldiers came to Curaçao and established a fort on its coast. Unfortunately (or fortunately), after a few decades, Spain was disappointed in its decision: the island had a shortage of fresh water, there was no gold, and the locals were clearly unwilling to consider foreigners as their masters. Therefore, by the beginning of the 16th century there was no permanent garrison left on Curaçao, which was not failed to take advantage of Spain's longtime rivals, the Dutch.
By the middle of the 17th century Curaçao, after bloody battles, during which thousands of Indians died, was captured by Holland. The island became a center of slave trade: slaves from Africa and South America were imported through it. There was also a brisk trade - the island has a very favorable location, which attracted traders from all over the world. Gradually on Curaçao formed a cocktail of nationalities: Spanish, Dutch and French, African slaves and Indians. This continued until the mid-19th century, when slavery was abolished on the island, after which Curaçao became part of the overseas possessions of the Netherlands, where it remained until recently.
Island of contrasts: modern life
In 1863, when slavery was abolished here, Curaçao had time to form an amazing atmosphere. The island even developed its own language, papiamento, which is still considered the official language. Architectural heritage is also striking: traditional Dutch buildings neighbor with fancy French buildings, several massive forts block the way to the open sea, and between all this splendor lurk cozy one-storey Indian houses.
The island went through a serious economic crisis: there were no industries on Curaçao, and apart from the slave trade there was nothing to do here for centuries. Fortunately, the island boasts a unique climate: not too hot and not too humid, it is ideal for tourists unaccustomed to tropical realities. Clean beaches, calm seas and a European atmosphere quickly put Curaçao on the pedestal of the tourist business. In addition, rich deposits of oil and gas have been discovered here, and the banking sector is rapidly developing: it is quite possible that in ten years Curaçao will turn into a real Caribbean Switzerland.