Monday, November 24, 2025
There are days, such as this one, where we had a good time, but nothing truly exciting happened, and I wonder what I’m going to fill the page with. Have no fear. Something always comes up!
We had reservations for today with Mermaid Boat Tours, to the island of Klein Curacao. We also arranged for their pick up and drop off service, so after a 5:30 am alarm, we were climbing into a taxi at 6:15 and off to the Fisherman’s Pier by 6:45.
We hopped on board the boat, chose our seats, and settled in for the somewhat rough ride. It’s against the waves on the way out to the island, so they cautioned us that some people might get seasick on the way out there.
The boat rocked and rolled, and in general we felt like the Captain drove it like he stole it, but Nathan and I arrived, unscathed and in one piece. I even saw a dolphin!
We arrived at the island at about 9 am, and after a little kerfuffle where someone’s backpack fell off the boat, the floating pink backpack was saved (!), reunited with its owner, and we all got off the boat either by swimming or waiting our turn for the dinghy.
First up was a brief orientation (no TP in the baño!, lunch is at 12:30), and then breakfast was served. I had joked on board the boat that I hoped it wasn’t radishes (Czech breakfast, if you know, you know), and low and behold it was ham buns! Like straight out of a North Dakota Lutheran Church wedding! (Again, if you know, you know!) Bun, meet ham!
Ham bun eaten, Nathan and I walked off down the beach to claim our spot of sand. Palapas and loungers are included in today’s adventure, gratis, but we prefer to go our own way and set up our beach tent. It’s just who we are.
We walked a fair enough bit away from the herd, set up the tent and sat on the sand. Feeling pretty smart indeed, we were dismayed when boat after boat of tourists arrived and disembarked at our private beach.
We spent the day snorkeling and floating with the swim buoy, before eating lunch and repeating. While we were snorkeling we saw several flounder, more scorpion fish, a ray, Nathan saw a turtle, I saw either an albino puffer fish, or maybe they can change their color (?), anyways, he was white. I also saw an eel, in addition to all of the silver and colorful schooling fish.
We returned to the boat at 3:30, for the ~1 hour return trip back to Curacao. We hopped in the same cab, with the same other tourists as the morning, and it was quite clear it rained A LOT while we were gone. The streets are flooded, and it rained most of the cab ride back to our hotel.
Once in our room, we showered and got ready. Since its raining, or was raining, we decided it might be a good night to eat at the hotel’s restaurant, and not venture out. We’re dressed, ready, I sprayed bug spray, and went to open the safe, to get my tablet, keyboard and purse out, and THE SAFE WON’T OPEN. I tried the code at least 5 times, and it said open, and then Error 1. Freaking great. I told Nathan, and he tried it, because, men. It didn’t open.
That “I’m gonna vomit” sensation creeps up. People will understand if I can’t post the blog, but I can guarantee that US Customs and Immigration will not understand why I don’t have my passport. I’m sure the authorities in Panama won’t be that happy with us either.
We walk down to the hotel lobby and explain the situation. A very nice Dutch girl grabs a bunch of keys and walks back to the room with us. In the room she confesses she’s never done this before. Oh great! But have no fear, she opened the safe, and our onward travel is guaranteed…as long as no one steals our passports from the open safe.
