#59 Kura Hulanda Hotel

A Museum/Hotel on the Island of Curacao!

The island of Curacao is hard to explain and so is this unique hotel.

The location of Curacao in the Dutch Antilles, is a very appealing location, since it's in the Caribbean, below the hurricane belt.  But the island's history as a major hub for slave trade, could make a tourist cringe. 

I'm still trying to fathom how we ended up staying in such a unique hotel/museum combination!

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Heritage Sight

Over 20 years ago, Jacob Gelt Dekker took a charming historical neighborhood and created a hotel complex and a museum.  The whole complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which tells you something right off.  I had read good things about Dekker and his amazing dream to bring Curacao's horrifying history of Slave trade into the spotlight. But how do you combine that with a luxury hotel? 

Upon Arrival

There was no one around when we arrived on an August afternoon. As we traveled up the cobblestone walkway, the only "people" we met, were these statues. 

If this had been an American resort I would have winced.  But I was ready to try to understand.   

The Welcome Center

This palace style office was where we checked in.  It felt more like some kind of Embassy than a hotel lobby.  We were introduced to our gracious bellman, who handed us cool drinks while we signed paperwork.

Where Was Everyone?

We wandered the 8 block village while our room was being prepared.  We wondered what these 18th and 19th century Dutch Colonial buildings had looked like 20 years ago when Dekker found the crumbling, crime infested neighborhood.   At a glance there was a Disney World feel, but these buildings were real, not created.  And there also didn't seem to be a tourist in sight!
 

Pools

As we explored, we found 2 lovely (and empty)  pools.  This one had luxurious levels and waterfalls,  rocks and lush growth.  It also had a little excitement when a humongous palm frond plunged from a tall tree into the pool!  Luckily there were no swimmers!

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The Sunny Pool

We found a sunnier pool in a different area of the complex. This one wasn't empty. There was a speedy iguana zipping from 1 corner to the next.  I was a bit freaked out that this guy had fallen in and couldn't get out. I was also a little uncertain about the thought of sharing a pool with a critter like this. He did manage to escape.

Finding Our Room

The hotel complex was a maze of cobblestone roads with about 18 colorful buildings.  Our room didn't have quite the curb appeal of some, but our door was at the end of pleasant walkway. There were courtyards, little tables and fountains, flowers and statuary everywhere.  It was all up for grabs.  

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Our Suite

Our room was ground level, although the slanted ceiling looked like an attic.  There were nice tile floors, a decorative area rug and cozy sitting and desk areas. 

Lighting

It's funny how I hardly noticed the green trim and painted design until I saw these photos later.  The flash on my camera really lit up the space.

I must be getting old because I'm starting to take notice of hotel room lighting.  Our room really was a bit on the dim side, which is funny since it had some pretty memorable light fixtures!

Not for the Tall!

Don did a nice replay for my camera. You'd think this bright, blue lamp would be hard to miss, but he crashed into it more than once! We learned to leave the light on most of the time, so he could see to avoid it.   


I think Don matches the blue light, nicely!

Modern Bathroom... Modern Door

I hate it when historic buildings are too modernized. But I don't mind a little updating in the bathroom!  Antique plumbing is not really a good thing, after all.

However, once again I found myself annoyed with the modern trend of using big glass panels in bathroom doors.   No, I'm not panicking over privacy. I just don't want to wake my fellow traveler when I get up early to shower!  Why should my bathroom light have to seep into the guest room? 

The Museum

This photo shows a blending of the hotel complex and the mural covered museum. It felt strange to step from our colorful oasis, into the museum, but I was ready.  

Art, Artifacts, History and Stories

It was sobering to wander through a maze of 15 buildings, on land that was once a former slave yard. There was much to absorb as we were reminded about those who suffered here for 200 years.  It seems impossible that we were able to see instruments of torture and images of families being separated... and then later lounge by the pool or in the courtyard.  But there was something comforting and peaceful in the atmosphere, that allowed for time to ponder.  Maybe if we had been surrounded by noisy tourists, I would have felt differently.  But the quiet made it   easy to sit and imagine and wonder about how all this could have really happened. Some would say, "I don't call that vacation!"   But traveling is not all about playing and having fun.  This was a good place to be and a good place to learn. 

What's Notable?

Don and I spent the night in a lovely hotel, on the land where lives were once lost and ruined.  We've been "guilty tourists" before, when touring a lovely southern plantation, without any focus on the struggles that occurred outside the Big House. But this was the first time we absorbed both... the luxury of being pampered tourists and the experience of learning about something as tragic as slave history.  It was an odd combination, that I'll never forget.