Ashore at Williamstad, Curacao with DL. 

We visited the Hato Caves as well as a city walk through downtown Williamstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In 1997 the historic district of Willemstad was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This signifies the worldwide acknowledgement of the exceptional value of the historic inner city and its harbour.

Willemstad is an example of a well-preserved Dutch colonial trading settlement. Most of the original urban structure and architecture of the period 1650-1900 still stands and is the setting for a large number of monuments. The development of the city is strongly influenced by the multicultural community over three centuries. These significant elements make it a unique port-town in the Caribbean region.

The city developed on a strategic location on both sides of Sint Anna Bay on the southern coast of the island. Sint Anna Bay is a narrow gateway leading to the sheltered inland bay of Schottegat. Both are natural deep-water facilities which triggered the creation and further growth of Willemstad as a thriving trade settlement.

The inner city of Willemstad consists of four distinct historic districts, reflecting different eras of colonial town planning and development.

Starting with the construction of Fort Amsterdam in 1635 on the eastern bank of Sint Anna Bay, the town developed continuously over the following centuries.

The historic districts of Willemstad are Punda, Pietermaai and Scharloo on the eastern side of the Sint Anna Bay and Otrobanda on the western side.

Punda is the oldest part of the city and was built in the 17th century adjacent to Fort Amsterdam. It is the only part of the city that had a defense system consisting of walls and ramparts. The other three historic urban districts (Pietermaai, Otrobanda and Scharloo) date from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Motivated myself to get 4.7-miles of jogging on the treadmill in the fitness center.

Sea Day with DL on Holland America's New Amsterdam, from Bahamas toward Curacao.

Motivated myself to get 4.5-miles of jogging on the treadmill in the fitness center.

Ashore at Holland America's "Half Moon Bay" where we swam in the warm Atlantic Ocean and enjoyed a Sting-Ray encounter as well. 

This was my first time swimming in the ocean since the early 1990's.  It felt great.

Sting-Ray encounter was fascinating as well.

After all the fun on-shore, I tackled 3.7-miles on a treadmill in the Fitness Center aboard the ship.

Early flight to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to embark with a Holland America Cruise-Line to:

Half Moon Bay, Bahamas

Willemstad, Curacao

Orangjestad, Aruba

After the week at sea, we finalize with an excursion in the Everglades.

2023 Unsupported "Non" Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #7

Rainbow Reservoir 10-Km (6.2-Miler)

Drove out to Northwest Park with K2 to run on some of the obscure paths outside the park proper.

Ended with 6.3-miles in 1:21:00.

3.4-miles in Simsbury at Great Pond Forest.

Completed another Lecture Series on "The Great Courses" aka Wondrium tonight.

This was a  12-Lecture Series, over six-hours of learning about...

 "Our Night Sky"

The lectures were taught by Dr. Edward M. Murphy, an Associate Professor, General Faculty at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.  

He earned his bachelor's degree in Astronomy from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and his Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Virginia in 1996. 

Our Night Sky

LECTURE 1  The Constellations and Their Stars 

LECTURE 2  Seeing and Navigating the Sky

LECTURE 3  Using Binoculars and Backyard Telescopes

LECTURE 4  Observing the Moon and the Sun

LECTURE 5  Observing the Planets with a Telescope 

LECTURE 6  Meteor Showers, Comets, Eclipses, and More 

LECTURE 7  The Northern Sky and the North Celestial Pole

LECTURE 8  The Fall Sky

LECTURE 9  The Winter Sky

LECTURE 10  The Spring Sky

LECTURE 11  The Summer Sky 

LECTURE 12  The Southern Sky and the Milky Way

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

• The 88 Constellations with Selected Bright Stars
• The 30 Brightest Stars 
• Data for the Planets and Dwarf Planets in Our Solar System 
• Using a Planisphere 
• The Best Annual Meteor Showers 

CFPA awarded me with my Hike-50 patch today!

Annual Physical with my PCP, including bloodwork. 

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #05 for 2023...

"Mucho Mojo" written by Joe R. Lansdale, published 1994.  

Hap and Leonard Book #02.

Cover Images