“Call me as soon as you’re back across the border,” said my mother. “Text me every hour,” said my girlfriend. “Just don’t go to Juarez. It’s not safe,” said pretty much everyone I told of my plan to cross the border from El Paso for a day. However, despite all the trepidation from both my…
Editor’s note: like Sam, I also loved Antigua so much that I keep looking for a good time to go back, even after spending nearly two weeks there. You can read about my experience here. For more of Sam’s adventures, click here to visit his index page. When I travel to Latin America, some of…
Editor’s note: Sam Spector, our incredible traveling rabbi here at The Royal Tour, never does anything halfway. While I wrote about a single cocktail in Puerto Rico, here he runs down the spectrum of some of Cuba’s most famous libations. Enjoy, and click here to read the rest of Sam’s amazing writing! This past week,…
Editor’s note: I have visited the Yucatán twice, each time in Cozumel for a day as part of a cruise. In this article, our roaming rabbi Sam Spector gives a great in-depth look into some of the amazing features the entire region has to offer. For more of Sam’s stories, click here to visit his…
Curacao is an island in the southern Caribbean, off the coast of Venezuela, part of the Dutch “ABC” islands, along with Aruba and Bonaire. Semi-independent, the island is home to about 150,000 people, most of whom live in or near the capital of Willemstad, built around one of the largest natural deep water harbors in…
Sunset at Marichi Beach in Willemstad’s Punda district is my evening ritual. A fifteen minute walk from my rental apartment in Otrobanda takes me across the Queen Emma Bridge and past the colorful historic buildings to this urban oasis, just a small patch of sand between a couple of parking lots fronting an equally small…
A walk across the Queen Emma Bridge, known colloquially as the Swinging Old Lady, is about as authentic of a Curacao experience as one can have. The wooden deck of the pedestrian bridge (only the Prime Minister and Governor are allowed to cross by car, and must be on their way to their offices) rolls…
Distinctly Dutch, yet decidedly Caribbean, Curacao sits in a fascinating area geographically and culinarily. For most, a beautiful island like this would not seem to be a gastronomic destination, and yet that is just what it is. The food - and drinks, one must not forget the drinks - is fantastic here, and this guide…
Curacao. A Dutch-ruled island in the southern Caribbean. Palms blowing in the breeze, crystal clear waters sparkling in the sun, tropical drinks of all colors of the rainbow glowing in the hands of eager tourists escaping to the beaches, it doesn’t seem like a place that would be steeped in Jewish history. And yet, that’s…
Willemstad, the capitol - and only true city - on the island of Curacao, is lovely. It is full of beautiful colonial architecture, cultural gems, great food, and wonderful people. But if you have more than just a couple of days in Curacao, leaving the city behind to see other parts of the island is…