CURAÇAO

Just the name Curaçao--derived from the Portuguese word for the heart-- speaks of romance. Add to that a historic capital city with tiny twinkling lights and picturesque European-style structures, fine cuisine from around the globe, and both tranquil beaches and rugged coastline, and you have all the ingredients for a romantic getaway.

Curaçao is part of the Netherlands Antilles, along with the islands of Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius. The Netherlands Antilles, the island of Aruba, and Holland comprise the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Ruled by a governor appointed by the Queen, each island has autonomy on domestic affairs. Curaçao is the capital of the Netherlands Antilles, and here you'll find most of the governmental, financial, and industrial positions.

Tucked into the far southern reaches of the Caribbean, less than 40 miles from the coast of South America, Curaçao is very much an international destination. Dutch is the official language, and you'll hear many Dutch-speaking vacationers. Many South Americans also enjoy the island where most residents speak Spanish. We found that most Curaçao residents speak an amazing total of five languages: Dutch, Spanish, English, Papiamento, and either French or German.

Papiamento is the local language spoken on the streets, a veritable cocktail of tongues. Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch, Indian, English, and some African dialects combine to form the lingua franca of the Netherlands Antilles. Even between the islands the language varies slightly, each with its own slang and accent. (Ask a Curaçaoan, and he'll tell you that in Bonaire they talk with a sing-song accent.)

That ease with multiple languages also seems to translate into a comfort with many nationalities as well. Over 70 nationalities are represented on the island and, with such a true melting pot on this 184-square mile piece of land, there's a true welcoming spirit for tourists, wherever their homeland. When Curaçaoans says "Bon Bini," they mean welcome in any language.

Some say the island of Curaçao looks like a bikini top, pinched in the center. On one side lies the capital of Willemstad, by Caribbean standards a major metropolitan area with a harbor consistently rated about the fifth busiest in the world. This truly international city boasts streets lined with Dutch-style architecture as colorful as a candy store.

The city is divided into two sides: Punda, the original settlement, and Otrobanda, literally the "other side." Both sport picturesque harborfront buildings, and are connected by the largest bridge in the Caribbean, a free ferry, and the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge for pedestrians, locally known as the "Swinging Old Lady" because of the way it moves out of the way for harbor traffic.