He’s the blue icing on the cake of our little get-together to watch the German national team’s opening match against Curaçao. We’d actually just planned to get through a bottle of Curaçao Triple Sec liqueur – the tamarind flavour – with some friends. For the past three days, a peacock has been living in our garden, strutting across the rooftops and calling out through the gardens – a sound more like a vuvuzela than Caribbean calypso. Our neighbour Michael has christened him Herbert.
With Herbert, we’re taking a thematic detour to the Caribbean: in Curaçao’s art, the blue bird symbolises splendour, a wealth of colours and cultural diversity – an emblem of an island whose identity has grown from many cultures. In the MosaCaña Bar in Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao, a colourful mural by street artist Francis Sling shines brightly. At its centre: a peacock. The vibrant colours embody the Caribbean zest for life, which has reached new heights since The Blue Wave’s World Cup qualification.
Oracle on the heat pump
And Herbert? He likes to keep an eye on things. He doesn’t mind whether it’s a shed roof or a heat pump. Where he actually belongs is still unclear. Perhaps he’ll stay with us as a World Cup oracle – or move on, depending on the match result.
Herbert in a majestic charge towards the garden terrace. But my defence is holding firm! See for yourselves.
More stories from Curaçao
Curaçao is the ‘C’ of the ABC Islands, with a Dutch heritage in a Caribbean guise. The island impresses with its pastel-coloured trading houses, reminiscent of Amsterdam, whilst Papiamento, as a Creole language, reflects the cultural mix of Europe, Africa and Latin America. The island is more than just a beach and diving paradise: it boasts a street art scene, the decaying charm of old Baroque architecture and a distinct culinary identity blending Dutch colonial cuisine with Caribbean flavours. Forget Blue Curaçao! The Caribbean island, most commonly associated with the colour blue, unfolds a kaleidoscope of colours and stories. From the famous liqueurs to the artistically painted façades in Willemstad. The Queen Emma Bridge is affectionately known by the locals asthe Swinging Old Lady .
