Curcao

[John F Collier]

I was looking through some old photo's that I took in the MN, and there was a picture of a very large hill
with a castle on the top at Curacao . I can remember seeing it from the bunkering jetty, somebody said it was Henry Morgan's castle and the hill was called virgins leap. I wondered if anyone knew more about it as most of
us have seen it and stories get handed down from ship to ship, sorry to say I never got the chance to see
Willemstad and got no further than the jetty, but I remember catching a couple of nice sized fish from over
the wall and the water was crystal clear I thought it was a great place. cheers JC. PS title is spelt wrong

[John Pruden]

I had a look at morgans castle if you can call it that just enough for a cannon or two I wonder if the shark net has the hole in it. and the Spanish style villa on the end of the little peninsular jutting out into that clear sea the gar fish and the small creatures running lizards all over.. jp

[John Albert Evans]

Johnf,

Here is a photo of Henry Morgans castle and one of the man himself..henry_morgan.jpgSir-Henry-Morgan-9414702-1-402.jpg.
I visited Curacao many times during my time at sea. On one time I spent two weeks in the Seamans Mission waiting to join the Eagle Oil Tanker "Haustrum ", I n the early 1960's. It was a very enjoyable time and visited many places on the Island with the family of tee Mission (There were other places to visit than Happy Valley Honest)Willemstad with its bridge across the entrance was really something to see.thFG2KS1WJ.jpgthK5KPKX32.jpg. If you Google Willemstad you will find many many photos of Curacao. Good Luck.

John

[John F Collier]

Johnf,

Here is a photo of Henry Morgans castle and one of the man himself..henry_morgan.jpgSir-Henry-Morgan-9414702-1-402.jpg.
I visited Curacao many times during my time at sea. On one time I spent two weeks in the Seamans Mission waiting to join the Eagle Oil Tanker "Haustrum ", I n the early 1960's. It was a very enjoyable time and visited many places on the Island with the family of tee Mission (There were other places to visit than Happy Valley Honest)Willemstad with its bridge across the entrance was really something to see.thFG2KS1WJ.jpgthK5KPKX32.jpg. If you Google Willemstad you will find many many photos of Curacao. Good Luck.

John

Thanks John, I had heard bits about "Happy valley but never got the chance to go ashore there, I went there 3 times or it maybe 4, but I really liked the look of the place, "Virgins Leap" could this be anything to do with them hearing Brian was on
his way, so they all jumped off? thanks for the photo's it's great to have these things and the memories they bring back.
Cheers John C

[John F Collier]

I had a look at morgans castle if you can call it that just enough for a cannon or two I wonder if the shark net has the hole in it. and the Spanish style villa on the end of the little peninsular jutting out into that clear sea the gar fish and the small creatures running lizards all over.. jp

There is a very good post on Google john, you might like to read as it says about the hole in the net,
if you Google "Morgan's castle Curacao" you will see a post called, "My trips as Peggy on Blue Funnel" I enjoyed it. cheers. JC

[Doc Vernon]

Funny John F
I was about to post that Link,but seeing as you have read it I will pass on it now!
Nice reading I must say!
Cheers

[John Albert Evans]

Its funny really that I saw your post this morning because over the last few days we have been decorating our spare bedroom and behind one of the cupboards I found some photographs taken when I was on the San Fernando which I took when I was galley boy in 1957 they are very small and were taken with the old Kodak Brownie. They show some of the catering staff [I] don't remember all of their name but Norman Williams AKA 'Rocky from Liverpool does know the names to put to the faces,and some of the deckhands, a couple were taken loading up oil in Curacao and some in the North Atlantic when we were covered in ice. I will put them on line when I get my new photocopier sorted out. I'm sure Mike will want them for is Gallery as well. Its nice to bring back forgotton memories.

John

[Captain Kong]

I was Shanghaied once on a sailing ship. IN CURACAO

I was on the `Auris`in 1958, an experimental, the only pure Gas Turbine tanker in the world.we eventually arrived in Curacao and we were to stay there for over six weeks with the work on the gas turbine.
I went ashore in Willemstadt and got legless as usual on the rum. On the next table to us was the crowd of Venezualans off one of the market schooners that traded around the Carribean and Venezuela. I got talking to them as I was fluent in Spanish in those days and ended up on their table drinking all the rum they could pour down me. then oblivion,
I awoke on a coil of mooring ropes with the sound of the sea and the creaking of sheets in the blocks and the crack of a sail, I thought it was a dream gone wrong.
I opened one eye and nearly wet my knickers, I was at sea on a sailing ship.
I leapt to my feet and nearly fell over the wall still dizzy with all the rum. The crowd that I was drinking with were on deck laughing at me . "Que Pasa hombre" they shouted.
I was outward bound for Caracas , Karapita and the Orinoco in Venezuela. Kinnel.! now Que pasa nada.
Any way I sorted myself out and joined in with the crowd as there was nothing I could do to get back to Curacao.

I learned to sail a topsail schooner and we did the little ports and rivers round the Venezuelan coast loading and discharging small parcels of cargo.
We went as far as Trinidad, Tobago and Barbados and then eventually we got a cargo for Curacao and after 32 days we arrived and I could see the `Auris` `still lying in the lagoon.
I bade farewell to my old shipmates and thanked them for a fantastic experience.
I made my way back to the `Auris` and old Capt. Brown went mad when he saw me.
They thought that I had gotten drowned crossing the lagoon on the launch and had told my parents that I was missing. I told him that I had been Shanghaied with a `mickey finn` and ended up on the sailing ship. he was amazed. He had started his seafaring career as a Midshipman under Sail on the `Monkbarns` a square rigger. I told him the story and after he gave me a tot and let me off with out a logging. Telegrams were soon flying home to say that I was safe again.

Brian

[Doc Vernon]

Now pray tell me Capt
In the very nicest way this is asked,just where have you not been in this wide World of ours, i am always amazed at the places and things you have done in your life gosh I know I had a very wide Variety in my days to,but you seem to have travelled far and wide and been on so many Ships.
Nice once again to read of another part of your travels!
Keep well mate!
Cheers

[John F Collier]

Funny John F
I was about to post that Link,but seeing as you have read it I will pass on it now!
Nice reading I must say!
Cheers

What a coincidence eh Doc, I only saw it myself today when I tried to find out if it really was Morgan's castle, thanks for the thought. cheers. JC