Willemstad: Punda, with the Handelskade and the Pontjesbrug

Willemstad, Unesco heritage, a city in the Tropics with a Dutch name, and the strangest city in the Tropics we have ever visited.
This because we associate cities near the equator with very (very) busy. People everywhere, sidewalks full of food stalls, overflowing merchandise from numerous little shops, streets blocked with cars, motorbikes, bicycles, busses, becaks, people and every now and then animals.

Not Willemstad.
A bit apprehensive we headed for Willemstad - after a couple of quiet days in the Westpunt we weren't waiting for a second Semarang - and entered the city via a luxuriously wide avenue - practically devoid of cars. Or people, who weren't even seen on the sidewalks.

We almost floated into the city (ok, mainly due to the fact that Willemstad is at sea level and we came from higher grounds, but it felt like floating, go for yourself and you see what I mean).
Over the immensely high bridge that connects Punda and Otrabanda if you go by car, around a corner, where below us we spotted an immense and mostly empty parking lot - we parked, got out, walked along a huge stretch of water apparently in the middle of the city, crossed a beautiful old bridge and stood in the centre of Punda, the shopping area of Willemstad.

On our left the new covered market - some people there - on our right the Venezuelan fruit and vegetable market, famous for the long line of (yes, Venezuelan) boats that lie along the quay - even less people.

Around the corner the picturesque and much photographed Handelskade.
Empty.
It could have been the Football World Championship, Holland was to play against Spain (remember? 5-1!) hence the central square behind the Handelskade was packed with people, who on an ordinary day probably would have strolled along the quays.

Probably not. We came back a couple of days later, the city was as quiet as the first time.
That could have been because that was on a Sunday ;)