Curacao Joins European History with Island Flair

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WILLEMSTAD, Curacao, Dutch Antilles - The colorful waterfront is the heart of bustling Curacao, one of the least-known islands in the Caribbean to most Americans.

Even if you don't know about Curacao, odds are you have seen photographs of the Caribbean-colored, Dutch-looking offices and storehouses that grace Willemstad's waterfront.

The waterfront looks like something out of a fairy tale - with buildings painted blue, pink, citrus yellow, pistachio and other pastel tones. They feature Dutch gables and red-tiled roofs.

The row of stately buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries flanks what some call the prettiest harbor in the Caribbean, with a floating …