Curaçao curiosities | Parting shot

You can find exceptional handicraft mementos like chichi dolls; replicas of Willemstad, Curaçao’s historic architecture; and painted geckos (pictured) in souvenir shops across Willemstad. You may not see actual geckos during your visit, but their chirping and clicking noises signal their harmless presence. Who knows? These curious reptiles might just be on a vacation of their own. OK, probably not. But the Dutch leaf-toed gecko (Phyllodactylus martini), Antilles gecko (Gonatodes antillensis) and turniptail gecko (Thecadactylus rapicauda) are the art-inspiring species native to the island.