Bonaire is still splendid, on the surface and under the waves. Have been visiting since 1968!
Captain Don Stewart is still alive and gives an outstanding presentation at Habitat on Tueday evenings. In the old days it was the Magic Lantern at Hotel Bonaire, now a sad sight.
Despite Hurricane Lenny in 1999 the diving is still outstanding. Klein Bonaire has not been built up like many parts of Bonaire. A new airport is in the making. The new airline, Bonaire Exel is carrying out practice flights as the wait for clearance to carry passengers! There have been changes as ALM has been replaced by DCA.
KLM now serves Bonaire with large MD 11's with flights from Amsterdam and Quito. Air Jamaica is also serving Bonaire while Avensa and Aeropostal flights from Venezuela are infrequent. New to Bonaire is service with American Airlines from Puerto Rico. There is airconditioning at the airport as well as duty free stores with flat screens. Indeed, change is in the air!
The dive operations have increased but fortunately the respect for the environment reigns! Shore dives and boat trips abound.
Still not many sharks to be seen though there is an abundance of coral. The reef is spectacular.
Kralendijk has also changed. Zeezicht is still in place and the Zeebad gate is still in place at what is now the Divi Divi resort. Peter Hughes has been and gone as has Carl Roesler's Sea & Sea but Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn is still going strong. Divi Divi, Buddy, Habitat, Wannadive, and as host of others are guiding divers to the wonderful dive locations on Bonaire. There are internet cafe's in Kralendijk as well as an Argentine Restaurant. The Beefeater has been replace by Richard's. The goat and donkey populations are healthy, in fact there is now a donkey sanctuary. The antennas of Trans World Radio and Radio Nederland are still beaming to the world. The E-WoWo disco is no more but there is a casino at the Divi Divi. The sunsets are still spectacular and the night sky a huge jewel fish! The trade wind blows and the salt is still mined both keeping up long appearances. There are still night dives as the town pier and soccer games in town as Rincon rivals Kralendijk, nice to see some things dont change. Bonaire is still the island of the flamingoes and a place to be enjoyed!

SIGH. I was I was there!

I don't think anyone could have said it in a nicer manner. Thanks for the walk down memory lane and the present and future, as well! It is, indeed, a very special place to be enjoyed and cherished by all. Carole