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Trip Reports: Another Trip To Paradise
Bonaire Talk: Trip Reports: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2005: Archives - 2004-02-06 to 2004-07-31: Another Trip To Paradise
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert M. Schmon (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 4:44 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We had another great visit to Bonaire over Christmas-New Years and though I’m a bit late posting these shots, I thought you might be interested to see them. Again, we stayed at the Belmar and loved it. I am an avid windsurfer and diver, and if there is a place on the planet that could outdo Bonaire for those twin pursuits, I would love to know it! When the wind was down we dove 3 to 4 times a day, and when it was up once or twice. We could not have been happier!

Here are a few shots. The moon conspired to line up with the pinnacle of a salt hill just after dusk: pyramid

Not a bad place to sip Chardonnay and watch the sunset while trying to decide which restaurant to go to: terrace

Off to the Hilma Hooker with one of my daughters an hour before sunset: beachentry1

Working our way down the reef to the wreck we had a large aquatic friend waiting for us: tarpon

Meandering along the sandy bottom beside the wreck feeling as if we were in a surrealistic painting: hookerside

Another great moment as I walk into sea with my daughters—does it get better?: beachentry2

The joy of the reef:reefshot1

reefshot2


windsurfing

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #991) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 5:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I can't wait for your pictures! Your descriptions were enough to make me want to be in paradise!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert M. Schmon (BonaireTalker - Post #11) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 6:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sorry gang, I had to leave the site and the message was accidently sent sans pictures. Here they are with a repeat of descriptions.

The moon conspired to line up with the pinnacle of a salt hill just after dusk: pyramid

Not a bad place to sip Chardonnay and watch the sunset while trying to decide which restaurant to go to: terrace

Off to the Hilma Hooker with one of my daughters an hour before sunset: beachentry1

Working our way down the reef to the wreck we had a large aquatic friend waiting for us: tarpon

Meandering along the sandy bottom beside the wreck feeling as if we were in a surrealistic painting: hookerside

Another great moment as I walk into sea with my daughters—does it get better?: beachentry2

The joy of the reef:reef

reef


reef


and the windsurfing windsurfing

and the colors of the island homescolorfulhome

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert M. Schmon (BonaireTalker - Post #12) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 7:02 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Finally the first shot resized to hopefully fit your screen!my picture

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4728) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 7:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Robert, great pics, thanks for sharing! :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eileen Kimmett (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4679) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 8:09 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Beautiful pics. That's OK that they were big, I felt like I was there!:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3197) on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 12:52 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks so much for the report and the gorgeous photos! It really does feel like we were right there with you. Nice to see family activities. Refreshing in today's time and climate. Thanks again! CArole

PS What is that swimming with you at Helma Hooker? A shark??

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fiona Rattray (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #230) on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 9:59 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Looks like one of those group of tarpon you see hanging out in the cargo holds of the Hilma Hooker...
nice picture, and the moon over the salt mountain is great

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert M. Schmon (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 12:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Many thanks for your kind comments. Carol, Fiona is right. It is a tarpon hanging out at the stern of the Hilma Hooker, but because of it's size--I think you can get a sense of it from the scale of the small fish beside it and the hull of the wreck--there was that moment of "could it be..." as it slowly came into view as a silhouette from the crest of the reef.

That was a memorable dive and our first time on the HH. There was no one else on the wreck as we approached it in the last hour of sunlight on a tranquil, perfect late afternoon. That added to the eeriness and rush of seeing the rim of the wreck slowly come into view with dark tones of a still unseen hull beneath and the water sparkling from the falling sun above. Much like a work of art in a museum, there was great joy in seeing the wreck from a distance as well as close up--each experience being quite separate.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Meredith Lynch (BonaireTalker - Post #45) on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 4:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Robert,

Where did you stay?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert M. Schmon (BonaireTalker - Post #14) on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 4:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Meredith,

On both visits we have stayed at the Belmar.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mary Mueller (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1704) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 5:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Robert - thanks for the great pics!!! Bonaire is truly a magical place!!! You captured that well!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #781) on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 - 10:31 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Loved your photo's!

 


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