This is Phase 1 of my trip report - prior to the arrival of my hubby (Dirk) and my dive buddy (Kelly).

First let me start by thanking many people who made my family’s trip to Bonaire so memorable.
Linda and Jake who are wonderfully open people and I am so grateful that I had a chance to meet them and get to know them and their 2 kids (Bas and Yana).
Ed and Liz who became our great friends with whom we has lots fun while we were on the island– even if we did not get the chance to dive with them. Liz when you have that tumor taken care of – we will go diving together in Bonaire.
Seb and Mary who are truly one of the most interesting and open couples that I have ever met. Now if I could only figure out a way to get them to stop picking on me – it would be perfect. They are also 2 of the best dive buddies I could have asked for.
Princess Diva Kelly - the best dive buddy I had on the trip. Kelly was a joy to have around – both on and under the water. We came up with the name dawdling divers because we would take so much time on the surface yacking and then realize we needed to get in the water if we were ever going to dive. Under the water it was uncanny how in sync we were. We would check on each other at the exactly same time and even our air consumption was in synch - we matched each other breath for breath. This came in handy when her computer was acting up and we would check against my computer to make sure it was reading correctly under water.
Drew Larson – my second dive buddy. I did my first dive in front of the reef cam with him.
Susan and Bob – my first dive buddies that went on my check out dive. I met them on the dock and asked if I could tag along with them.
Alan and Joan Zale – who had the great condo at Sand$ that we rented from them.

Day 1 – July 11
We flew in on AJ – it was late getting to Bonaire – as I stated in my abbreviated report. We got stuck in the Atlanta airport. I was going nuts – worried that the flight to Bonaire would take off without us as we waited for 2 + hours (We only had a 1 hour layover in Jamaica). The counter agents kept telling me don’t worry – they will hold the flight. I have flown enough to know flights are not held for over an hour – so I worried and Bryant slept. Finally we boarded the plane that had been sitting at the gate the whole time – the hold up was in Jamaica. I am again worrying the whole flight – while Bryant slept. We arrived in Jamaica and as I get off the plane – I ask the agent at the gate about the Bonaire flight and guess what – it was on the plane I just got off! No one bothered to tell me that this plane would be used for the Bonaire flight – so of course they waited – they did not have a plane. What a relief. Just wish they had told me – so I would not have worried about it. I am too much of a control freak to not let it get to me when I have arranged something and it does not go as planned – I can hear Mary and Kelly laughing right now!! I like to have things organized and am very much in to planning and scheduling. Good thing too – as my life is about leading teams and planning all parts of drug development for my clients.

Sorry for the short digression – we got Bonaire around 4:30 – I have had about 2 hours of sleep over the past 24 hours and Bryant is as fresh as a daisy – since he slept in the Atlanta airport and on the plane. While we were waiting to go through security – I got a tap on my shoulder and Gail Thomas was there to give me a hug and say hi! What a way to be welcomed to Bonaire –by a hug from another BTer. Gail was with a group and she did not know if she would be able to get free to dive with me – so we said if she was able to get to Gibi’s we would discuss it then.

We rented our truck from AB – thanks Marc for arranging everything – great truck – no problem with it the entire trip.

As I stated above we rented Alan and Joan Zale’s condo at Sand$. The condo is in a wonderful location and very well laid out (we had everything that we needed – it lacked nothing). It was perfectly suited for my family. I loved the screened in porch. I spent every morning eating my breakfast out there enjoying the view. The staff at the Sand$ are also great.

We rented a phone from Michael at the Chat N Browse. He was the first person I visited with once we got settled in the condo. I delivered him his Sunday NY times and picked up the phone. I love dealing with Michael – he is a great person to welcome you on the island.

We stopped by the web cam to say hi – except Bryant was impatient – so we did not stay long.

I noticed that our visit was missed by the BTers– which lead to start searching for us on the board.

Back to the condo to get in swim suits and grab a light to snorkeling at dusk. We could not wait to get into the water Right off the concrete platform is a great snorkeling spot.

Cleaned up and then when to dinner. First night we went to Casablanca’s – which became our favorite restaurant to visit on this trip.



Back home and to bed – I missed getting a picture of the sunset – realized it too late.

Day 2 – July 12
Up early the next morning to do the orientation and my check out dive. Which was my 1st dive at the Bari reef. I hooked up with Susan and Bob and had a great dive!!!




Back to the condo with Bryant impatiently waiting on me – it was after noon – by the time I got back.

Went out for lunch at the Lost Penguin – great fish salad!!!
And on to Lovers Ice Cream for dessert to meet my new dive buddy Drew Larson and his girlfriend.
Drew and I made plans to dive the Hilma Hooker and one other southern location the next morning.
Bryant and I went on a drive around the island and for a bit of snorkeling. Bryant had fun taking pictures of himself while testing out the camera. Isn’t he just too cute!!!


Cleaned up and went to a party over at Liz and Ed’s new Inn – The Golden Reef Inn. What a great place!!!
I met Linda and Jake face to face for the first time. Also met Yana and Bas!!! Yana was more interested in reading a book than in anything that was going on and Bas was his normal wild man self.
I met Liz and Ed face to face for the first time. I had rented their townhouse on my last trip to Bonaire – so I felt I already knew them.
I met Seb and Mary for the first time – it was great seeing other BTers.
Saw Gibi – he catered the party – which meant the food was out of this world. Bryant tried all of it and decided that it was not his cup of tea.
Met Larry of Larry’s Wild side diving – what a character!!! Also met his artist wife Jan!! I never did get a chance to go to her gallery – hopefully on the next trip.
Met Bob the REMAX guy – he kept Bryant entertained.
Bryant decided that he was hungry so insisted that we leave to go eat dinner – we went to City Cafι for dinner – always great food.

No sunset pics this night either – with Liz’s party – I did not have time.

After dinner – back to the condo and in bed – as always – exhausted every night – no problem sleeping.

I am going to scream - twice to get the pictures in there and is kept telling the this page cannot be displayed!

Will try tp post one at a time!!! This will drive me crazy trying to get the trip report posted!

Bryant and I visit the web cam!

Our first dinner at Casablancas!

Spotted eel from the Bari Reef!

Trunk fish from the Bari Reef!

Bryant's self portrait while snorkeling!

Point of clarification.. anyone who knows Mary knows that on the surface, SHE was yakking, I was nodding my head... because anyone who knows ME knows that I do not SPEAK before 10 am.... lol

Good job, Mary... keep it coming sister !

Hooray !!! At last....love the report.

Mary, Thanks!!!! Beau says Hi. Can not wait to read more!!!!

Kelly, This is her story, let her tell it!!!

Oh my gosh, I think I caught Mary's exclamation point addiction;-{)}

Tom (I think)

Yes Kelly - but anyone that knows you - knows once you start yacking - you are as bad as me!!! And one more point - you will see clarified later - Kelly did get up every morning I was there with her by 8 or 9 am and everyone knows she is not a morning person. She did it for me - so I could get my dives done in the morning - very sweet.

More will come - now I am frustrated with trying to post more than 1 picture at a time.

Day 3 – July 13

Up early – I woke up at 6:00 every morning - which is my normal pattern – either on vacation or at home.
Bryant decided to go with us to try snorkeling while we were diving.
Drew met us in the parking lot of the Sand$ and off we went to dive the Hilma Hooker.


Great dive and we were able to finish it before the dive boats arrived.
Back at the shore – Bryant was waiting for us in the truck. He saw an octopus and eel while snorkeling in the shallows.
While resting after the dive – we decided to go down the road a bit and dive at Toris Reef.
Bryant decided to not snorkel and amused himself chasing the crabs while we went on the dive.


We said goodbye to Drew and we went back to the condo to clean up before starting our day’s adventures.

Lunch was next on the agenda.

Then it was off to Windsurf Place where Bryant would start his windsurfing lessons.
Roger set up Bryant with Constantine (sp?)(a 2 time Olympian) as his instructor – I settled in on the beach to watch the lessons.

After 3 hours of lessons and practicing we were headed back to the condo to clean up – but first we made a stop a the web cams.




Then to the condo to clean up for the BT dinner are Gibis.

Great crowd at Gibis– Jake and Linda along with Bas and Yana, Cinde with her 2 kids, Seb and Mary and then Liz and Ed showed up. Gibi charmed Bryant by cooking fried chicken – his favorite food. I think he ended up sucking on the bones to get the last bit of meat off them!LOL!

Mary and I fought over the fungi(sp?) while at dinner. Gibi makes the best. However there was some left over and Mary was trying to look out for me so I could take some home! Mary remembered to bring her tupperware - however I forgot mine - so we got some foil and she gave me half of hers.

Bryant ended the night with the best comment. Gibi was giving me a kiss goodnight and Jake asked Bryant if it bothered him and Bryant’s answer was no – unless there was tongue involved and then he would have to tell his dad. I thought Jake was going to choke laughing at that one– we left on the remark.

Back home to the condo for another good nights rest.

No Sunset pics this night either – due to the dinner at Gibis.

Day 4 – July 14

Had plans to dive the reef cam with Drew – we were going to go off the Sand$ dock – snorkel to the Wannadive dock and then dive down to the reef cam and stay down until we were back at the Sand$ dock. We also planned on a dive at a northern site. When Drew arrived – he said that he needed to spend more time with his girlfriend - so we would dive the reef cam – but I needed to find a new dive buddy after that. Bummer I was stood up - guess my days as the other women had to end.




After the early finish to my diving – Bryant and I decided to go snorkeling at a northern site. We headed up to 1000 Steps. I handed Bryant the camera and let him enjoy trying to take underwater shots. I think he did very well.




Back to the condo for a quick clean up and then lunch.

After lunch we went to Windsurf Place for Bryan to practice windsurfing. Wind was down and so we did not stay too long. Decided to go back to Sand$ and snorkeled the big blocks off the Sand$ dock in front of Sunset.

Bryant had the camera again.





Called Seb and Mary to ask if I could dive with them – since I lost my dive buddy. Made arrangements to go over and dive off the reef behind their house the next morning.

After the snorkel we went into town to buy some tennis shoes for me – so Bryant and I could play tennis on the Sand$ courts. When we got back we waited for a court and played tennis for a couple of hours. First time I have played tennis in over 20 years! It was fun! HAHA! More time was spent fetching balls than hitting balls. Bryant quickly found out that smacking them like he would a baseball got them over the tall fence!

Managed to finally get a sunset picture in!


Cleaned up and went to dinner at Rum Runners at Captain Don’s. It was nice to walk over to dinner. Great dinner – Bryant tried a Japanese dish - I was proud that he was not just eating a cheeseburger.


After dinner back to the condo to get some rest to start back up in the morning.

This is making me nuts!
Now for the pics!
Tarpoon at Hilma Hooker

Mary at Hilma Hooker

Cleaner Shrimp at Toris Reef

Spotted Eel at Toris Reef

Bryant at his Windsurfing lesson

Web cam pics

Web cam pics

Web cam pics

Lets try that again - very frustrating!

Yes Bryant is holding a beer in his had!LOL!

At the Reef Cam

1000 steps snorkel pics

Sand$ Snorkel pics

Do not know what I am doing right - but happy to be able to post more than 1 picture at a time. Maybe its the way I am holding my mouse!?!?LOL!
Sunset pic

And Bryant at Rum Runners

Day 5 – July 15

Woke up early like usual and got ready to go do my first dive with Seb and Mary at Elkadia. When I got there – my jaw dropped at the wonderful place with such an outstanding view that they had out back. More on that later! Seb and Mary are great dive buddies. Though they got frustrated with me when we were coming off the reef and I missed seeing the ray – I saw Mary try to point to out to me– but was too interested in some little critter that had caught my eye. Oh well – I really missed my chance – since the ray did to show up again





Had to leave shortly after the dive to pick up Bryant to start our day together! I left my dive gear there - since I was to be a permanent dive guest! Actually Mary thought it would be better since I was coming back the next day.

I cleaned up – and we headed out – first lunch and then off to Windsurf Place for Bryant’s windsurfing lesson.


After our afternoon at the Sorobon – we headed home to clean up and meet the gang at Bongos for dinner.


Also managed one sunset picture!


Back to the condo to rest up for the next day.

Mary, Thanks for sharing. Glad you had a great time and liked our unit. Pictures are great. Joan & Alan

Wow.... great pics, of course I've already seen some of them. ;)

Okay, Tom.. I'm SORRY... I'll let Mary tell her story... lol

Mary, great pics. Thanks for sharing!

Mary, Awesome report! Well worth the wait!!! I love your photos! Thank-you for saying hello to us, I have printed out the pics for Quinn's album (and ours too).

Mary, Incredible!!!!!

Great report and pic!!!! Well worth waiting for!

Yay, Mary!! Way to go....great, great story and pics...well earned, pics, I might add! LOL. Absolutely fabulous. Well done, gal. Well now...don't you feel better already??!! Ayo. Carole

Nice pics and great report Mary! Maybe next time our paths will cross!

ONe more installment on this phase - hope the pics download okay!
Day 6 – July 16

Rose early and dragged Bryant out of bed to go see Seb and Mary for my morning dive. Mary was hoping he would snorkel – however he decided to stay inside watch TV while we dove.




Stayed a bit chatting with Seb and Mary until Bryant decided he wanted to start our adventures for the day. Nothing is more impatient than a 13 year old how has been in one place longer than 1 hour - not doing what he wanted to do.

Went to lunch and then off to Windsurf Place for Bryant’s windsurfing lesson. By this time Bryant was starting to do some tricks on the board – very proud of him. He was really enjoying it.

After windsurfing we decided to snorkel at the concrete clocks at the Sand$ again.
This time Bryant and I shared the camera.





We cleaned up and went to Pasa Bon for pizza.

Sunset was great this night!



Back to the condo to rest for the next days activities – which included my morning dive with Seb and Mary.

Plus the long awaited moment for Dirk to arrive on the island was about to happen. He was to arrive around 2:30 pm the next day July 17. Bryant and I could not wait. I think Bryant was getting a bit tired of hanging around a female all the time – even if it was his mom!LOL!

Next phase with Dirk added will be another thread on another day!

Tried 4 times and that bloody - this page cannot be displayed kept popping up.
Pictures from the dive.

Pictures from the snorkel.

Now the sunset pics - some of my favorite!

BEAUTIFUL Mary!!!

Mary, what a great time you and your family had.
Thanks for sharing and the pics posted,loved the sunsets.

Mary, I love the sunset pictures and the puffer. Great trip report, well worth the wait. Can't wait to hear about the rest of your vacation............

Great sunset picture... wow.....

The puffer is my favorite... he was smiling for you!

Can't wait for Phase Two..

Excellent report and pictures, Mary. Very enjoyable, thanks for taking the time to share with us.

One thing to try on the picture thing is to reduce how many per post. I try to limit it to 5 or 6 pictures per post.

Mary - these are wonderful. Truly wonderful. I'm ready for phase 2 :-)

Mara

Mary,
Great trip report and pictures.
Yana girl

Mary, Mary, quite contrary....


Great pics...I was talking with Ed on how happy I was that we had made such new great friends! Oh and by the way...YOU ALL KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO GABBIN' I can beat the living daylights out of you and Kelly...especially after a few AMSTELS LOL. I just remember Dirk and Ed looking at each other and Bryant rolling his eyes everytime you and I got going!!!!! LOL Talk with you soon luv, can't wait for the 2nd installment

Liz

wow mary, beautiful pictures!
When I see you pictures i'm missing bonaire even more....

Wietse
--//--

Mary

thanks great report and pics, thanks for sharing.

I think there is a timeout problem if you post a lot of pictures.

Thanks everyone!!! It hard to look at the pics and not want to run right back there - Oh yeah I am running right back there in October!

Cecil - thanks for the hint on the pics.

Liz - my buddy - you are right - you can talk circles around Kelly and I and yes there was a lot of eye rolling from Ed, Dirk and Bryant when would get started. Though I remember that Ed would take pity on Bryant and get him involved in an manly man conversation!LOL! Maybe we can just come and live with you and Ed once you move the island!LOL!

Phase II will be later too busy today to do much here.

Mary, I'm going to suggest a new thread for phase two. Trying to keep those thread sizes down for our sponsors. You might just copy the address of the new thread in your last message here as a link.

I'd also like to complement you in that your first post had NOT ONE exclamation point!!!(Pretty good trip report too pal!!!)

Mary M,
Your next post has 21!!!!!!
But, to your credit, several of those were single use!, some were doubles!!, and, of course, triples!!!.

If I keep this up you will find a way to kill me.

You do realize that this is all in fun as your !!!! postings never fail to amuse.

You bring out the English Major in me.
You said it best to Torsten:

---

quote:

Sending you warm thoughts and big get will hugs!!! Hope tat doesn't hurt too much!!LOL!!

---

Mary!!!

sjoss

Mary M - great trip report. I await phase 2 with bated breath!

Mary W - don't you go harassing our Mary M - her typos are the BT version of Yogi Berra malapropisms! With a little effort, even understandable (which is more than you could say for much that left Yogi Berra's mouth)! Or should I say !!!!!

BIG LAUGH Susanf!!!
MaryM!!! You are a legend!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here are Yogi-isms:
http://www.yogi-berra.com/yogiisms.html

MAry W.

Yogi-isms looks familiar to Cruyff-isms to me .

sjoss

Mary... great to read your first phase (btw I like the yogi-isms and I'm with Sjoss, about Cruyff-ism.... that's yogi-isms in dutch ).
And great pictures!

Mary W, 'tat' is also slang shorthand for 'tatoo', so I pictured big ol' Will tatooing poor Torsten...

Faith

Great report Mary!!!
Thx 4 sharing!! Nice pictures 2!!!!
Jeeezzzz, they're all giving u a hard time about your !!!!!, I would just ignore them and !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! away
Looking 4ward 2 phase 2....(!)

Mary....
This is not very funny!
Are you trying to make me cry?



Love the story and images! Really!
But, somehow makes me sad, wants me to get back to Bonaire.
My compliments on your report!

Susan, Jos and Igor -thanks - and you know how much I love you guys for defending me!

Typos are my thing - since I made it a point to never learn how to type. That was so I would never be slotted into the role of a secretary -not that there is anything wrong with that - I just did not pay my way through college to do that.
Plus I have the tendency to go too fast and skip letters and whole words all together - luckily my admin has been with me for so long she can understand things when I give her notes. Actually she reads my mind - which is very scary.

Seb - if you bothered to read the title of this trip report -it states it is Phase I and therefor my intent was to create a new thread for Phase II. Sorry I had to say that.

Mary I would never kill you for your wonderful use of the English language - I think it is quite amusing. Now Seb on the other hand - maybe - but no - I will just ignore him like I did at your house when he started on his rants.

Back to a busy day at work -not much time for BT today.

Mary- Let me first say it was a pleasure meeting and diving with you!
Second, my apologies once again for that situation-I didnt mean to blow you off!
Aghh!!! The trials and tribulations of going on a dive trip with a non diving GF! My apologies!
Have a wonderful trip in October! Im jealous!
Im still suffering from PBD!
Bonaire is a magical place, and I hope to one day retire there!
Next trip will be with my Dive buddies!

Drew - no need to apologize. We had some great dives and you got in front of the reef cam. It was pleasure to meet and dive with you too.

And if things had not worked out the way they did - I would not have been diving with Seb and Mary and they would not have anyone to pick on!LOL!

Glad that you were able to see how magical Bonaire is.

Mary, Mary, Mary,

Do you feel pocked upin?
Uh-oh. Let me try that agin.
do U feel Picked uPon?>!!!

Sorry, now I'm channnnneling your typpppos.
Oh Whit. Now myyyyyy letterrrrs R Lyke your xclamaytion points. They come in mullltiples.

(Hee hee hee.
Couldn't help it.)

I'm glad I now know that sometimes we need to take mind reading pills so that we can understand your typos.

I'll add that to my list of things to do in the morning:
Take vitamins,
Take mind reading pills,
Tease Mary M.

Don'tcha like the attention?

XOXOXOX