We flew Air Jamaica from Phili, they told us to be there 3 hours ahead of time. When we arrived the ticket counter was not even open yet.. That was about the worst of the trip. Arrived Bonaire at 3pm, sunny, warm and wonderful... (My morphine drip for the plane was starting to wear off) Our entire luggage arrived! which was the first sign this was going to be a good trip...(we lost our luggage on the last trip for the WHOLE trip, ended up coming back with us on our return flight to Phili)
Got our rental and driving to our hotel we ran into Jake and Linda in the middle of town. Steve who doesn't participate in the web pages thought I was nuts when I screamed for him to STOP! "It's Jake and Linda!"... It felt so good to finally meet them, and is amazing how you feel you know someone just from seeing their pictures over time. The computer is a wonderful thing!
We stayed at Belmar, it was our first time there since we always go to Sandollar..but we just wanted to have a change while Sandollar was remodeling... We got the room with the Jacuzzi...We couldn't believe our eyes when we opened the door...very nice room...very nice view! We had an open-air room...and not a mosquito to be had. We would recommend it hightly, the place was great, staff was great, nice pool and easy dock entry to the water. Toucan divers from the Plaza service the Belmar.


We passed along a tee shirt from another BT talker to Butchie the guard. He was very nice and did not mind helping us night after night try to park the car in the spaces outside the hotel...amazing what a margarita can do to your parking abilities! He got a good chuckle out of our driving incompetence's. We met Andrew and his wife Molly, his friends Scott and Lois who were also staying at Belmar.

...they got the privilege of diving with Bas at the Lake and saw dolphins..(you guys know how jealous I am!) Trying to scuff it off by saying "they weren't really close to us!"
We saw dolphins swimming at the reefs edge each morning outside our window.

We sat in the water one day at the time they usually come but no luck..we came in rinsed our gear and our neighbors said "the dolphins just came by"....brats!
Met some very nice people at Belmar, Cheryl and Don and Family from Texas, Don was in the water more than Steve. One day they will share a chamber together!
Drove by Bas's house and met him and the pups..they are all so cute...and the mini's are everywhere..wish we could have done a dive or hike...but there is always next time! Would like to exchange island phone #'s so we don't feel like we are imposing, it must be nuts to have people drop by all hours of the day!
Saw the pups at Jake and Linda's...Grendle is huge and Blijke is smaller than I pictured she would be! Even saw one of the morning doves..(Steve still not understanding why I'm so excited..LOOK THE DOVE!)
Did the dive at Small Wall; Steve lost his writing slate, (Thank you God!) Betweeen that and his camera, I could be swallowed by a great white and he wouldn't see it! If anyone finds the slate...throw it out please
Saw Charlotte, bluebeard, and a very large Midnight Parrot fish there. Tried to find the octopus that stole the lens filter,but no luck. Charlotte's colors look like they are muting..does anyone know if this is what happens from juvenile to maturity?
Bonaire is not noted for its big animals but on this trip we saw dolphins, turtles, a spotted eagle ray, a giant barracuda, a group of 4 tarpons that were about 4 foot long and let us swim about 3 feet from them without them moving a scale! Of course on that dive Steve had his Macro lens attached...
We went to Andy's (remember him?) favorite dive site...(I am sworn to secrecy) and it was lovely. Thanks Andy! Did Angel City, gets better there every time! Salt Pier which was nice but a little disorienting. Coconut Beach, where we saw most of the big stuff...Something Special, Hilma Hooker, the Lake...etc.
Tried Karpata, looked calm when we first checked, I fell here years ago and do not have a "good taste in my mouth" for this as a shore dive(WIMP) after we were geared up a dive boat pulled up and the surge kicked in, I said...NAH..not today...Steve did not look kindly at me...which may be why....
We were invited to Gibi's for dinner on Tuesday night, I was VERY excited about meeting everyone and just having a good ole time, we drove by Tuesday afternoon after our dive at small wall and Steve went inside to "check it out" (He walks into restrurant kitchens at home and checks them out too, anal retentive!)Probably would complain abouth his mother's kitchen if not too guilt ridden. He walks out and sez, I don't think so..so under extreme pouting(and extreme should be underlined) I lost out...but next time he's on his own...I personally saw nothing wrong...looks like your local hang to me...and I was looking forward to meeting everyone for a few cold ones!
We had dinner at our usual favorites, Richards, Chibi Chibi (Where we tried to find Carole and Bob) Captain Don's, Kontiki, Capriccio's was on vacation when we were there so that was a bit of a disappointment, Lion's Den, saw Kirk and Rosa, they are such a pleasure and great hosts, and the food is wonderful!
It seems like we were on Bonaire for two days, our first and our last...We went by the cams on the night before we left..and I looked all over the island for a purple hat but couldn't find one! I brought a starfish and a glass of wine(which all of you missed!) to toast you all our last sunset of the trip
We had our film developed on Bonaire which costs a fortune. But when we got home Steve remade them into slides??? Go figure? Which is why it took so long in getting them posted here. Here are a few...


The week went so fast.. We did al lot of dives we haven't done before and missed doing our old favorites..we didn't even get to go to the donkey sanctuary(sorry Sarah!) although we pumped the box at the airport for Marina! The weather was sunny every day, not a drop of rain, no mosquitos, and wonderful sunsets. This was the most enjoable vacation we had on Bonaire and I can't believe it could have bgotten better! We briefly met Carole, Bob and Michael at the airport,,again it's a wonderful feeling to recognize friends you have never met.
PBD here we come!

Andy who?

Nice report.

Fun report! Now we know why you didn't come to Gibi's. :-) You should have seen the 25 or more great dinners Gibi produced from that tiny kitchen. He received a round of applause after he finally stepped out into the fresh air, so exhausted!

Carole, send me my precious Bob back and I'll return your Joe. Don't you miss him? Hee-hee.

now, Dave...

Meryl, great report, thanks for shareing

Hey Meryl,
great report, great pix!!
Imposing by passing by? Dont be silly!!! was wondering why yall took off so quickly especially after bringing all these dog toys. Next time you wont get away so easy LoL
Bas

Hey Meryl, great trip report, we too considered the room at Belmar with the jacuzzi, but decided on the Sabadeco House instead (maybe next time).. sounds like you got some good water time in, love the pics too, did you see much at the back of Belmar?, just curious, it's usually loaded with marine life back there, it's one of my favourite snorkel spots. So you didn't get to the Sanctuary eh? but you filled the box, so no wrist slapping for you this time!! ..

Meryl,

Very well done report, the best.

Thanks
Ida

Great report Meryl!! and sorry about the PBD you are going through....

Very nive report and pics!

Meryl, great report and you make my NBTBD (never been to Bonaire Depression, 3560 and a wake up) even worse (and it was pretty bad before).

Meryl, Thanks for the great trip report and I know exactly why you get so excited with anything or anybody from BT when you are in Bonaire!! Glad you had such a great trip!!!

Great report Meryl. We leave in 10 days and your trip report makes me want to go NOW!

Great trip report. Thanks! Can't wait to get back...just 14 days to go.

Scott

Meryl, Meryl, Meryl...someday we must meet in Bonaire, with Cecil, and bring our purple hats with us! Your trip sounded wonderful. All I can say is, *SIGH*

Well... I guess PBD isn't all that bad...I have all you guys still around me...(feel like the Lion in the wizard of oz)
DAVE...glad you came out from under your rocks...miss you very much..PDD and PAD still hanging on too!
Niki... thank you for your comments, Steve tried to tell Jake it was because I didn't want to "stir" things up with you that we didn't go....(I wasn't letting him get away with that!) Hope your trip was equally great.
Dean...Dave will never change....
Bas....It's a date!
Cecil and Hazel...we really should plan on trying to get a trip together...we go May and Nov. every year...see what you can do and I will work on the purple hats..(Cecil will ya wear one too?)
Sarah, Scott, Sharon, and Leigh Ann...Bonaire is just around the bend for you you lucky devils!
Darryl, Ida and Freddie, my friend you are too kind!
Darlene...its the simple things in life that get me excited! Glad I'm not alone! Thanks to all of you for taking the time to read.....

Nice Meryl..I hate how fast the trip goes..and the counting down before..gadz...I have to stop as it is almost 2 weeks away and I want this feeling of anticipation to last. We are going for 6 weeks with the possibility of 7. I already dread the return..isn't that pathetic..to remedy it, I am not looking at a calendar and will not wear my watch..haaaa...kidding..

I enjoyed the report. Tell your partner to chill. He missed a really good experience at Gibby's. The fish and fungi is lovely. Oh well, My Mom can be a pain too in certain instances..the bugs get to her..she might as well travel with a can of Raid for the bugs and Lysol for the toilets..we were taught how to squat or hover over toilets before we were toilet trained..LOL..

So when do u move there with me?


Annie

15 days

Thank you Meryl for a most informative report. We leave on Monday, also from the City of Brotherly Love. Air Jamaica really does a great job from Philadelphia. We have flown them before to Bonaire, and were very impresssed. We are staying at the Divi, our fourth time there. However, looking at your pics from Belmar makes me wonder if we should explore other avenues on the island. It looks really nice there, and I have only heard good things about it.

Annie..we were just talking about land this AM....my only problem is flying the birds down..and finding a vet who could treat them! Can't believe your staying for 7 weeks! How do you go back?
James, Belmar was wonderful! You should check them out! Have a great time.

Great report. We are going for our first trip in 11 days. I was wondering where Coconut Beach is. I can't seem to find it on any of the dive site maps.

Meryl, great trip report. The open air room, no doors or windows? is the whole thing open air? just curious looks like a nice place. jacuzzi sounds wonderful...blijke is a sweetie for sure. I didn't get to see the pics when you were down there as I was burried in work (sigh)...cappricio's was our favorite while we were there...I have michael almost convinced that we should spend next turkey day in bonaire dave nice to see you are still peeking in

Shelly, Coconut beach is at Plaza you can park in the lot and walk through the gate...in the book I think it is referred to as 18 Palms..but that site is alittle further into Plaza's Resort.
Cynde...the living room and kitchen has a ceiling but the wall facing the ocean is open...has canopy shades that can be pulled down if it rains...(it never rains that much though!) Bedrooms have air and have all 4 walls.

Meryl, where is Belmar in reltionship with town? I forget. Then again, after I turned 53, I started forgetting a lot of stuff.

I really enjoyed your trip report Meryle, Masha danke for sharing!!The photos and criteque' I loved !

Belmar is on E.E.G. Blvd the main road south, just south of Bacholer's Beach on the right side(obviouly) of the road.

Here is the Midnight Parrot we saw at small wall, I bet it's the same one.

Meryl:

Great report and wonderful pictures !! What an awesome seahorse. I must confess I was the "brat" who saw those dolphin the morning you guys just missed them. Slept late and they were passing right in front of our balcony as I poured my first cup. Sheer, blind luck.

We were your neighbors in the other penthouse; Barry, Teresa, Beth and Robert. You took mercy on us your last day and supplied us with wine and beer which were mightily enjoyed. Our friend John had just lived thru a 23-hour plane ride from the UK and a midnight night dive, and was totally put out when we had no beer for his thirsty self. Your gift arrived just in time to appease John.

Meryl, your enthusiasm for Bonaire is so exciting to me -- and after my first trip, I can totally understand where you are coming from. Suffering a bit of PBD myself. Just mark those days off till Thanksgiving !!! Hope to see you again at Belmar. Meanwhile, happy diving !!

Teresa Bundrum "crazy in alabama"

Teresa!!!! Thank you! I wore your seahorse home for a safe plane trip! It was wonderful meeting you all...glad you found the web pages! Hope the rest of your trip was great! Sounds like it was....Hope to see you on the island again..and talk to you here on the pages!!!!!

Meryl, great report! Niki...yeh, I do miss Joe...I'll send Bob back out to you and you can send Joe back to me now! LOL...Meryl...my honey is Joe and Niki's honey is Bob...pretty funny! You really missed an outrageous dinner that nite, Merly. Next time you are coming with us. Gibi and his friends whipped up some wonderfully delicious culinary delights that evening. There were sooo many folks enjoy and sharing and I don't even know most of there names! Go figure! I will post some photos of the dinner so if anyone recognizes themselves, please come forth and identify yourselves.

I know Niki and Bob (a/k/a Joe) were there, as were Jake and Linda, Michael and guest, Theresa and Christopher, Ellen Muller, Bas, and many, many more lovely folks...SIGN IN, PLEASE!

It was a beautiful evening, indeed. Carole

The pictures are a little "rough" and unedited, but you can tell we were all having a lot of fun. There was something that fell out of one of the trees right in front of the camera lens in the third photo...very strange, indeed! I have to assume it is like this on many, many Tuesday nights at Gibi's Terrace...with all of the BT'ers on the island gathering together to dine and wine. I understand Josie is the wonderful person who started this ritual! Thanks Josie!! Carole

Carole thank you for sharing! Makes me "almost" feel like I was there! I was VERY upset...waited 6 months!!! Do you guys usually go in may every year? Glad I at least had the pleasure of meeting you and Joe and Michael at the airport...even though it was so brief... Your 3rd picture down girl with stripped shirt is Molly ,,,her husband Andrew..(looks like he is wearing iguana shirt) and Lois and Scott...they stayed at Belmar...very nice people....(again they had the pleasure of diving with Bas! Bas....have a new cd program....now...very cool....send me an email and ask away!!!!