Hey everyone, I just thought I would check in to see if anyone is heading to Bonaire the week of July 27 to August 4... Me, my wife, my sister, her friend, my wife's cousin, my mom and my dad are heading down that week.

Most of us dive (my sister and her friend are planning on taking the resort course). My mom, on the other hand, well that is a different story...she won't go near the water, much less put her face in the water and snorkel or dive... and that leads me to my question. Does anyone have any suggestions that will help keep this trip interesting for her? I would hate to keep leaving her behind with nothing to do...I'd feel bad (until I'm underwater, that is).

Thanks in advance.

Chris (my dad has been reading these posts so I have to say nice things about everyone) Halliday

There is some shopping, not like on Curacao or Aruba though. There is horseback riding, touring Washington Slaagbai park, birding, kayaking in the mangroves, eating, sleeping, visiting with people, feeding the fish from the piers, watching the windsurfers, and so forth.

if it wasn't for forgetting about while underwater...i took my mom with me last time and she whined the whole time

send her to new york to see a play...

The Astronomical Lounge.

Chris,
If you want a fun, mindblowing night, take your mom (et al) to the "Astronomical Lounge" aka, Willemstoren Lighthouse for a night time of star and heaven watching. The steps of the lighthouse are angled in a way that will provide plenty of viewing space to the Milky Way and a zillion other stars. With the lighthouse as a fixed point looking up you can literally watch the stars and heavens change. Even in full moon the heavens are great. In fact, at full moon, it rises out of the ocean to the backside of the stairs on the lighthouse and wrap moonlight around the entire way across your vantage point. All this time you are sitting in the moonshadow until it peeks over the top of the lighthouse.

One night I countered 18 shooting stars. They are clear and you don't really need binoculars but they are helpful to see more detail. Many people go to Bonaire to look down. I know some that go to look up. I do both and look forward to visiting the Astronomical Lounge at the end of July.

For resident info on stuff in the skies any night, Brad Swanson from Trans World Radio (he works in the studio as the field manager), is the best resource on the island. He is clear-headed and very patient with questions for the non-sky watching types. This is a real treat and I am confident your mom will really remember looking up on Bonaire.

Good luck.

Bud Gillan
Flying Fish
Florida

Bud, is that the lighthouse near Pink Beach? Do you climb it??

Chris, depends...where are u staying? We chose Plaza for my Mom and she was tickeled pink.

There is no shopping really. Dining is SUPER. Sitting in town at any hour is fun. There are lots of tours you could do with with Corine Gerhart at Bonaire Travel and Tours or a kayak or birdwatching with Discover Bonaire..ahhh..soo much..

Annie