Another great trip to Bonaire. Started out unfortunately as I hurt my back somehow on the trip down and spent most of the next ten days laying in bed or on the hammock (what a blessing that hammock was). It's pretty pathetic when the highlight of your day on Bonaire was a trip to the Cultimara and the fruit market!! However, with help from Benny at Bonaire Town Homes (our wonderful home for the month), we found a physiotherapist, who helped a lot, and told me I just had to rest, and that sitting was the worst thing I could do with the injury I had. That eliminated eating out for a while!
After ten days, I ventured, carefully, into the water at the Plaza Resort beach (I chose that because entry was easy, particularly if I went in off the steps near the Tipsy Seagull), and we were off and running. Still slowly. I took the whole experience as a big "slow down" message, and took it very seriously.
Accommodation: Bonaire Town Homes was GREAT. Benny, the owner, was always there when we needed him, very friendly, and made us feel so welcome, we felt so at home. The place is quiet, private,beautiful flowers and foliage, very clean and new, and had everything we needed, even when we ate all the meals in. We particularly liked how breezy it was --- hardly ever turned on the a/c, and loved the outdoors sitting area with the hammock. It's very reasonably priced, and great value. I can't recommend it enough.
Car rental: was booked for us by Benny, with Everts. The rate was about $210 a week, plus the various taxes, use fees, then we got a 10% discount as we were BTH guests. Didn't get the insurance, as I'd checked all my credit card companies, and found that my gold Visa provided coverage, as long as I declined the CDW when I rented. We had a little Daewoo, that was fine for the two of us, and turned it in one day when we went to the park and got a four-wheel drive Suzuki (just paid the cost difference for that one day). It worked out beautifully.
Getting there: Rochester, NY to Atlanta on Delta, then ALM direct to Bonaire. No problems, except that Atlanta was fogged in and it delayed EVERYTHING -- can't blame that on ALM. We did go to the airport the night before we left Bonaire and got our seat reservations. Still had to check our baggage next day, but it made it a little quicker. Only a half hour delay. I'm very sorry ALM is stopping the Atlanta flights. Don't know how we'll get there next year.
Meals: Found a great place to buy fresh fish: Juni Wymans (can't tell you where he is --- Benny directed us to him). Two great Wahoo steaks for 4.5 NAF total. Marvelous. Also got chicken and rib barbeque on Saturday (only day they do it) at Carneceria Latino (I think!). It's off the road to Sorabon, two blocks before La Portugesa (which is a nice fruit/veg market). You have to look for it, but it was GREAT.
We enjoyed a late breakfast on many days at City Grill (specially enjoyed the Italian Toastie), real good coffee. Great food at Mona Lisa, the Beefeater, Croccatinos and the Blue Moon. We particularly enjoyed the new restaurant below Club Nautico, It Rains Fishes (watched the carnival night parade from there -- great fun!). We went to Kon Tiki four times (all in the last week, because we'd just discovered it) REALLY NICE food, GREAT deserts!! Had a nice lunch at the Plaza, and a nice dinner at the Tipsy Seagull.
A favorite place was also Bon Awa, which is just along the road from Mi Poron, heading toward Sorobon. It's deceiving, just looks like a take-out "snack", but has a little terrace behind, and the food is very good. Local, varied, inexpensive and very tasty. Loved their french fries.
Next to Bon Awa is an ice cream shop, and we found the sorbets first class. We bought the largest container they had and took it back so we could enjoy later. The passionfruit and mango were superb. (Also, the mango drink at the little pizza plaze in the Harbor Mall is really good --- fresh mango in it)
We enjoyed the snorkeling at the Plaza. Not much coral, but great fish. Almost always saw an octopus and squid, and lots of parrot fish, french angelfish, lots of the usual stuff, but it still just enchants us. Windsock was sad. The beach has been repaired and was very nice, but the coral I remembered from last year was all gone. Still lots of fish. Saw lots of spotted moreys, and what looked like snakes. I could have cried over Pink Beach, and didn't try to get into the water.
This year we went across to Sorobon and snorkeled in Lac Bay. Just drove alongside the chain fence before Sorobon and parked. Long walk in to where we were in deep enough to snorkel, but well worth it. We just followed the inside of the reef across the bay. Nice to see coral, and lots of fish -- especially enjoyed the huge scorpionfish hiding under the elkhorn stands. We went there several times as it was so nice to see coral! I hope the damage from Lenny starts to repair soon, it's sad.
Enjoyed our trip to Washington Park, even though we couldn't go past Wayaca. We stopped at the two turn offs at the beginning of the road and went down to the little beaches (I can't remember the names, but they are a MUST, as far as I'm concerned). The park needs a full day, and take lots of water, and lunch. We found a nice shady spot for lunch, and shared it with lizards. Those little buggers are so cute when they swing from your hand to get a morsel!
In all, it was a wonderful trip, although we just lazed around a lot. Read a lot of books, did a lot of crossword puzzles. Slowed down. Met some wonderful people we hope to see again. Sometimes you don't have to do much to really enjoy life. Next time, I'll do the resort course I'd promised myself, but this trip it just wasn't possible. Oh, Well. Next time, we'll snorkel more, get to Klein Bonaire again, etc., etc. We know one thing, there will be a next time. Damage from Lenny or not, Bonaire is a GREAT place, and it has a special place in our |
By Josie on Monday, March 27, 2000 - 12:05 am: 
