It had been over 15 months since our last vacation and we were in need of some serious downtime. Tuesday, we take a half day, load the car and head for BWI. Stay at the Holiday Inn Express (gets you free parking for up to 14 days), heck, there is even a Denny’s next door! This vacation is going to be great. Wednesday morning, catch the shuttle to the airport, breeze through security and begin the wait until we take off. AJ lands us in Bonaire about 45 minutes behind schedule, nice flight, love the screens that shows you air speed, ground speed, outside temperature, etc. Get off the plane, collect all our luggage and Buddy Dive is there to greet us and take us away. They seem as happy to see us again, as we are to be back.

Wah-Hoo, same room as last year, number 408 (Snorkleguy, we were neighbors!), same great view. Zip down to the sea for a quick snorkel about, before heading to Passa Bon Pizza, a place I had heard so much about on our last trip-but did not get to enjoy. Pizza is top notch, great crust, Marie and our daughter had been correct.

Thursday comes, breakfast buffet at Buddies, I squeeze about 6 oranges to make juice, ahhh! Off to gather some groceries and then some more snorkeling, heading up towards Capt’n Don’s in search of the small wreck. We manage not to find it, but have a great time. Friday, we do the orientation while Caylin does a half-day of sea adventure at the Plaza. We get in a couple of dives and then pick her up. That night we do the Bar-b-Que. buffet at Buddies, the chocolate mousse (sic?) is a killer. The weekend is kind of a blur, no diving but lots of snorkel activity with a trip to Richon and then a swing by Goto Mer Lake, spectacular. Heading back we side trip towards the Indian inscriptions and go to the cut out where the sea breaks into the coast. The area around it is like what I would think the moon or Mars might be like, dry sharp rocks, some boulders (surf pounding in the background) looks like nothing could live there-but we find some low laying plants and evidence of crabs. Very cool spot.

The full week starts and Caylin is with Carin from Sea and Discover each morning. She loves it and learns so much that towards the end of the trip she is our resident fish identification expert. While she is with Carin, learning, my wife and I are diving and playing. Works out great for all of us. Each afternoon is a snorkel break. We do a couple of night snorkels. On the first one, down from Buddies past Lion’s Den we encounter a free swimming six or seven-foot green Moray. Spooky but very cool. On another we finally met the elusive “Charlie”. Unlike with the moray, this time Caylin is the one swimming on Charlie’s ‘side’. She makes a move across my back and upper legs to get old Dad between her and the tarpon. Great to be needed.

Other than Passa Pizza, we ate at Cap’t Don’s, great calameri…Zee Zicht…It rains Fishes (Marie raved on the pesto (?) sauce on her Grouper, usually she does not even touch a sauce)…Corroli’s by the Harbor Mall, Blue Moon Café (very nice, but we picked it as there is also a Blue Moon Café in Shepherdstown, we wanted to compare the two) and lunch by the Divi Flamingo. We also hit Lover’s a few times and I can tell you the Mango sorbet is still my fave. Almost forgot, the Late night Café across from the harbor was closed so we could not get our usual excellent chicken for Thanksgiving dinner. We ended up at the rib place above the mall…great ribs, just enough sauce on them to be a tad messy but not overwhelmed and a new tradition has been started.

All too soon, it was time to go. AJ was about an hour late getting to Bonaire. We were just as late getting to Mo Bay, but as has been the case, the connector flight to BWI was waiting for us! One small downside, waiting at customs for our gear bag to come down the ramp turned into a protracted wait and then forms to fill out-we had made the connection but all our stuff had not. Yesterday, a white van pulled up to our house, in the middle of the snow storm, looked like snow to his bumpers and here came our gear bag! All happy to see us and eager to tell where it had been and what it had done.

Dean,
That was a nice report. We took several pictures on the moon side that really turned out great.
Ida

I'm drooling with envy, Dean. Sounds like you have a great time. Any pics to post?? Thanks again. CArole

Dean, Sounds like you had a wonderful trip!! Are you ready to go back, or should I ask? Debbie

Hey neighbor! Sounds like you had a great time too. Charlie was pretty cool, had a big sucker fish on him one day I was snorkeling around. Glad you got your gear back, in spite of the weather.

Dean.....I think we pass each other every Nov. vacation....You were in the line next to us on the way out at Flamingo airport , before boarding the plane I asked you if it was indeed the plane to Montego bay leaving at that time....(morphine drip to get on the plane may have slurred my words a tad....)and we had breakfast at Buddies the morning before....Do you guys go down every Nov...?

Thanks 4 the report Dean!
I think I should finish my own.....
Good 2 hear u had a great time. Any pics 2 go with it?

Lover's Mango Sorbet is my favorite too! YUMMM. Nice report.

Meryl, that was you? I didn't think your words were slurred at all; I thought you were from the South, lol. I think this may be the last November trip...Caylin had way to much homework pile up while we were gone. Looks like the summer months for us next time

Meryl....how ya'll doin', honey chile? That's very funny that Dean thought you were from the Souht and it turns out you were simply sluriing your words! LOL. Priceless, indeed. See you on the next trip in May, Meryl??? May 24 thru June 7 for us in 2003....can't wait! Carole....

PS I lived in the deep South for quite a few years as a kid, so I can relate to what Dean was thinking...and I have been "exposed" to folks who have been on tranquilizers, too. LOL.

PS Merely...next trip we will all get together with MIchael and Jake and Linda and see if Gibi's is still an option...tell Steve he WILL love being there this time! cb

I have lived in the deep south all of my life; I do not speak as if I am "on tranquilizers", nor do I know of anyone who does.

Edward, I was born in North Caroline and have lived in West-by-God Virginia for over 30 years. Just want to say, I don't have an accent, all the other people do.