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Trip Reports: Darlene's December 7 - 21st Trip Report... Part 1
Bonaire Talk: Trip Reports: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2005: Archives - 2002-09-26 to 2003-03-31: Darlene's December 7 - 21st Trip Report... Part 1
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS on Friday, January 3, 2003 - 1:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

TRIP REPORT 12/7/02-12/21/02 PART ONE

Hi everyone!!! I am homesick for Bonaire already. My PBD isn’t as bad as usual because my husband and I already have a trip planned for March 1st!! I truly find the best way to beat PBD is to book another trip as fast as possible!!!! :)

Car Rental: We rented a car for the first week from Netty’s Car Rental. Her prices are reasonable and her service is great. We rented a minivan and she waited for our late arrival. Also, one of our days exploring the island, the keys accidentally got locked inside when we were at Captain Don’s. She was there to help us within twenty minutes on her day off!!!! I thought that was pretty impressive for island time!!!! I don’t usually rent a car, but Netty’s would be my first choice if I do it again!!!

Travel: I used Air Jamaica both ways. I made it through all customs and checkpoints without any problems at all. I didn’t even get searched once!! The way home went smooth as clockwork but I wasn’t as fortunate on the way to Bonaire. My flight left Boston a half hour late, which wasn’t too bad and we arrived at Montego Bay at 11:45 AM. We were suppose to arrive in Bonaire at 3:30 and didn’t even leave Montego Bay until 7:30 PM!!! They had mechanical problems with the emergency shoot at the door. The worst part was when we were sitting on the tarmac for about three hours with little or no air-conditioning!!! I must say Air Jamaica was trying and they hand delivered us drinks and sandwiches while waiting on the plane. Then they decided to de-board us again until the problem was fixed. At that time we ate at the famous Jimmy Buffet’s Margaretaville Bar and I checked out the great Buffet store as well! Once we got in the air, the rest of the way was on time and we finally arrived in Bonaire at 9 PM! All my luggage made it too!!! I think any airline can have mechanical problems and I would not hesitate to use Air Jamaica again.

It is really ironic because this trip I was a guest of my long time email friend, Joann Vick and she was flying American. I was suppose to be there early in the day so I had all sorts of nice surprises planned for her including going to Cultimara and having the Divi timeshare unit stocked up with food. As it turns out she landed before me and hadn’t left the airport yet. It seems Air Jamaica got the luggage on the conveyer belt before American did, even thou American landed first! She spotted me at the airport and came up to me and said, “are you lost lady?” We laughed that we ended up arriving at the exact same time and that was the beginning of our wonderful two weeks in paradise!!!

We went and checked in and got our stuff in the room and then Joann, her daughter Angie and I decided we all needed something to eat and decided to head in to town to see what might still be open around 10:30 at night! Well, we didn’t have to go very far. Just outside the Divi along the promenade where the old Ankertje use to be is a new place called Taverne Uno Munde. I highly recommend this establishment. It is a quaint little bar with an awesome waterfront view that serves wonderful grilled sandwich type foods till closing!!! It is a perfect answer to all late night arrivals who are hungry!!!! Marianne is the new owner and she is full of life and charm. She treats everyone who enters with an open heart and great hospitality!!!! You feel like a part of the place from the moment you walk in!!!! There is even a donkey that likes to visit nightly. J She has entertainment there on some evenings and it is not unusual for her or the customers to join in on the merriment!!

Restaurants:
I find all the restaurants in Bonaire to be incredibly good. Every night I kept saying that this is the best meal that I have ever had!!! Or it doesn’t get any better than this. There is nothing like having good friends and good food in an atmosphere that can’t be beat! Most nights we ate at places with open air dining and you could eat your dinner leisurely while gazing at the glistening stars while hearing the waves lap the shore. It is just the most incredible way to spend an evening with your spouse or friends! Some of the nights we were invited to dinners with friends on island and their cooking is every bit as good as the restaurants and of course you can’t beat the company!!!!

Tavern Uno Mundo: (mentioned above with traveling and eating late and a fun time)

Captain Dons: I had lunch there one afternoon and it was very good.

Hullendas Grill: It is located in Terra Kora and is where we had the Dec. 8th BT Dinner. They had a great band playing called Kunuku Bieu.Glenn J Su Geng.( I think I said that right ) It is a local place and I tried the goat stew that was delicious and the price was very reasonable.

Capriccio’s: I had incredibly good lobster pasta and dined outside beneath the stars. We eat here every trip! It is also a bit pricey but definitely worth it!

Chez Lucille’s: It used to be the Wok and is located on the ocean road just outside the Divi along the new promenade. She has a back garden that is simply beautiful and the food is incredibly good. I had the tomato soup as an appetizer that was to die for and then I had escargot that melted in your mouth. For the main course Joann and I split the garlic shrimp. It was a very leisurely enjoyable evening!

The Lion’s Den: It is located at the Lion’s Dive Resort and it is set back from the parking lot so be sure to get out of your car and find it. The food is incredible there and it is open air dining above the docks of the resort. I had the coconut shrimp for an appetizer and it was delicious!!! Then I had a surf and turf special of lobster thermidore and tenderloin of beef which was excellent!!!! The meals I chose were pricey but there are also medium priced meals there. And Kurt (I think that was his name) is always make sure that every one is happy there.

It Rains Fishes: Located on the waterfront in town. I had the Red Snapper in mustard sauce and it just melted in your mouth!!! Extremely good with Moderate prices.
Richards: I had the usual escargot and filet mignon. I love the ambiance and the food there is always good but you should know that it is a bit pricey.

Beefeaters: It is located in town and you dine outside in a patio garden with white lights on the trees. It is really quite charming and the food is reasonably priced.

Pasa Bon Pizza: It is a really nice pizza place just to the north of town on the main road. They say they are at the only stoplight in Bonaire which is a cute little ad for them because the stoplight is on their fence and not a real traffic light as everyone knows there are none on Bonaire! There is a nice dining area there with a bar. The pizzas are really, really good!!! Better than any from around my home. We got it to go that night to share with the Richter family. Pasa Bon Pizza I open till eleven at night so it is another good place to eat for those late night arrivals!

Casablanca: A new place that just opened up on the same main road as the Divi just before you get into town. I was only there for there grand opening and did not dine there but I heard that the food is delicious!!! They are specializing in Argentinean Beef with good prices. They have an outside patio and a small inside air-conditioned room for serving that displays some of Linda Richters art!!!! They also serve Lovers ice cream by the cone or by the quarts!!! Ymmmmmm!!!!!!! I plan on eating there a lot my next trip!!!

Hotel: Divi Flamingo Resort... Instead of my usual ocean front deluxe room, I was on the timeshare side this time as Joann’s guest. The rooms were very nice. We were on the second floor and I find them to be brighter than the first floor timeshare that I had visited before. The screened in balcony overlooking the pool was quite nice! I took advantage of the kitchen for breakfast and lunch and I actually cooked a meal there one night!!!!

The time-share units are very convenient to the tanning pier and the dive dock. I just went down the stairs and on to the dock to get into the water or go sailing on the Woodwind. It was very convenient!!!! I actually stored my gear in the dive shed and it made everything quite easy after rinsing it off in the nice rinse tanks.

The gift shop that is on the property is full of great stuff and is also a little grocery store for soda and snacks. There is also a very nice slide show on Tuesday nights at the Eagle's Nest. The casino is located right next to the timeshare pool.

The activities center runs a little desk right at the cement pier near the beach. It hosts quite a few excursions including the Woodwind but for all Woodwind fans, it is still best to sign up with Renee directly on her sign up board or by calling 560-7055. She has flyers at the airport and I believe in the lobby of the resort as well as at her sign up board that give full information of all her different sailing and guided snorkeling excursions.

On Monday nights there is a managers cocktail party with rum punch and appetizers at the Flamingo Nest. I really like going to the manager’s cocktail party to mingle with the other guest and it is a great opportunity to speak to the manager about any praise, problems or concerns that you may have. Renee from the Woodwind usually attends to answer any questions you may have and Jan Huckaby usually sets up an art table to show her wares. They also have a nice band playing and it all happens during a beautiful sunset!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Denise Kacavas on Friday, January 3, 2003 - 1:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Darlene, I am anxiously waiting to hear about your snorkeling and to see pics!! Denise :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS on Friday, January 3, 2003 - 2:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Darlene's December 7-21st Trip Report Part 2
Woodwind, Sailing, Snorkeling, Touring and Friends:

I just love reading Bonaire Talk and meeting a whole bunch of people that share my same love for Bonaire! It is so much fun and my group of friends just keeps getting larger and larger!!! Thanks Jake and Linda!!!

We had the December 8th dinner planned before we even got to Bonaire thanks to Mercy Baron. The people that I can remember that were there were; Jake, Linda, Michael Gaynor, Bas, Joann, Angie, Joann’s friend Paul, myself, Mercy Baron, Sue and & Geoffrey Feldman, Annie Phelan and Maggie and Becky. I apologize to all the people I forgot to mention. It was a great fun evening with new friends!!! I tried the goat stew for the first time and really enjoyed it. The Sangria flowed through out the evening. On the way into the dinner Sue and Geoffrey presented me with this really nice life vest. It is the kind that can inflate with a co2 cartridge quickly. I have health issues and they were worried about me snorkeling alone so they got it for me so I would be safe. I thought that was so sweet!!!!! Thank you Sue and Geoffrey!!!!! You are the best!!!!!

I attended the Taste of Bonaire and it was a really fun time with a lot of good food to be sampled. A lot of the local restaurants sell samples of their food. I just wish I had a bigger appetite. I saw all my new friends from the BT dinner there so it made the evening even nicer! I also met Susie Swigert and Dara Walters there. Frits, the manager at the Divi, recognized me from my last trip and chatted with me for a while. I think it is pretty neat to be remembered like that from trip to trip!!!! Jake and Linda had a table there with their Art and Photography. Their work is incredible!!!! I bought two prints of Linda’s and Tom just finished making the frames. They are gorgeous!!!!!! Linda you are one talented lady!!!! Jake your photography is top notch and I especially liked the little Antillean girl in the blue dress. I have a feeling that I will be owning that one next time!

Another artist that was at the Taste of Bonaire was Tortuga Arts. I purchased a beautiful mobile of all hand painted true to life fish. Of course it had to have my three favorites on it, the Queen angel, French Angel and Rock Beauty. It is truly a work of art and very reasonably priced.

On the topic of art, another of my favorite artists, Jan Huckaby, did a couple of oil paintings for me of my husband and my favorite fish. She did a Queen Angelfish and a Rock Beauty Angelfish. They came out awesome and she did the background corals in the colors of my room so they look great in the grouping that I had them done for!!! Thanks so much, Jan!!!!!

I actually came out of the water for a little while and spent a couple of days touring around the island with Joann and her daughter Angie. Angie had never been to Bonaire before and we wanted to show her around. We did northern route to Gotomere with a trip to Rincon and a trip up to Seru Largo where the view of Bonaire and Kline are incredible!! I think it is the highest point in Bonaire with a beautiful statue and viewing area. It is well worth the trip.

Renee brought me in to Rincon one Saturday morning for the locals market. Unfortunately there was a ship in dock so they were all in town. We took a walk around and saw all the old homes that give Rincon its charm. Then we made a stop at the Rose Inn. It is a very nice place with a shaded veranda. I hear the food is very good, but we just stopped to quench our thirst! We then went to a beautiful place that I didn’t know existed. It is located very high and there is a shrine in this beautiful rock formation. I think it was called Gruatadi di Lourdes. It was a very peaceful and beautiful moment. If you climb a little ways behind the formation there is an incredible view of the island.

Joann, Angie and I went to the street cam on December 13th around 3:30. Nobody posted us but we were captured. I will try to add the picture. Joann and Angie proceeded to do a dive at Small Wall and I did a wonderful snorkel. Yana even came in with me for a while. She is quite the little fish, ya know. We then had a wonderful visit with the Richter family and we went and got some Pasa Bon Pizza for a sunset dinner on the patio. Linda also gave us a tour of her art studio and it was very interesting hearing her give her interpretations of her art. There is such feeling in every brush stroke of her paintings. I enjoyed every moment of our visit. Thanks so much for having us!!!!

A fun thing that Joann and I decided to do is go to a new place called Picture Bonaire. It is located right in town and you dress up in Antillean clothes and have your picture taken with a great background.

One night after dinner at Richard’s we heard steel drums playing. We followed our ears over to the Plaza where the Silver Bullet Steel Drum Band was playing. They were really good and it was a nice way to finish off our nice dinner.

I lost count of all the green flashes that I saw this trip. It seemed that the sunsets were more vibrant than ever and it was so nice sharing them with other people. Joann and I never missed a sunset during the whole two weeks we were there and another thing we did nightly is end the day with a cocktail sitting on the tanning dock watching the brightly lit sky while listening to the waves. It was just the perfect way to end our days!!!!

I spent most of my time in the water. Now that's a surprise! Everyone kept checking my neck for gills again. The snorkeling around the divi is incredible! The cement pier is now full of life and the corals continue to grow! Of course I still love hanging above the little boat that they have sunk to the right of the cement pier with all kinds of life on and in it. There was a huge Barracuda that hung around the whole two weeks. He was usually under the dive dock. One day there were three octopi right around the dive dock then I saw one free swimming in the shallows there. It must be there season for abundance. I also saw a lot of squid and it is the first time that I have seen them really close up. They are really incredible looking with all the iridescent colors. I actually got to see the mating dance!!!!! It was awesome!!!!! I also saw an abundance of lettuce leaf slugs and they are really pretty. There was also a Chain Moray living in the cement pier as well as a spotted drum and much, much more! I snorkeled at the Calabas a lot and then with the Woodwind I went to No Name, Andrea I, Andrea II and Ebo’s Reef or Sampler (I am not sure which one) . All were great snorkels and the corals are really starting to flourish once again. I saw my first red clam at Andrea I.

I also went to two other great places with Renee. We went to Torri’s Reef and The South Pier. Tori’s reef has all these ledges in the shallows with an abundance of fish life under them! I saw my first juvenile Queen Angel there. There were also a lot of soap fish. We ended that snorkel with a nice picnic lunch at Donkey’s beach! The South pier is in very deep water and is a working pier. The pilings have the most beautiful corals and sponges on them. I saw sea whips, barrel sponges, stovepipe sponges and much, much more. It was really breathtaking!!!

Joann, Angie and I did a guided night snorkel with Renee one night. There is so much cool stuff to see at nighttime right in front of the Divi! Some of our highlights were a huge banded shrimp out in open view, a bunch of lobsters, a rarely sited hairy sea hare, and a walking sea anemone!

As all of the regulars know, I sail almost daily with Renee and the Woodwind. Almost all her sails have two snorkel stops and lunch included. Then there is the big BBQ day on Wednesday that I wouldn’t miss for the world and Barney, her Captain still makes the best ribs around!!!! They put out quite a spread over on Kline under the shady little hut that they have there. Mercy sailed quite a few times with me and we had lots of fun together. She would also come and hang with me at the Divi for our afternoon snorkels. We had some really great sitings of turtles. The first day we sailed to Kline I saw six turtles!!!! I saw one poking his head up for air as if he was looking at us as we were gearing up to get in the water!!! I saw turtles on all but one trip to Kline!!! Then I really had a special treat. When the Woodwind was arriving over at Kline the turtle conservation people where there and were about to release two baby turtles that they had just saved!!! I got to see them close up and take pictures and then I watched the little guys take off into the sea!!!!! It was an awesome moment that only happens once in a lifetime!!!!! Some other special treats while sailing were two very large lobsters. They were a little deep for me to take a picture so Renee took my camera down for me and snapped a good one! Then there were a family of three spotted drums! They were there on the two days that I went on the BBQ’s and they were really showing off for my camera! Over at Andrea one day we saw a very rarely sited Jackknife!!! It was way cool and I would have thought it was just another spotted drum if Renee hadn’t pointed out the difference!!!

The rest of the fish I consider regulars but I thought I would list them for all you first-timers. Here they are: harliquin bass, greater soapfish, all phases of parrot fish including the big rainbows with the green teeth and the huge midnight blues, Spanish hog fish, puddingwife, yellowhead wrasse, bluehead wrasse, squirrel fish, soldier fish, cardinal fish, lot's of scorpion fish, peacock flounders sandivers, trumpet fish, burr fish, balloon fish, porcupine puffer, honeycomb and scrawled cow fish, smooth and spotted trunk fish, white spotted file fish, spotted and yellow goat fish, spotted drums, glassy sweepers, lots of big redlip blennies, gobies, bristel worms, sea cucumbers, flamingo tounges, squid, arrow crab, fire worms, golden tail morray, and a spotted morray. I think that is most of them and I would like to give special thanks to Renee for pointing out most of the smaller critters and some of the big ones too! That's way I love to go out on the Woodwind so much, she knows where everything lives and she has a real nack for spotting things. That is about all I can remember for today. I hope you enjoyed reading this report as much as I relived my trip writing it!! Can't wait to be back home in March!!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS on Friday, January 3, 2003 - 2:16 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Denise! It is going to take me a while to sort through my pictures. I am not using the digital til the March trip. I am going to try to post a picture of me at the cam and one of myself, Angie, Mercy and Joann
1,street cam
the four gals

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS on Friday, January 3, 2003 - 2:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

street cam

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Feldman on Friday, January 3, 2003 - 2:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Great report, Darlene!

Though I can't believe you said you wished you had a bigger appetite!!!! :):):)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sally Belknap on Friday, January 3, 2003 - 2:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Darlene:

What a wonderful trip report! I've never been to Bonaire, but you really make me want to go! And you don't have to dive (although I do) to see lots of marine life.

Well done!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Faith M. Senie on Friday, January 3, 2003 - 2:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Boy, Darlene, I don't think you'd better have any more fun on these Bonaire trips -- you won't have enough room for the extra exclamation points... :)

Sounds like you had a great trip! Did Tom go on this one with you, or is he just lined up for the next one?

Faith

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS on Friday, January 3, 2003 - 4:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Faith,
I was with my friend Joann and her daughter Angie who was there for the first week. Tom and I are going on March 1st.
I actually left out that when we went touring we also went to the Indian Inscriptions and Boca Omni. It was really beautiful there.
I am going to try to post the picture of Joann and I from the Picture Bonaire place. The small size probably won't do it justice but I wanted you all to get an idea of what it was.
Joann and Darlene

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS on Friday, January 3, 2003 - 4:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

JoannandI

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Friday, January 3, 2003 - 6:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Alright, Darlene! I can't imagine that you could have had a better time than you did on this trip. Thanks for being so specific and detailed...makes me look forward to being there in May. Back again in March, eh? You lucky girl! I'm so glad Janice was able to create something for you...she is just the best. I'd love to see it if you have a pic of what she did..you can email me at home, if you'd like. I still have my Barking Red Lipped Blenny on my wall in the bedroom so I see him/her every time I wake up or watch tv. Wow...what a wonderful trip you had. I, too, love the Divi. Renee is so good at pointing things out to folks and is such a nice person. We're ready to hear about more of your trip, if you have the time! Thanks again. CArole (Shutterbug)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Deal on Friday, January 3, 2003 - 6:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Darlene:
Wonderful report....thanks for sharing as always. Good to hear that Renee has not lost her touch for finding all the good stuff...don't imagine she ever will.
By the way, on the timeshare rooms, has any progress been made in replacing the screen doors and wood louvers with the sliding glass doors on the balcony or porch? This was in the "just maybe getting started" stage in August when we were there.
Looking forward to seeing all this for ourselves in 15 days!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Porter on Friday, January 3, 2003 - 6:48 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Darlene,
Always fun to read your reports... also a joy to be around you on Bonaire. Your enthusiasm is beyond contagious. Only a few short weeks until your return. See you soon! Susan

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Igor van Riel on Saturday, January 4, 2003 - 5:40 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks 4 sharing Darlene!
Great report and it sounds like u had a great trip! Returning in March... :( if only we were that lucky :)
I'm looking 4ward 2 see some pictures :)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS on Saturday, January 4, 2003 - 10:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Robert,
We were on the second floor in room 724 and they did not replace the louvers yet. I liked those louvers as you were able to open them up and get a cross breeze through the room. There wasn't a screen door on the second floor rooms. Someone did say that some of the rooms were done though. Have a great trip. We will just be missing each other once again!
Carol,I am going to try to post a picture of Jan's work but the pictures I took on island are not digital so I won't be posting many. I will send you my Snapfish picturs when I finally get them organized. And Yes I am very lucky to be going again in March!!!!
rockbeauty
queen angel

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Sunday, January 5, 2003 - 12:59 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Beautful work, Darlene. I just love Janice's style. Nice frames, too! I know you love to create your own frames for the artwork. Are there any other rooms with the glass doors other than the next to the last one on the second floor end unit by the casino lot? (738, I believe) When we were there last May 2002, that was the only one they were working on...the "model" unit, they said.

On the first floor they have the wooden windows in the kitchen area nailed shut to keep out intruders, I would imagine...so no cross ventilation exists that way. The units facing the ocean are the good ones for cross ventilataion, but the ones facing the pool and the casino do not catch that great breeze as well as the other side. That's ok....it is quite nice just to be on Bonaire all by itself. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marion Korschilgen on Sunday, January 5, 2003 - 1:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Darlene,
nice trip report. Just for information: Seroe Largu is not the highest point of Bonaire although it has the nicest view also at night. Our highest "mountain" is the Brandaris in the Washinghton Park with 784 feet (241m).

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marion Korschilgen on Sunday, January 5, 2003 - 1:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Seroe Largu is only 413 feet (124m) high.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mercy Baron on Monday, January 6, 2003 - 3:21 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hey Darlene, great trip report! I had so much fun finally meeting, snorkeling, going to dinner with and sharing your yummy liver pate! Joann and Angie were great also, really enjoyed hanging out with you for the two weeks.

Wish I could join you again in March...but it's such a much bigger deal to fly from LA to Bon, then it is from the Eastern seaboard. I'll be lucky if I ever have time to write a trip report!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS on Monday, January 6, 2003 - 10:42 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Carole- I am very lucky that my husband makes me beautiful picture frames. It saves lots of dollars. I'll try to post Linda's prints that I love so much to show you as well.
Marion-Thanks for setting me straight about Seroe Largu. I guess it is the highest point in Bonaire that I have been on. :)
Mercy- Good to see you post! I really enjoyed your company as well! I hope to see you again sometime on Bonaire!!!!
slavehut
2,flamingos

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS on Monday, January 6, 2003 - 10:46 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oops! I had to make the Flamingo one smaller. Here is another try.
flamingo

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Monday, January 6, 2003 - 6:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks, Darlene. Linda's work looks lovely in your hubby's frames. She does gorgeous work, doesn't she? Such talent. You and I are definitely going to run out of wall space soon with all of the prints we have from Bonaire! What a way to go, tho!! Thanks again. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By freda armstrong on Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 1:08 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

IS Divi Flamingo part of either of the Time Share groups???? We understood that it had lost its Interval International status and so we'd not even tried to get in there. Also had read on here that the timeshare units had become very rundown. Anyone?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS on Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 2:37 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I was a guest at the timeshare so I don't know if it lost its Interval International status or not. I can say that they have been fixed up and nice. Joann said there was new curtains, spread, couch and kitchen stuff. I didn't find them run down at all and the grounds are beautiful!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 7:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

They are still associated with Interval Inernational as far as I know as they continue to send me bills. They are going with RCI...have been for a while, so perhaps that is the reason you have heard they are not with II any longer. They are upgrading all the timeshare units now...it has been an ongoing project. The timeshare side is an older structure and not a "fancy" place, but we love it. The hotel side was redone, too, and I hear is very nicely done. If you are looking for "luxury", Divi might not be for you but it is in a great location, has a nice little beach, great diving and snorkeling right there, restaurants, pools, mini shop, casino, etc, etc. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #666) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 4:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

At last I have finished my online photos and I am going to attempt to post some of my favorites. I hope it works!
SpottedDrums RockBeauty
FrenchAngel JuvenileJackknife
QueenParrot smilingparrot
parrotfish Does anyone know what kind? It has the yellow dot like a stoplight but I have never seen one these colors before.
RainbowParrotfish Stoplight
pairoftangs schoolofTangs
turtle HugeLobster
Baracuda Squid

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #667) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 4:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I guess it worked! The fourth picture down is not a Spotted Drum. It is a Jackknife and this is the first time that I have ever seen one in Bonaire!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #3767) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 5:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I've seen a few Jackknife Drums here. They are pretty rare though.

The parrot is a stoplight, in its jammies - photo must have been at dusk or night?

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #668) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 5:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Jake! That guy must have gone to bed early that day!:-) I guess that is another first for me!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #1915) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 7:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks, Darlene! I think some of the pics are from the Divi area as the critters look very familiar to me! Thanks for posting them. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Faith M. Senie (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #306) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 10:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

You found THREE spotted drums together? Very cool...

Faith

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Angie Vick (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 10:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Well Darlene, I should have read these in maybe NOVEMBER to keep the PBD at a minimum! The explanations you gave were awesome and I loved the time on the island with everyone I met. I must say though, the Taverne Uno Mundo was my favorite hangout. Marianne and her crew were amazing. The food was good, the drinks always a fair price and the company irreplacable. I would recommend everyone check it out on their trip to the island! I am hoping for a return trip in December (love you Mom! (aka Joann)). Thank you again!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb schulherr (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #430) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 1:12 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sometimes there are a couple of jacknives at the mooring for invisibles, around the two drums, though not last summer.
I just realized how funny that sounds, the jacknives hanging around drums!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Igor van Riel (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1121) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 4:04 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Nice pictures Darlene!
Thanks 4 taking the time tp upload them.
Igor

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By sherry baker (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #437) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 5:16 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

nice photos darlene,

thanks for sharing

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #672) on Saturday, February 1, 2003 - 5:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Someone was asking about the macro lens for the MX 10. As most of you know, I only snorkel and this was my first time out using the Macro lens. It is very difficult to get fish with the macro while diving down for the shot but I suspect a diver who can be still would get awesome shots.With my pictures of the smooth trunkfish, someone through bread in the water and I took advantage!:-)I tried to hang at the Dive dock stairs to get the little life there to no avail. I will probably mostly use it for coral and non moving objects:-)I think the camera and all it's lenses are great and I find that I am the one that is doing something wrong when things don't come out right but that is half the fun of trying:-)
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Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #673) on Saturday, February 1, 2003 - 5:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just so you know these pictures look much better in a bigger size picture. I am just not good at this resizing stuff!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1957) on Sunday, February 2, 2003 - 1:04 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Nicely done, Darlene! I swear I do know these guys, too.....our Divi friends, for sure! FiFi is still hanging around by the tanning pier rocks, too, right? (the French Angel). I love snorkeling right there by the Divi and the town pier a little bit up the way...great life formations and sites right there at your fingertips. Thanks for the shots. Good work! Carole (Shutterbug)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1594) on Sunday, February 2, 2003 - 4:04 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

ditto

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mary Lou French (BonaireTalker - Post #27) on Sunday, February 2, 2003 - 9:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Darlene,
Thanks for diverting me to your trip report!! Excellent photos! I can see that I definitely need to get the macro lens before I go. I found a really good price on it, but of course it is out of stock at the moment :-(. Your report is great, I appreciate all the info. We use Netty's when we go and she is FANTASTIC. Wouldn't use anyone else. I will post my pictures when I get back (March) to help you with PBD!!
Thanks so much, ML

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #675) on Monday, February 3, 2003 - 8:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

MaryLou, When are you there in March. My husband and I are there the first through the 15th. We will be at Gibi's on the 4th. Maybe we can compare notes:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mary Lou French (BonaireTalker - Post #29) on Tuesday, February 4, 2003 - 12:17 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Darlene, My husband and I are arriving on the 3rd (late) through the 17th. I am hoping I can convince him to go to Gibi's!! I won't have a lot of experience with my camera by then but would love to chat and get tips :-)!! ML

 


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