By John Gnann on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 9:21 pm: |
Diving makes you hungry and Bonaire has a delightful variety of solutions to that problem. We had a party of 6, so I usually called for reservations the same day. However, about the only two restaurants where we couldn?t have just waked in were It Rains Fishes and Zeezicht. We tended to go fairly early (7:00-7:30 pm); things got more crowded after 8:00pm. The first night we ate at Swiss Chalet, where Suzy, the friendly hostess, talked us into ordering rosti (sort of like Swiss hash-browns. Delicious!) and cheerfully chastised my sons for ordering French fries in a Swiss restaurant. Suzy asked how heard about her restaurant and I told her that I had read about it on the internet. She allowed that she didn?t know much about the internet, but she said, "Jake Richter, he knows a lot about the internet and he eats here pretty often, too!" Bob's ribs at De Tuin were very good. We had a very good meal at Den Laman (especially the key lime pie), but we were nearly the only people there (a Doberman with a Marine Park tag around his neck kept us company). It was also the most expensive place we ate. Donna & Georgio's served excellent Italian fare at a reasonable price and Donna (who grew up on Bonaire) was fun to talk to. The Lion's Den and Lion Dive is a beautiful setting overlooking Klein Bonaire and Kirk the manager provided excellent food and service. Probably the best single dish I had all week was the dorado in mustard sauce at It Rains Fishes. We tried to eat breakfast one day at Cozzoli's in the Harborside Shopping Mall, but it was closed. We had good omelets at The Great Escape (across the street from BelMar) in their outdoor thatched-roof restaurant. Prices were not at all unreasonable. We probably averaged about US$ 30.00/person for dinner. As others have noted, when you are ready for your bill, let your waiter know (otherwise you might sit there all night) and he/she will bring it out in some sort of clever box. Since many of the computations are done by hand, it pays to review the bill. Also note that many of the restaurants will have added a 10% service charge which you need to take into account when calculating the tip. Although some were better than others, we never had a bad meal in Bonaire.
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By Roger Huff on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 10:18 pm: |
John...this is one of the best trip reports I have ever read...I could picture everything, feel the water and taste the food as I read your report. We will be experiencing the same on Saturday afternoon...CAN'T WAIT!
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By Niki Harris on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 11:17 pm: |
Nice report, John. Very complete and enthusiastic.
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By Hazel Scharosch on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 11:31 pm: |
Thanks, John. I was touched by your report, and now my heart aches for another glimpse of Bonaire. Our school district is in dispute with the teacher's union, and there is talk of strike. Perhaps taking some time off wouldn't be such a bad idea...
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By Ginny Stokes on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 11:51 pm: |
All 3 chapters made a great trip report, John! Your account of your night dive at the Town Pier was a duplicate of my experience there in 1998...overcrowded, too many big dive lights, we also lost track of our dive "guide." I usually keep a fairly good dive log with notes about fish seen, etc., but my notes from that dive are brief. "too many divers, too crowded, nothing out of the ordinary to see." So this year on a return trip we didn't bother. Others have posted to go quite a bit later in the evening, but it sounds like that idea is now ineffective too.
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By mary pequinot on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 7:49 am: |
What a great report. As a newly certified diver (doing my open water in Bonaire-a little better than a quarry in Ohio, don't you think?), I was reluctant to try a night dive at Town Pier, because of what I'd read about it on the board. We did one at Bari, and that was pretty disorientating for the first time (also, the viz was only about 30 feet). But having read your report, I'm really glad I didn't try Town Pier. It might have turned me off to night diving permanently. Thanks for the entertaining read!
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By Carole Baker on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 7:15 pm: |
Felt as tho I were back on the Island....for a fleeting moment, I was....Thanks. Carole
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By Carole Baker on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 7:17 pm: |
John: I just read the quote on your Profile....that's pretty scary...that has been my theme song for all of my "adult" life....at least since the song was released all too many years ago...small world! Carole
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By nance on Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 11:26 am: |
John,
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By Rosemary Beck on Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 9:19 pm: |
Here is yet another thankful reader of your trip report. We leave tomorrow!!!, start in Tucson (know all about those cacti) are flying AJ from LAX, staying at Bel Mar and diving with Toucan Diving. Hope our trip is as good as yours.
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By Linnea Wimberly on Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 9:26 pm: |
I just got back home at the beginning of June and Bonairetalk makes me wish I could go back RIGHT NOW. But I have to wait two years. Next year So. Pacific, probably Yap. With only two weeks vacation a year, I have to do Bonaire only every other year so I can go other places too. Oh well, when I retire (big sigh). If I ever win the lottery - Bonaire, here I come for months at a time.
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By Robert Deal on Monday, July 2, 2001 - 2:40 pm: |
Absolutely superb report...marvelously thorough and complete. Makes us ready to be there now! and we have months to wait.
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