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Trip Reports: Just Back - Trip Report 4 - 15 March
Bonaire Talk: Trip Reports: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2005: Archives - 2002-09-26 to 2003-03-31: Just Back - Trip Report 4 - 15 March
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By C Poteet (BonaireTalker - Post #59) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 4:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We decided to include in our trip report just the major differences or new perspectives that obtained from our first two trips, September 1999 and January 2002. If anyone would like more details about a specific topic, please let us know.

Basics - We flew American/American Eagle on a DFW-SJU-BON routing (2nd time). We stayed at the Plaza Resort (3rd time), Ocean View Grand Suite and we rented a Daewoo Mini (micro!)van from AB Carrental (3rd time).

New perspective on car rental service - Both AB Carrental and Netty's were a little difficult to get e-mail responses from. Both were very heavily booked. We wanted a park-capable vehicle, but had to settle for a personality-ladened Daewoo Minivan. It was a "Damas" model, so only my wife could use it. Don't worry, the Dutch didn't get it either. :>)

New perspective on air service - American Eagle seemed completely discombobulated by the fact that the return flight had been overbooked. They were so rattled they could not/would not even confirm our return reservation from BON to SJU, much less SJU to DFW. (We arrived at 4:40 am and had no problems.)

Because of the new KLM early morning arrival/departure, the airport was alive at 4:30 am and thereafter. Totally different from January 2002.

New perspective on restaurants - Best new find in restaurants for us was Casa Blanca. Excellent beef, very conscientious, hard working staff. Other new (to us) and recommended restaurants were Lighthouse, Lost Penguin and Lion's Den. Food at Croccantino's seemed heavy handed (even though we love rich, spicy food), service was marginal, but the pina colada was the best we've every had, anywhere. Worst service, to the point that for the first time in years and years we left no tip, was Chez Lucille. Ashame; the red curry chicken was excellent and the garden setting very pleasant. Tipsy Seagull service was dramatically improved, probably the best we had, and the food was very good, also.

New perspective on Plaza Resort - In prior years we had been somewhat annoyed by late-night noise from the beach bar. Since we were on the beach side this year, we were apprehensive. Not a problem. Don't know if we were just lucky, or whether the beach bar has turned down their music volume. The only annoying music we had this year was from the Tipsy Seagull's Thursday night event, but that was over at 10:00 p.m..

At the Plaza in September '99, most of the guests were Dutch. In January '02, most were Americans. In March '03, most were Dutch. And, the most children we've every seen. Didn't have any real noisy kids except for one night in the room below us. Didn't last long.

The service at the Plaza definitely has improved since Sept '99 and even since Jan '02. We had a few small requests and each was filled promptly (really!) and with a smile
.
New perspective on service in general - The service in almost all cases across the island has improved since Sept '99 and even since Jan '02. Folks in the restaurants, businesses and stores seem to be paying more careful attention to listening and to responding to the needs of their customers. We were told by several locals that this is no accident, that there has been a formal, concentrated effort by the tourism community to improve service. They have made tangible progress. They merit our commendation and appreciation.

New perspective on snorkeling - During our first two days of snorkeling, we ran into very, very small jelly fish. If felt as if you were swimming through a swarm of mosquitos, but it lasted only 10-20 seconds with no after effect for us at all. We did, however, meet a couple of different people who swam without cover-ups and had rings of small whelps which they described as irritating, not painful.

It was quite windy, so much so that we did not feel comfortable snorkeling at many sites, i.e., 1000 Steps, Pink Beach, etc., especially anytime after midmorning. 18 Palms was the exception.

Among Windsock, 1000 Steps and 18 Palms, 18 Palms was by far the best in terms of marine life sightings, as well as easy of snorkeling in windy conditions.

New perspective on art - We got to see, in Michael Gaynor's store next to Lovers Ice Cream, some very nice art work by Linda Richter and others. It was good to see so much local art in one place.

New perspective on Papiamentu - We were told by many individuals, because we asked, that there are no words/expressions in Papiamentu for "please" and "thank you." and some question if there is an expression for "you are welcome." There are Spanish and Dutch terms that are used, but not true Papiamentu.

Indeed, we did notice that very infrequently were we directly thanked for our business and we never heard "please" in any language. When we said "thank you," "danke," or "gracias," we most often received a smile, but not an articulation of "you are welcome" in any language. We took this simply as a cultural artifact that was in no way an indication of rudeness, but rather simply an indication of a differing perspective and manner of expression.

Bottom line - As soon as we got home, we began reviewing the calendar and our bank balances to plot our next trip to Snorkelers Heaven.

We hope this information will be as useful to others as the postings from so many have been to us.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ida Christie (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #854) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 4:35 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Enjoyed your report. Sounds like you had a nice vacation. I'm ready for one.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ginny Stokes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #482) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 5:17 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I got the car joke, C. mypic So did your wife do all the driving, or did you overcome any inhibitions and drive "her" car...mypic

Thanks for sharing your impressions. It was extra windy this year for us too (Feb 15-Mar 1), which affected our choice of dive sites. Had a great time nonetheless and hope to return again and again...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1033) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 5:49 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Whooo..I will have to try the pina colada sometime.

I LOVE the food and setting at Chez Lucille but too had a bad experience, in fact my worst ever in dining. And the sad fact is they didn't care. I had a great meal there with two tables of us in Dec. Service (the older man) was great. It was a lovely experience. Then I went back and it was awful. We waited and waited and the meals were wrong. I had to go inside to get help once. NO ONE ever asked if we needed anything. We each were served one drink and that was it. We were totally ignored. I was so upset I was almost crying. I begged the waitstaff to get our bill. It was bad. I told them that it seemed like no one wanted to serve us. When we left they watched us leave. No goodbye or apology. I LOVE the food and as I said think it's a super place but the treatment that night was inexcusable.

Lighthouse is a lovely setting isn't it?

:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John and Carol Collins (BonaireTalker - Post #24) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 5:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

New to me is the restaurant called the "Lighthouse." Where is it located and what type of food? Carol

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By C Poteet (BonaireTalker - Post #60) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 6:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Carol -

The Lighthouse Bar & Grill is part of the Harbour Village complex. It is at the base of a structure that looks like a small (two story) lighthouse on the southern side of the Harbour Village marina. You enter directly off Kaya G.N. Debrot, the main street running north out of Kralendijk.

The actual restaurant is open air and sits on the marina lagoon. Not a direct ocean view, but certainly pleasant enough.

Hope this helps.

Chas.
Dallas
chpdfw@gte.net

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #4075) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 8:11 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Charles,

In Papiamentu, "you're welcome" is the same as in Spanish - "Denada" ("It's Nothing?", right?).

"Please" - don't know - I usually use the English please. Even the Dutch don't have a real "please" - I guess English is a little more polite :-) (The closest in Dutch is "graag", but it's used far less frequently than "please" in English)

Good to see you again, by the way! Haven't tried the Chili seasoning yet - been to busy to do much cooking - maybe this weekend!

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1034) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 8:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jake, would por fabor be correct for please?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #4076) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 8:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Duh! Yes, Annie - that's "please" in Papiamentu. I should have remembered that...

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1035) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 8:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

HA...it's too easy and you are overworked...

:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John and Carol Collins (BonaireTalker - Post #25) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 10:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Charles...
Thanks for the info on the Lighthouse. I know the location you're talking. Also, thanks for your great trip report. Nothing like Bonaire is there. Carol

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marc @ CrystalVisions (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #901) on Friday, March 21, 2003 - 11:56 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the compliments about Plaza and Tipsy... I'll pass them on :-)

With regards to the many Dutch people with kids: The week you were here was a schoolholiday in Holland... I'm noticing a decrease in Dutch again now. Still, KLM has helped getting more Dutch (and other Europeans!) to the island.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eileen Kimmett (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #963) on Friday, March 21, 2003 - 8:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm ready for another trip. Thank-you for the report. Definately want to go to Bon next.

 


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