I am taking out some friends who head back to Cape Cod tomorrow. Has anyone tried the Bonairean Buffet that is held each Sunday at Divi please?

I know this response is too late for you, Ann, but it might help someone else (or you in the future). We got back from Bonaire late last night and I'm just getting caught up with the Board.
We went to the Bonairean buffet on July 31, and enjoyed it very much. However, we arrived rather late (the last ones admitted), and they were suffering from too much success--not much food left. What we had was tasty (delicious roast lamb); we just didn't get enough. I'll wager they took that into consideration in future planning. We didn't go the following Sunday because we wanted to catch the Bianculli's slide show at Captain Don's (Excellent!).
The local entertainment at the buffet was a highlight. We totally enjoyed it. The new manager wants to give his guests exposure to Bonairean culture which we think is a wonderful idea. It made for a fun evening. You'll have to give it a try.

Just a guess, but you probably had goat, not lamb.

Not to put a damper on this or sound like an old cranky b.tch, but are we now getting into Theme Nights at the Divi?
This is one of the many reasons we stopped using our unit at the Divi Village in Aruba....too much "activity" and not enuff peace and quiet and tranquility.

It got so bad that we would actually plan to stay away from the place when we knew there was going to be some sort of "activity" going on at our place. I still have vivid memories of the all-night partying hoopla up at the Holiday Inn in Aruba each night, too....the horror,....the horror....

The buffet idea sounds wonderful but how much "entertainment" is being presented during the buffet? The two mariachi fellas at Chibi Chibi are kinda cute but that's enuff for me and Joe.

Sorry folks, just how we feel. I can bet the buffet part is really nice, tho. CArole

Gregg, are you out there, buddy? LOL. cb

Not to worry, Carole. The whole thing was very low key and over by 9:00 PM. It was held at the Calabas and featured local dishes. (May have been goat, Ruth, but the sign on the carving table said lamb.) The entertainment that night was Tutti Frutti (sp??)--six mature ladies who sang and moved with joy and grace. Their spirit was infectious. They were backed by several musicians. Some local fans (i.e. family) were present to lend their support. It was fun to have some exposure to local music/entertainment/people.

Carole...I'm here and agree with you

the only good thing about the expansion of the casino was the elimination the local "bingo" nite which had the locals camped outside our door all nite screaming "bingo" in all different dialects

We may be in the minority but we are looking forward to the Buffet and the entertainment. Also, we miss the "Bingo" night. We met some very nice local people and overall had a great time at bingo with them.

CArole B,

When are you going to buy a place on Bonaire?! As much as I'm a fan of Bonaire, you are even more so.

I might regret not having bought property 25 years ago on Bonaire, what's stopping you and Joe now?. I keep on assuming you'll join Bruce and Liz as ex-patriot New Jerseyeans in Boniare. We may still join you!

George, we miss the Bingo night too. We used to swim in the pool and enjoy the crowd having a ball playing bingo and enjoying homemade snacks and the likes. That was "local" thing, mainly, and fairly quiet so it was not intrusive in any manner.

JR, we'd love to live there but we need to wait until Joe can find work at the "water treatment plant" which has not been built down there yet! LOL. We would have to find a means of income while living there and that can be difficult, at best.

My dream is to live there someday. It is soooo much nicer than being up here in Northern (overcrowded) New Jersey! LOL.

Where was your profile pic taken? (if you tell me somewhere in NJ I'll fall off my chair! LOL) Beautiful scenery, doggies and lovely lady with you. Very nice. Carole

Gregg...you hated Bingo night?? It kept us on track as to what day of the week it was while we were there...you know how you can lose track of the days while on vacation? Well, we always knew what day it was when the Bingo games were going on. LOL.

I understand the bingo "lives no more" as one fella hit big time twice and they sort of ran out of money or something along those lines.

Anyone who has traveled to Aruba, Jamaica and the like will understand what I am referring to when I refer to "theme nights"....I'd just rather not think the new manager at the Divi in Bonaire would eve consider that as an option.

The buffet sounds fine but I just hope there are no additional plans for "theme" nights at the Dive Flamingo Beach resort. Carole

PS Are you off to Bonaire again soon, Gregg? Weren't you going in September but had to change plans?? cb

PPS Does anyone know if the blue and yellow rubber floatation device/trampeline/raft is back in the water in front of the Divi beach?? That seemed to be an attractive nuisance every visit we made there....just was a magnet for kids from everywhere to hit the Divi beach (not registered guests) and hang out on the raft. It was completely deflated with a huge hole in it while we were there in June....brought smiles to the faces of most of the timeshare owners and repeat visit guests.....

I wondered if someone attacked the thing in the middle of the night or if it was a "natural" deflation occurrence....hmmmmm. I swear we had nothing to do with it!! LOL. I realize it is a very expensive "toy" but it attracted more "non paying" folks than registered guests. Just my opinion...again. cb

Carole,

off to Bonaire at the end of Sept for 3 wks...if you stay several weeks, the days of the week don't matter...my primary objection to bingo nite was the parking situation...

Just a little forewarning: the parking situation hasn't been helped by the expanded casino. It's a very popular spot! If we took our car out in the evening to go to dinner, we were never able to park in the lot closest to the timeshare units (behind the casino) when we returned.
Carole, I didn't see any floating trampoline/raft at the beach. In fact, I don't ever remember one being there in our four visits. Guess my vision's even worse than I thought. Better make an appointment with the ophthalmologist.....
Although we miss the funky/quaint look of the old diving dock and gear storage building, the new spacious lockers are sure a pleasure to use. And the breezes blowing through the open rafters of the little building certainly help with the dreaded DGO (dive gear odor).
During our stay, the outside of the dive shop was a hub of painting and repairing activity.

Linda,

tks...wonder what's going on with the casino, for years the place was always empty

Gregg, they now have PENNY slot machines...I think that might be part of the "problem". All sorts of new slots with multidenomination (nickel, dime, quarter, dollar, etc) choices and games, etc. It was pretty crowded most of the time. I felt as tho I smoked at least a pack or two of ciggies each time I left there....that's one huge downfall for us..we both quit years ago! LOL.

You are right, the lot was full on Bingo nite, as well. Parking is a challenge at the Divi in the evenings after dinner but if there is nothing you can do, then we have to grin and bear it and keep thanking the powers that be that we are on Bonaire and enjoy it.

Linda, I am hoping they laid the raft to rest once and for all! LOL. In 2004 there were actually TWO of them out by the dive boats not far from the beach. Talk about "attractive nuisances"! (insurance term) I'll have to round up a pic for you so you can see what I'm talking about.

JR...your profile pic is from "our" area in NJ??!! Wow! I guess the Gap is not really "my" area, tho, in busy Morris County. Really nice shot. I guess I have to get back out that way again soon...it's been many, many, many years since I was out that way camping, etc.

Gregg, three more weeks! You bum! LOL. You are correct, on vacation one does not really care nor need to know what day of the week it is unless you have plans to meet folks or something along those lines. Joe and I did more "socializing" on this last trip than we usually do and we did need to keep track a little bit, but definitely not too much! Don't want to "work" while on vacation, right? Carole

Carole, the trampoline was inflated and had jumpers in June...I wondered who was in charge of it...hmmm...

I think the theme night is called "Bonaire Night", as of June the Divi has a new GM, Maarten Van Wijk and he wants to "Divi to be more of a hotel for Bonaire, I want it to breathe Bonaire Culture." according to the Bonaire Reporter. He also says he wants to add more Papiamentu to the menu describing the dishes...should be interesting to see what he brings to the Divi!

Carole, The only thing good that I have to say about that float is that the last time I was there in March it had a ton of baby squid under it!!

Hi, Darlene! Yes, they were there and were as cute as a button! They are so cute..the minute the float was moved out of the water they moved elsewhere and the minute it was put back into the water they were under it again! It was moved in and out a few times during our visit in May/June this year so the little squid were kept on their toes! LOL.

I hope the darn float/raft/trampoline becomes a new artificial reef for the rest of the critters ! LOL. Actually, I'm hoping it will just disappear back onto the rocks under the hotel rooms where it last was when we were there.

Cynde says it was back in June later on tho....argh!!! Carole

Carole, you are lucky you weren't there when the float was anchored just off the sunbathing pier at the timeshares...you couldn't get on the pier due to the local monsters

Maybe it will develop a new leak again while you are there in September, eh Gregg??!! They had the thing up on the beach like a beached whale and were using the air tanks to blow it up and force the water out of the huge hole in it...they had to give up and then they hauled it over the edge of the Calabas eating area (it wouldn't fit up the little walkway by the towel hut) and then dragged it to the lawn by the baci ball courts. It was such a huge fiasco. We were hoping it would never return.....someone needs to do some night diving in the area of the raft.....LOL! Carole