Has the larger music spot (right on the water) reopened yet? Or should I ask IF it is going to reopen? I assume that the smaller, 'earlier' place place is still operating, but I like the 'feel' of the big place.

Pete Brown

We were there last December and July and the big place on the right was closed both times. The party had moved down past the conch piles to some smaller jukes. A local girl who was cooking fish told me the big place owners were not going to reopen. So I really don't know.

Wally and Eva,

I thought they had been operating (albeit irregularly) up until hurricane Ivan wiped out the structure in September. The last time I was out there was in July and they were indeed closed that day, so maybe the operation was kaput even before the storm. T'would be a shame...

Pete

indeed

Sundays on LacCai has been a favorite of me too, for years.
Just before hurricane Ivan flushed away the biggest part of the attractions on LacCai, there were new people in there taking care of the bar, they just had reopened it some weeks before Ivan. And they were active in business again.
Well on the pictures you can see what Ivan left over of it. Pictures taken a month ago. (Sorry for the bad quality, but it gives an idea).




They wanted to rebuild the bar, but then it appeared that there was never given any permission to build there, and as far as I know now there is a lot of discussion with the authorities about rebuilding yes or no.

So it is quite unsure, the biggest bar will ever relive again.

At the moment the other one, across the conch-shells is relatively busy, (not what it was years ago, but still...), and we hope it will ever get as busy again on LacCai as it was before. But I don't expect that.

Harrie

Sorry for the pictures, I must have done something wrong, they were scanned from normal prints, I will retry later

Harrie

Harrie,

Thanks for the update---as disappointing as it seems to be. I had just seen the damage through binox from Sorobon and didn't have the heart to drive out myself.

Hopefully the folks will have the energy, will and connections to be able to rebuild and reopen.

Pete

Here are the pics again, I mixed up mm's and pixels, sorry.

Sundays on LacCai has been a favorite of me too, for years.
Just before hurricane Ivan flushed away the biggest part of the attractions on LacCai, there were new people in there taking care of the bar, they just had reopened it some weeks before Ivan. And they were active in business again.
Well on the pictures you can see what Ivan left over of it. Pictures taken a month ago. (Sorry for the bad quality, but it gives an idea).






They wanted to rebuild the bar, but then it appeared that there was never given any permission to build there, and as far as I know now there is a lot of discussion with the authorities about rebuilding yes or no.

So it is quite unsure, the biggest bar will ever relive again.

At the moment the other bar, across the conch-shells is relatively busy, (not what it was years ago, but still...), and we hope it will ever get as busy again on LacCai as it was before. But I don't expect that.

Harrie

Harrie, thanks for the pics. Sad, very sad indeed

Thank, you, Harrie...the damage over there was devastating. I do hope the family will be able to pick up elsewhere if the officials do not permit them to reopen at that same location. CArole

(Message edited by CArole on December 14, 2004)

It's amazing...it really wasn't so much a building, but a beautiful area with shade cover made from local woods, dead trees. I have pictures of it from before and I loved it. I hope that it comes back.
Liz

Very sad! I loved that place

When we first visited Lac Cai years ago it was very much a local thing with a live band and a few tourists, everyone having fun. Two years ago it was a DJ with almost all tourists or other Europeans, very few local folk, much less fun. A beautiful location, but I was planning to skip it on our upcoming trip because it had lost its flavor (ignoring the fact that I was one of the tourists who overwhelmed the locals).

Now that the big place is kaput, what's the flavor of the smaller places, touristy or local? Is anyone having fun?

David

(Message edited by bostondavid on January 10, 2005)

They are in Bonaire How bad a time can they be having. We Leave in 19 days and I am beside myself. A bad day in Bonaire I think not !!!
Even the rain is okay for a bit as it brings out the green.

No disrespect, Beverly, but I was concerned about the Sunday fun of the Bonairians as well as us tourists.

I hope someone with current local knowledge will respond.

David

(Message edited by bostondavid on January 11, 2005)

Truman, is that you? Am I seeing things? cb

Was recently in Dominic Republic and the sun was good the water was ok but the island is certainly not Bonaire ... We have always traveled to different islands every year until we went to Bonaire and I found my soul and my heart It is the only place for me and I would like to live there

From what I've heard: In general, the local musicians didn't like playing at the place (not) pictured above because the salt air/water was so close, they claimed it ruined their equipment too quickly. They wanted the owners to buy things like amplifiers, etc, for them to use so they wouldn't have to take their own out there. Then, Ivan came along.

My car is not able to make it out to Lac Cai with weather like we've had lately (too much rain and it's a long dirt/mud/stone road in), so can't report much else. Most locals wouldn't go for the same reason

We had such a great time there! It's a shame. Just having an open air dance floor would be nice for Sunday gatherings. Maybe the locals can figure something out. If not there musical instruments, they could play the music and just get out there and have a good time. It was nice seeing the locals dancing, etc.