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Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marcella Moy (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 10:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hey there folks,
My hubby and I just LOVE the island and are looking to buy a home there. I have some questions and would be very appreciative of any info and answers.

1) Are the Dutch and Bonairean "locals" mad at us Americans for the Iraqi war? Are we still welcome?

2) Are there any parts of the island that are considered "off limits" to Americans for purchasing property? Don't want to upset the locals...Where are the safest places, in regards to crime, etc.?

3) Can gringos get by on Spanish and English alone? How tough is Papiamentu to learn? (I hear that Dutch is outrageously difficult to learn.)

4) Seems to me that the real estate prices are back on their way up, since the post 9/11 fall out. Is this the case?

5) What is the best part of island life?

6) What is the worst part of living on a tiny island?

7) Can someone procure for us the most detailed map-o-the island that exists? I'll pay ya'!!

8) Does anyone have any info about long term car rentals? Any deals that you know of?

Well, I guess that is it for now. I've been checking out this talk group for a while and now that we are in a position to buy a home, I had register myself so I could ask all this.

Thanks for all your help...
Marcella

PS: Would someone please go and enjoy a big plate of Donna & Giorgio's pasta carbonara for me? We
won't be back til June......

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #1392) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 10:06 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

1) I've been asked why about the war but not much else. Not that I had a great answer either. I was not made to feel uncomfortable.
2) no area that is off-limits. They are areas where Americans tend to buy since they tend to go for the view or the ocean. Hato where I live has been pretty crime free. We are mostly a neighborhood where people live year round and not a bunch of vacation homes.
3) Spanish would be a great help. You can get by easily.
4) don't know although an agent told me houses were moving again.
5) slower pace, friendly people
6) shopping for household stuff and food
7) look at Calabash skyview map of Bonaire on the internet
8) don't know

Can I have a glass of wine with my pasta :-)?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marcella Moy (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 1:45 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yeah, Linda! Have some wine for me, too!
(And thanks to whoever moved this from the diving thread...didn't realize til this morning what I had done.)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kate Hickson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #148) on Friday, May 2, 2003 - 11:31 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Marcella-
Ok, I'll weigh in too.

1) I got no comments from Bonaireans, but whenever Dutch people found out I was American, it was topic #1. I spent alot of time trying to convince them that we all don't support Bush, or think with one collective brain. People were very interested in talking about the war and Americans, but not at all combative or in your face.

2) No place off-limits. Hato is great. Santa Barbara and Republiek too (a little pricey, and more gringos it seems). My neighborhood, Belnem, is wonderful. Great neighbors, safe. People look out for one another. Nice mix of Bonaireans (mostly), Dutch, German, British, few Americans.

3) If you know Spanish, then learning Papiamentu is a piece of cake. Dutch is extremely difficult! And as a comedian once said "Dutch isn't a language...it's a throat condition." (Don't jump all over me! It's a joke!)

4) Don't know. But I wouldn't wait too long. BTW, they make it really easy to buy property on Bonaire. It's easier than buying a car in the US.

5) Ditto what Linda said.

6) Ditto what Linda said.

7) Can't help you out on that one!

8) Check out Alex at NafNaf Car Rental. You can find him through the infobonaire web page.

May I invite myself to join you in that wine...?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (BonaireTalker - Post #33) on Friday, May 2, 2003 - 2:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sorta re: #6...after living here almost 13 years (only my name is Dutch), I still can't get used to 2 things:

1. That grown men can have the nick-name Boe-Boe (pronounced just like "Boo Boo," Yogi's sidekick, and Ban-Ban, which sounds like the Rubble's kid's name when said).

2. Putting the date as: day/month/year.

That's about it.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1095) on Friday, May 2, 2003 - 4:21 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

haa..Ruth, nicknames are prevalent in many Caribbean islands..LOL..And if you are a rasta the word "I" is somewhere in the name: Ibob..LOL...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (BonaireTalker - Post #35) on Friday, May 2, 2003 - 5:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Still better than "Seniora di Galina" (the chicken lady) or "Seniora di Kentucky" or just "Kentucky"...names given to me (to my face, anyway), by many here...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By JIM KENNEDY (BonaireTalker - Post #86) on Friday, May 2, 2003 - 10:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

In my travels I have came to the conclusion that its better not to say that I'm from the USA unless actually ask point blank. Not that I'm ashamed for being an American but we Americans tend to upset other people of the world for some reason maybe for our wealth. I have been told that I have a Canadian accent even though I have never been to Canada much less lived there. So I let people believe what they think. I have seen people react to us Americans in less than polite ways, once in Honduras I left the bar because of a drunken native saying how much he hated the Americans and we all should be shot... It was time to GO! I never travel outside the US with any t-shirt that advertises any business in the US, never wear red, white and blue colors that stand out to be American. My dive luggage doesn't carry any logos, dive wise or country wise. I keep myself low key and try never to stand out in a crowd at an airport and also must admit that I almost always take dive vacations alone so there isn't any safety in numbers where I'm concerned.

Just my point of view folks...

Dive Safe,
jimini

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Liz Ginocchio (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #127) on Saturday, May 3, 2003 - 8:58 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Well, all very interesting comments, so I'd thought we'd put our 2 cents in.

Ed (hubby) has been going to Bonaire since 1976 and I started joining him in 1992. We TOTALLY adore Bonaire and bought our townhouse in Bonaire just over 2 years ago. We live in Belnem neighborhood. Where you want to live depends on the price you want to pay and whether or not you want to be on the water.

We have found that native Bonaireans like most Americans. The reason I say most, is because there is always a bad apple or two in the basket. They have always been understanding, kind, considerate and helpful. Basically everyone on Bonaire that lives on Bonaire is great, but you are going to ALWAYS meet a few people with attitudes; where ever you go. We just let them have their attitudes and continue to enjoy our vacation. If they want to hold grudges, have attitudes or just be plain nasty...let it ruin their day, not ours!

Believe it or not, the people we find with the most attitudes are the vacationers to Bonaire. Some have unreal expectations, are just plain rude or need a few Amstels bought for them so they lighten up, unwind and release some stress!

One thing not pointed out in discussions, and what we like most about Bonaire is that it is not a "MONEY" structured place like the USA or Europe. You could be the Governor of the Island and your best friend in the world could be the local garbage man (just an example all!), but because you have been friends forever, $ doesn't separate class...at least not like in the States or Europe.

We have found that things like honesty, respectability, responsibility, etc., are all highly regarded by the locals on Bonaire. That is how it is done. Your word is a contract. You do what you say you are going to do and do it.

Not that there are not contracts or you shouldn't take precautions, but it is just much different than in the States. You don't need $$ to impress on Bonaire.

Buying on Bonaire was very easy for us, We didn't even have to be there. Margon at Harbourtown acted as our Power of Attorney. We just made sure $$ was sent that needed to be sent and it went great.

Good luck!

Liz and Ed Ginocchio

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Johnson (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Sunday, May 4, 2003 - 11:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

This is Ann. I would agree with what the others said. I live across from Alex at NAF NAF rental. He is a good guy and would recommend them.
His phone is: 717-6670 and email is:
nafnafrental@bonairenet.com

 


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