Bonaire

Hi everyone,

We've had a fantastic week here in Bonaire.  We toured much of the island and snorkelled in 6 different locations around the main and Klein islands.  All in company with sv Cerulean.  Lots of fun.

Bonaire Street Art

The weather has been good apart from one night when a tropical wave/depression passed by the island.  It produced a 'reversal' in which the wind switches around making the mooring area potentially hazardous.  We had a bumpy/snatchy 2-3 hours on the mooring when winds went around to the S and got up to 20G27.  We had the engine running and were ready to get out instantly if the mooring let go.  Happily all was well.

Generally the mooring area is very well protected.  In normal weather we didn't even need the outboard - we just rowed ashore to one of the many dinghy docks. 

Bonaire Sunset

Cerulean (left) and Zen Again moored

Occasional rain

We shared the 'cruiser's car' with Cerulean for a day.  We saw quite a lot of the island and snorkelled at three locations.

Nicki scaring the Pink Flamingoes

Double-Decker Bus cafe

Large salt farm at S of island

White Slave Huts

The main town of Kralendijk is quite small - the population of Bonaire is about 20,000.  It is well organised for tourists with many shops, cafes and bars.  And also some pretty good supermarkets.  It's a pretty, colourful place.

The Fort

Building Art

Street Art

Even cruisers get space

The snorkelling was great.  The only better places we've seen were in remote eastern Indonesia.  The water quality is excellent at most locations unless the sand is stirred up by strong winds.

Zen Again on her mooring

Snorkelling with Cerulean at Klein Bonaire

Angel Fish

Turtle

Large schools

Puffer

One of many snorkelling beaches

We did a mini-restock at the posh Van Den Tweel supermarket.  We found the dried fruit we'd been seeking for some time.  We regularly came ashore to visit The Coffee Bar for coffee, croissants and their loo.  The whole island is a marine park so holding tanks must be used.  And one evening we came ashore with the crews of Cerulean and Cushla for beers and dinner.

Van Den Tweel supermarket

Favourite watering hole

Favourite pub and restaurant - Bonaire Blonde Brewery and La Cantina

Steak!

Desert!

The Bonaire Regatta was on throughout our stay.  It included a few keelboats, local dinghies (Optimists and Sunfish) and model yachts.  It certainly added to the night life with concerts on several evenings.  The music has a definite Latin American vibe.

Model yachts took part in the Regatta too

Regatta evening concert

Line dancing to local music

With our vital dried fruit supplies secured our Christmas Cake was baked.  We'll remember Bonaire very fondly when we tuck into it!

Christmas Cake!

Yesterday we rewatered at the marina (US$0.50/jerry).  Today we did the laundry and we're now cleared out for departure tomorrow morning towards Curacao!

Trust all's well where you are!