OMIGOD! nothing could prepare us for the incredible beauty and serenity of Bonaire. We could only take a very short trip and we will be living on Bonaire or in a boat moored off the island in a year so this trip was crucial to our decision. Now it will be torture to wait to be there full-time. Air Jamaica is fantastic. Delta/ASA so-so as usual. ASA (Delta's baby sister) would not let us board in Ft. Walton with four carry-on's and two tiny camera-like things!!We had to go home and start over the next day-I was in complete shock!!Pack as light as you can, our lesson. Fewer clothes(you won't use them), more dive toys next time. Very hot and humid weather-we are used to it being from Florida-but if you're from Michigan?? Thought it was rainy season so prepared for mosquitos-got one bites using nothing but botanical repellent-nice surprise. So few bugs on Bonaire compared to Florida. Great pizza downtown of course. Grocery stores very sparse on fruit and vegetables to what we are used to-don't expect Publix or Winn Dixie. But I had the best pineapple-from where I don't know. Next time I will pack more food. Bonaire water right from the tap is wonderful-no chlorine, absolutely the best. Electricity went off briefly in AM after nighttime storm-mostly far-off lightning. What we did not expect was the beauty of the north end of the island with it's jagged cliffs, cacti growing out of the coral ledges right over the sea and the incredible tourquise of the water. Water is like cellophane without a particle of seaweed or anything to ruin its clarity. Even when churned up it is unbelievable. We were told by Mark on the Pink Bus (great-right on the beach with drinks, etc) that the water was unusually high-had some trouble with shore entries due to rocks on beaches covered and difficult to navigate-got in fairly easily at Invisibles-saw barracuda, many juveniles, scorpionfish right off shore!plenty of life just about 15 feet off the beach in very shallow water-great for me, a novice. Decided to buy the best booties for traction we can find-also, I was really glad I had wetsuit and layers-falling on the rocks getting out of the water could be deadly-you must be very careful and get each foot securely planted. I was surprised to find I never got chilled (usually I do-at 95 pounds I feel cold faster than anybody I know)-water was 86 degrees and stays warm all the way down-never felt anything like it-like bathwater and the air to match- My husband, advanced diver came back from deeper water with a look of awe- reported the intense blue of the water even at depth. As far as living on Bonaire-we could easily spend the rest of our lives just studying what is above the water-plants, birds (parrots fly by your head in pairs), trees, rock formations, caves, etc. could take years. And in the water I know we never even scratched the surface so to speak-so we will definitely be there in a year. We stayed at Bellafonte-very quiet, right on the water, private almost residential-not touristy at all-just what we wanted. Dive and snorkel right in front. Sjoerd was wonderful-let us stay and keep bags in locker right up until plane left at 4. Of course we videoed and got digital shots of everything we could and didn't even have time to get to the bay. There is only so much you can do in 2 days there! The sun is very hot but all you have to do is get in the water to cool off. Somehow left my mask at home by mistake-easily found new good one-much better prices than in Fl too! Bought every tourist thing we could get our hands on-tee shirts, hats-thanks goodness for credit cards. Found out AT and T calling card cannot be used from Bonaire-at least we couln't figure out how to use it--best are the cards you buy there anywhere downtown-calling US was cheap that way-expensive from hotel of course. Didn't even bother to check our e-mails and we have an e-business!-who wants to do business on Bonaire?? Perhaps we should sell it..-No stress, wonderful locals, mad max as far as driving-no stop signs, streetlights-every maniac for him/herself-it was such fun! Donkeys on side of road-you must go very slow-saw dead iguana on the road-horrible! Totally non-materialistic culture-all that seemed to matter was having fun and relaxing-makes the USA look very abnormal upon return-what's all the rushing and worrying about, anyway?-hopefully this will give newcomers a glimpse of the ambiance. Oh, made total fools of ourselves in front of Jake's house webcam-still can't believe we finally stood there-thanks to Jake and gang for this site and please don't tell too many people about Bonaire-just let us in and then lock the door behind us...

Wow, Dennis! Your report is longer than two days' worth!! LOL. What a tease that must have been for you.....2 days in paradise. You're hooked good and hard! So many of us want to live on Bonaire. If you can pull it off that's great! I agree...let's not tell anyone about our little piece of heaven on earth, OK? Ayo. Carole

Another addict is born!!! How lucky are you that you are going to be living there in a year!!!

Wow! What a great report! Can't believe you fit as much as you did into 2 days. My wife and I leave next Sunday for our first trip to the island and simply cannot wait. We fell in love with desert flora and fauna on many hikes at Joshua Tree and can only imagine the contrast of a similar environment against the backdrop of the ocean. I'm sure the undersea world will have us totally in awe. And don't worry, Dennis and Carole, we won't tell anyone...except the folks here...in the form of a trip report.

Loved your trip report. Brought back memories. Leaving for my third trip to Bonaire mid Jan. and it won't be my last. I am truely hooked! There was a brief article in the Washington Post on Bonaire (and several other islands) recently. I really hope Bonaire stays the way it is - relaxing, beautiful, and not overrun with tourists.

thats the thing we loved the most also--we saw no income levels there. Everyone is the same. I wish it were like that here!