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Trip Reports: Barbara & Alison's Excellent Bon Trip July/August 04
Bonaire Talk: Trip Reports: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2005: Archives - 2004-08-02 to 2005-05-08: Barbara & Alison's Excellent Bon Trip July/August 04
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6245) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 4:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

After 3 years of BT lurking, chatting, etc. we finally made it to Bonaire...after our initial OMG, this island is, ummm, primitive, we got into the full swing of things and can't wait to get back! Many thanks to Kelly, Mary, Seb, Wally, Eva, Joey, Kathy and Larry for helping to make this trip so wonderful. I couldn't have had better dive buddies and, okay, it was worth the horrendous $1 a minute to talk to Wally & Eva every day! (next time I will rent a cell phone from Michael at Chat N Browse)...
Enough chatter...the pics!
Here was our first impression...the airport was right out of the 40's!
airport.jpg

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6246) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 4:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Our first night was spent on a whirlwind tour from 8 to 10 p.m....then a rest and my first ocean dive ever the next morning with Kelly, Mary & Seb (the incredible seahorse hunter)
kelbarb.jpg

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6247) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 4:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The BT dinner was a blast and we were successful in finding several models for the famous Flamingo hats
wallyeva.jpg
Wally and Eva
maryseb.jpg
Mary & Seb
Don't they look marvelous? And Ed & Liz Gionocchio (?sp?) brought the most yummy spiced onion sauce for the dinner...wish I could remember everyone there...the dinner was great and the company a blast

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6248) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 5:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Diving every day with Wally & Eva was a treat...Wally had the underwater camera and I had to borrow a couple of these (with his permission, of course)
satch.jpg Little and big Satch's were everywhere!
blueparrot.jpgAwesome Midnight Parrot.
barracuda.jpgAnd so many barracuda checking us out!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6249) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 5:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Alison totally enjoyed visiting with Blikje and Grendal who lapped up the attention dogs.jpg
And she also had a great time helping Marina at the Donkey Sanctuarydonkeys.jpg

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6250) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 5:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

OOPS, almost forgot our first sunset with Kelly at 1000 stepsalkel.jpgmekel.jpg
Lucky us to have such a great guide for the first 48 hours!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6251) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 5:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

And a trip around the island is a must...
Flamingos at Washington Slaagbai parkflam.jpg
The abandoned Northern lighthouslighthous.jpg
Panorama of the red slave huts...the surf was giant on the south shoreredslave.jpg
Giant iguana at Marina's santuaryiguana.jpg

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6252) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 5:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The blow hole in the park was awesome as wellblowhole.jpg

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6253) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 5:16 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

A couple more fish from Wally's camera...I was sooo fortunate to see the amazing creatures he was photographing!
fish.jpgfish.jpg
Hope you all saw the eagle ray he posted...and I'm going to count on him posting some more of his pics.....:-):-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6254) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 5:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

That's it for now....will try to get some more pics up soon! I can't wait to get back to the island! Highly recommended...1) Wannadive 2) Menno's boat dives (?sp) 3) ABCarrental...Mark was great at setting up my rental for me, 4) Lion's Dive, 5) Garden Cafe, 6) Croccantino's 7) It Rains Fishes....more to come!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3914) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 7:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for sharing your memories with us, Barb. All of the pics are great! Isn't Bonaire a very special place?? It's hard to "get the feeling" for her until you have actually been there. It is a very special place in my life and now in yours and Alison's, too. So glad you made it down there and were able to enjoy her with Kelly, Mary, Seb and the rest of the wonderful BT folks and the regulars who live on Bonaire. I can't wait to return. Just have to decide if we want to stay at the Divi for both weeks or only one week and then off to a house for the second....tough decision but we will figure it out.

Thanks again for sharing your pics and comments with all of us! Ayo. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Cousino (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #856) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 7:35 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Barbara, I like so many others are happy you ladies had such a good time. Nice report.

Thanks a lot!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Liz Ginocchio (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #290) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 7:37 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hey Barb,

Glad you and Alison made it back safe. Sitting here waiting for the remenants of Charley. We live on the water in south NJ, so we are expect winds of 40 knots and heavy rain later this evening. Anyway, you were close on the last name GINOCCHIO, just like PINOCCHIO, but with a "G" LOL!

Ed always makes the "onion sauce" when we are on Bonaire. The first time he had it was at Gibi's and he brings a few bottles to him to "test taste" to see if he got it right. Gibi said last time "almost, just add a touch of water." I'm sure our next trip he will get it right! Thanks.

Oh Kelly, if you are out there...do you have the picture with me and the rat? Thanks.

Liz

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Cousino (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #857) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 8:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Barbara,

Forgot to say I love your new profile pic:-{)}

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eileen Kimmett (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6270) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 9:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Wow!! Awesome Barbara! I am glad that you had such a wonderful time!!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mary Mueller (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2943) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 9:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Barbara - great pics - nice to see you and Alison falling in love with Bonaire!!!

Wish our time on the island could have crossed!!!!

Can't wait to see more pics - can't believe that you beat me to a trip report!!! Mine will come soon - I hope!!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1129) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 10:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Barbara, Thanks for the pics and glad you had an awesome time! Have you booked your next trip yet??? :-) It realLy does help with PBD

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kathy Hall (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #271) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 10:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Barbara, all you lack is one of you u/w. ;)

Was great fun! Here you are:

2

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kathy Hall (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #272) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 10:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oh, I see you have one in your profile pic! Great pic! : )

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martine TLOUZEAU - Jean Paul GODARD (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5288) on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 7:03 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Babs,
Wow, what a report, I am waiting to read more.
Sigh ! You definitely woke my PBD up and I can't wait to return on our predilected island. Beautiful pictures, you must have enjoyed more than expected... No, I am not jealous !
I love your new profile pic. I can't wait to see Alison's...
Congratulations Gal, maybe be the next time we are there together :o)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lisa Barclay (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #187) on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 5:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the report. Those pictures are great! I think I could look at pictures of Bonaire all day and never get tired of it. I am glad you had a great trip and Alison got certified.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6258) on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 10:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oh, I am missing this sunset at Eden Beach....a.jpg

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6259) on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 11:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Another nighta.jpg

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6260) on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 11:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

One more for now...Alison and I wondered about all the sculptures along the south shore..We had a wonderful dinner with Ann Phelan and her daughter Maggie at a fantastic little local restaurant and remembered to ask...it is a hobby for many to erect these sculptures from the odds and ends that wash up from the ocean along the south shore...very cool art gallery there!
a.jpg

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Lott (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1596) on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 9:59 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Barbara your pics are GREAT!!! I love the ones of us at Thousand Steps. (standing below Alison so we look thinner... lol)

My trip report is slowing down... but I'll get to it eventually I promise !

Liz, I have the pic of you, but my scanner isn't working. Email me your address and I'll pop it in the mail. :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Igor van Riel (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2642) on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 10:35 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Great report Barbara!
I knew u would fall 4 Bonaire :-)
Glad u 2 had such a great trip. Love the new profile pic and the personal quote :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Belinda Z (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #173) on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 10:53 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Barbara,

Great report and loved the pictures - ESPECIALLY the sun behind the sailboat. That is truly awesome!

Thanks so much for sharing!

Belinda

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Lott (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1600) on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 11:37 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Alison is such a doll everyone... such a fun and interesting young woman, Barbara should be extremely proud of herself, and of the way Alison is growing up. A joy to be around. :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dilly Dillbream (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #720) on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 12:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Barbara, great pics and report! It looks like you had a great time and really got your feet wet:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Margy Moon (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 1:13 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi everyone, this is my first post, but I've been reading for 2 years. I've been seeing the name Barbara Leary, but never thought you were our Barbara from Folsom until you were talking about Alison and then came the pictures. WOW, I hope Alison sang for the BT dinner. I want to hear more about your trip, you picked a great place for you first dive trip. I'm hoping to go back in Nov. I'll look for you at the dance studio so I can hear more!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #641) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 3:47 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Barbara

great report and pictures - thanks.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6281) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 1:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

OMG Margy! That is a riot! Alison's former music/voice teacher a BT lurker...I hope you will get to post some pics sometime soon too! No, Alison did not sing for the group but I will be circulating the video "Anything Goes" by special request! :-) Eva's first on the list! HA! :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1247) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 2:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have to mention this on behalf of Bas who dives the East side. The "sculptures" are not hobby art, they are markers for safe exits on drift dives!

:-) Hey Barbara, loved hearing about your trip! So glad you got to have fun! Wish I could have been there at the same time!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3932) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 4:29 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Niki, that's a new one on me! Makes sense. No way I'd be over there on that side, tho! LOL. And here we thought some hippies (I'm dating myself) were out there creating art all these years....LOL. Thanks for the heads-up! Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3933) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 4:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sort of like the romantic sounding "Sabadeco"....thought it was a beautiful Spanish or Bonairean word or name...nope....it's short for Santa Barbara Development Company! LOL. Oh well...Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Carter (BonaireTalker - Post #80) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 4:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Niki,

We were told by the ranger at Washington Park that the these "things" we just stuff that washed up that some various folks started putting up at random, mostly visitors. Somewhat similar to in Aruba it is a fad to stack rocks. Supposedly it originally was tied to the local AA and some custom for reaching a period of sobriety. However I certainly don't know what it is since I wasn't involved in creating them. By the way Sorobon was great.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6285) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 6:37 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Wow, Niki, I got my info from Annie Phelan who has constucted some herself with her daughter...looks like it's going to be confusing for the divers as it seems that they are being erected by various people for various reasons- the pic I took was near the southern lighthous and there were literally hundreds of various sized and shaped junk sculptures - YIKES!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1242) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 7:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

i think Bas (from phototours) can tell which markers are for divers and which aren't...

nice report:-)



 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1249) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 11:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I realize some people may be doing sculptures spontaneously for fun, but divers do make and use them. :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1250) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 11:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

John, I'm glad you liked your stay there! We love it !

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6289) on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 1:28 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Okay, folks, I finally got a few more pics out of the disposable camera...taken on a couple of snorkels out in front of Lion's Dive and Buddys...there was a big bait ball out front most days which provided some nice night time tarpon viewing...and the day fish seemed to like the little snacks as well
a.jpga.jpg

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6290) on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 1:36 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

As you can see, the tangs seemed to like to hang out with the mahogany snappers, some sargeants a spanish hog fish and a surgeon fish too!
Here was a group I met out in front of the divi
blackbarsoldiers.jpg
and Chubby was therea.jpg

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3942) on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 1:50 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks, Barb! Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1484) on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 8:20 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Great report Barb..Mags and I enjoyed our time together at dinner and hanging..See you soon I know..

Ann

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6296) on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 1:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Ann! I was wishing I had taken the camera for a pic of you and Maggie but I'll just steal your profile pic! :-)
Here's a pic of Kathy and Larry at Bongos our last night there!
a.jpg

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6297) on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 1:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Some palometa from the divia.jpg
They sneak up right under you close to shore!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Leary (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6319) on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 6:29 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

And for the little cactus flowers amoung us...
a.jpg

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #11984) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 8:02 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Barbara, awe...shucks...that is so cute:-)

 


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