From the first day we stepped onto the island, we knew it would happen. It has happened every previous trip and there’s no avoiding it. It’s as inevitable as a Monday morning and it stings like a hornet.

I’m talking about the realization that our vacation, our trip to Bonaire, is three-fourths of the way complete. We have crossed over the hump and are sliding down the back side. Three days of diving are left. Eleven more dives are planned, and we intend to make the best of them.

"Hey! I still have sixty percent of my vacation yet to go," bellows Geoff.

He isn’t half way yet, but Leslie and I are seventy-five percent complete. Perspective is everything...

We are lucky that the Zale’s condo has a CD player in it. And since we didn’t happen to bring any CDs with us, we are even luckier that Ruth gave us one. And it is a really great CD. She mixed it herself and about half of the songs are of the "Cabana" style of music.

I can’t understand a word on any of those songs, but the music, style, and rhythm energize me. Geoff and I begin dancing every time the CD fires up. The emotion and inflection in the singer’s voice is almost intoxicating. Looking out at the ocean and listening to the music, I imagine the singer singing about some lost love in a far off land; his agony of losing her and his desire to be reunited.

Ruth mixes the CDs for Richard’s restaurant. Apparently, the first time Ruth took Leslie and me to Richard’s, I remarked about liking his mix of music at the bar. Ruth remembered this and mixed us a CD that has Richard’s-Bar type of music.

"It may not be Richard’s, but at least it sounds like it," she said.

The difference between an acquaintance and a friend is that the friend remembers the little thinks. And a really good friend acts on those little "things remembered."

Thanks for the CD Ruth – we have enjoyed it immensely.

Leslie discovered a frogfish at The Lake this afternoon, while Geoff found a free swimming octopus at Karpata. The visibility today at Old Blue and Karpata was stupendous and water temperature is hovering around 83 degrees. Lots of reef activity and we have seen tarpon on almost every dive of this trip.

By suggestion of Ruth, we ate at Wil’s Tropical Grill last night. I had the ribs and they were very good. Leslie had the filet, which she said had a good flavor but was a little tough. Geoff devoured a chicken linguini with sun dried tomatoes. In his own words a "very good foo-foo dish." All in all a good dining experience.

This evening we had cheeseburgers at the Sunset Bar and Grill. They were fantastic. Basically, they are the same burgers that were served at The Green Parrot. I had forgotten how good they were.

I just thought of something: if it hadn’t been for BonaireTalk, we would never have met or known Ruth & Jan or Timmmy. Thanks BT!

Tomorrow Pasa Bon Pizza reopens and we can’t wait. I can almost taste the pie now.

Dive on Friends.

Dave & Leslie.

Mmmmm, the old Green Parrot!!!

Thanks for your reports. I LOVE them and get that feeling like I'm almost there with you guys.

Yes - I enjoyed that Island style mix CD - sharing stories, drinking brights and viewing underwater photography on Bonaire with my new friends Dave and Leslie. Yes Thank You BT indeed !

Actually, we met at Mango's, didn't we? And BT keeps us together.
:-)

For the record, I mix the music for Richard's for purely selfish reasons: because I can't stand being there and having to hear the Doors, Pink Floyd or the Bee Gees Love Songs (again and again and again; thankfully, his Gyspsy Kings cd disappeared... it wasn't me!). The singer you like is "Marlon" doing salsa remixes of Juan Luis Guerra's biggest hits. And thanks for the visual of you & Geoff dancing around!

Wish I were there, instead of being tortured in computer programming classes. My brain is done already, and it's only Tuesday! Dive on and enjoy guys!

Wil's ribs. Yes indeed.

Dave, as always, great reporting Thanks and enjoy the rest of your Bonaire days & nights