I'll have to check my dive log book but I think this was our 8th or 9th year visiting our favorite island. And it did not disappoint. It was by far the best trip to date. Not sure why, other than we stayed at a different place, flew a different airline?? Not sure what all made it spectacular.
We flew Insel Airlines for the first time and it will not be the last. Because we didn't want to waste a full first day we chose to fly on Friday so had to go via Curaçao out of Miami. We left at 3pm, got a meal which is amazing for an airline, arrived in Curacao, paid our transit fee and had time for a beer. Everyone scheduled for the flight were at the departure gate so the plane left early. We actually arrived in Bonaire 5 minutes after we were supposed to have left! Our return flight was on Saturday so was direct from Bonaire to Miami and was uneventful, on time, nice meal, etc. Oh and they do a drawing on each flight for a free flight. Didn't win but what a great idea!
We rented a house this year instead of staying at Sorobon and it was FABULOUS. Had to ask ourselves why we hadn't done this before. Once we got there, unpacked, we opened a bottle of wine and sat outside along side the water, watched the stars and toasted the start of our 2 week vacation.
Got up early as our friends were arriving on the overnight Continental flight and wanted to greet them with fresh coffee. Got them settled and went out for breakfast at City Cafe. Did our shopping at Warehouse, Bonaire Gift Shop (for the liquor) and went back to our house where we lazed for the day. I snorkled to see what the reef right off our place was like. It was so nice to have our own "beach" and water we could bob around in.
Sunday we checked into Buddy for our shore diving package - they are the best! We have dove with them for years and it works perfectly. I'll do a seperate report on our diving - but our first dive of the day was always off site (not our house reef that we ended up calling B(cubed) and G (for Bob, Bob, Beth & Gail). Our afternoon dive was always our house reef where we found - lionfish (2) eagle rays (2), turtles (3). How much better does it get!
We would relax in the afternoon after the PM dive, have happy hour, then go for dinner.
Our meals were pretty easy - we did breakfast in, didn't really do lunch - but if we wanted something we had it stocked in the fridge. Dinners were always out. We ate at Cactus Blue (only once as we were pretty disappointed this year with it), The Rib Factory (twice), Lion's Den (2 or 3 times), Sunset Bar & Grill - this was one of our favorites and I think we did it 3 times, La Barca (our newest favorite). We only did it twice but we will definitely be back for more. We tried to do Pasa Bon Pizza but they were fully booked ? the night we went. They had 2 tables for 2 but were not willing to put them together for us. The smells were fabulous so we will try them next year. We also did City Cafe for dinner a couple of times. We would like to try some different places next year - we had planned to go to It Rains Fishes which we haven't done in a few years, but never made it. Also Donna & Giogios (which we still need to find!?) and Will's. Oh well we're going back next year so we can do them then!
We did discover a few new grocery options - Sunshine Market & the new one by Chat N Browse. Sunshine was great! A nice addition to the Warehouse.
More on Diving & Photos on those links - this ones getting to long. I can say I'm really happy with the pictures I got. |
By Gail Currie (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #123) on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 9:08 pm: 
