It’s great to back in Bonaire for the third time, the aqua marine turquoise blue of the water still makes us marvel! I still wasn’t myself, lacking in energy and generally a bit crap, so we took a trip to the Doctors surgery in town and had some blood tests carried out. It appears that at this time of year there are several bugs about, the following day the blood test results came back and were ok, which was reassuring, it looks as though I may have well have picked up a virus and all that’s needed is patience to recover. Not being a patient person, it’s with all round relief when after a couple of days of catching up on sleep and lots of regular hydrating I felt better again. We have lots to do now, snorkelling, socialising and getting Sisu ready to lay up, there’s no time for being ill!
Some of our friends from last season are here, Neil and Helen McCubbin from Milvina plus their friend Heather and Frederick and Jeanette of Bushpoint, they have been here for a short time already and it’s so good to see them and catch up! We also discover several Ocean Cruising Club folks are here already and like us will be laying up in Curacao over the hurricane season. We already have our next adventure planned, in November we shall be joining the Suzie Too Rally, sailing from Curacao, finishing up in May at Belize. We are in the second Rally group of about 30 boats. The small number that have arrived here are very convivial, after a day of boat jobs, swimming and snorkelling we are enjoying getting to know our fellow Rally cruisers over beers and meals out. If the rest of the Rally gang are as good fun as gathered here already, we’re going to be in for a great time!
The marine life here is spectacular, Terry and I are both convinced there’s more fish here than six months ago! Terry and I together with Neil, Helen and Heather explore new snorkel dive sites only a short dinghy ride away. One site, 18 Palms has several metal structures secured to the sea bed. A series of what look like bare Christmas trees are draped with stag and other types of coral on their metal branches, just like festive decorations. The purpose of these constructions are to encourage the coral to grow and rejuvenate the existing coral beds. If Bonaire loses its coral reef, the fish and other marine life will die, the balance of life in these reefs is so delicate, Bonaire is doing all it can to protect the coral, it’s very much a long term project. Another site, Coco Beach became a favourite of ours. Myriads of fish, coral and sea anemones live in, around and underneath a large range of fragmented stone jetty. The stone walkway jetty has collapsed into the waters in a haphazard manner creating safe hidey holes for Angel fish, Eels, Parrot fish, Cowfish, Sergeant Majors, Puffer fish, Pipe fish and so many other kinds, the fish are so used to being watched by snorkelers and divers, they are relatively unperturbed and go about their daily business. We find that the fish don’t seem to travel far, preferring to stick around their own bit of rock or coral, after a few snorkels at Coco Beach we get to know the fishy neighbourhood!
We are here in time for the 30th anniversary of Rincon Day festival, part of a four day holiday period including Kings Day, celebrating the King of Holland. There is plenty of live music, dance and family events around the small Island. Terry, myself, Neil, Helen and Heather book a taxi to Rincon to see the festival. Hiring a car was out of the question, people come from Curacao and nearby Islands for Rincon Day, as one car hire firm stated “You’d be lucky to hire a donkey on Rincon Day!” Our taxi driver took us on a tour up the coast and around the National Park where we saw some flamingos before dropping us off at Rincon, a real unexpected bonus! The festival was a riot of colour, bands playing and laughter. Each town and village of Bonaire and Curacao displayed their own traditional costumes, with every colour blend you could imagination. The women and girls costumes were striking, ribbons, lace, long, layered skirts, pretty bodices and blouses in a eclectic range of colours and topped off with elaborate head ware, they were partnered by their men in ribbon edged trousers and shirts, with large brimmed straw hats, they danced, swung each around, the women splaying out their beribboned skirts as they shimmied, swayed and sang down the long straight streets, Terry got roped in as the groups passed by us! The music for their dancing was provided by lorries towing trailers in between the dancing groups, each trailer had a band playing music you just had to dance along to! There must have been twenty groups at least, each group had a different colour combination, they looked so elegant and beautiful. The parade spanned all generations, the whole atmosphere was easy going and elated. Food stalls lined the streets, we had a tasty lunch of Conch, beef, cheese filled Johnny cakes, a kind of dough type roll, rice, beans and salad with several beers. The festivities would go on into the night, followed by family parties the following day, they know how to celebrate!
sisu journey 