Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles A Vacation Gallery - Autumn 2006 Original digitals, enhancements & gallery by Jeff Hartzer Brought to you by the folks at FRESHCHAOS.com
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Please share our autumn '06 'vacation gallery' of the unique island of Bonaire. These photographs capture a bit of the magic at least from our perspective. Bonaire is truly a Divers' Paradise and so much more.
Atop Bonaire's Donkey Sanctuary Skytower
Parrots Galore!
An early morning Osprey...
Flag of Bonaire
Bonaire is a small, 112 square miles, Dutch island just 50 miles north of Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea. Lightly inhabited, it is a quiet destination where visitors appreciate the natural environment. It's desert-like landscape is home to abundant birdlife...it is a birdwatchers heaven. But its real claim-to-fame is diving, and it is the reason most people visit. The entire island is surrounded by a protected marine park which offers underwater splendor. Bonaire is a part of the Netherlands Antilles . Together with Aruba and Curaçao it forms a group referred to as the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles. While Papiamento, English and Spanish are commonly spoken, the official language is Dutch. In 2004 the population was estimated at 10,185 inhabitants. Bonaire is served by Flamingo International Airport. Click for more wildlife on Bonaire information.
Everywhere you go, You always take the weather with you. Jimmy Buffett
Relax; it's BONAIRE !
Our thanks to Wayne at SCUBAWORLDTRAVEL for arranging our journey.
Get Travel Insurance...Just click: For Travel Insurance Travel in Mexico...Just click: Mexico Vacation Travel A look at Bonaire's History Visit: Bonaire Webcams !
Visitors since 11/03/06: |
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Our Main Gallery below consists of these segments: Arrival Flamingos Gone Wild ! Sea-Salt Flats Kralendijk: Amsterdam it's NOT Map of Bonaire Save the Donkeys ! Leapin' Lizards Diver's Paradise Please scroll down through the crystal waters of cyber-spacialness. Digital photography © 2006-presnet |
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Arrival Our early arrival at Bonaire's Flamingo Airport , got us into our rental truck by sunrise. We took a spin around the northern half of the island where we saw Flamingos , Parrots, Donkeys, and the shoreline before we hit our condominium with all the modern amenities.
Today's bait is fresh-caught.
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Flamingos Gone Wild ! Bonaire is truly A DIVERS'S PARADISE...But it is so much more. The Wildlife is breathtaking. Flamingos in the wild are way cooler than at the zoo.
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NOT a Flamingo! |
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Our sea level hacienda .
Sea-Salt Flats
Bonaire exports salt crystals desalinated from the sea. It has an abundant supply of FRESH WATER which comes from the desalination process. The salt flats are also home to abundant wildlife. Windmills too. Love those Dutchmen and ladies. Oddly, you can not buy sea salt crystals at local stores.
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Renting a vehicle on Bonaire is a must in order to tour the island's open beaches with free parking and to snorkle, swim, or scuba the many 'dive spots' marked on stones.
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Kralendijk: Amsterdam it's not |
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Bonaire's largest metropolis is Kralendijk. There are no Amsterdam-like red light zones or marijuana dens. The not so big berg is as laid back as the rest of the island. Many paved roads surround the island and main city. Driving is so laid back, on our return to Albuquerque, I had to 'wake myself up' to the realities of chaotic traffic back in the US of A.
Intrepid Travelers
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The Wallie World of Bonaire... |
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City Pier a popular nightdive spot. |
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Bonaire's Leapin' Lizards |
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Off to see the lizard ... |
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Hey, nice lizards.
Bonaire: Divers' Paradise
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Ready, Set ... Don't need no SCUBA gear here. |
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