Bon Bini to Bonaire!

After a lazy morning, we pulled in to what would turn out to be our favourite port this trip, Bonaire.  Now, some of you know I had booked a bike trip for Bonaire which I was both excited and intimidated to do.  Unfortunately, the night before, I got a note under the door that explained that the tour had been cancelled due to operational reasons.  So here we were with seven hours to enjoy Kralendijk.

I watched them tie up the ship very carefully.  I've never seen that many lines used before.  I'm pretty sure there were 16, including ones from the other side of the ship.  I read something I picked up in town that explained that Bonaire doesn't allow ships to drop anchor, just one of the many protections for the coral and sea life in the area.

Here go the lines to tie us up!

This bar, on the pier, says Welcome to Paradise on the top.  I can't say they're wrong.  We saw someone pull their boat up to the end and sit down for a drink, with their dog in tow.  Awesome. 

It's the Chill Out Bus! 

We ventured off the ship and went for a walk around.  The first thing we noticed was how calm the island seemed.  There was a market where you get off the ship, but it wasn't crowded or intimidating.  Someone we met along the way explained that Bonaire doesn't allow its entrepreneurs to approach tourists - you have to come to them!  And ask them for something!  Amazing!  I had some gelato and we did some tourist-y shopping.

Its a boat full of fruit!

Lots of murals, someone offered to take our picture at this one.

Bonaire's only iguana.  (The only one we saw anyways). 

In town we happened upon a real estate business.  Paradise Realty of course.  Here we learned many important things.  For instance, you can rent a home with a private beach in Bonaire, that sleeps 4 couples, for just $2500/week.  Who's in?

I wasn't satisfied with just seeing the stores, so we took a walk down the boardwalk.  It was amazingness.  Bonaire has a wonderful  sleepy "beach/cottage" town feel and we were soaking it up. 

You can see fish from the sidewalk.  I've never wanted to snorkel more! 

I guess there's some good fishing in the area.  (check out the 114kg Tuna!)

This is A. a good way to see the fishies.  B.  a good way to get your sneakers wet. 

Tiny advertising sailboat!

Edges of the water were lined with dried up coral.  It sounded like breaking fragile glass when you walk on it. 

Bonaire is a desert island, so it has cacti!

Pretty flowers. 

We bought some Bonaire Sea Salt (we'd seen the salt piles on the way in), a picture of the fishies we'd seen and made our way back to the ship. 

After watching the sailaway for a while, we went to the aft pool for a swim, and would pop our heads up and see the lights of Kralendijk get further and further away over a couple of hours.  And then it was time to rest for our last port!!