I’m a warm weather lover, so when there is nothing keeping us home for Christmas, I’m happy to spend it in the Caribbean. This year a new island, Bonaire. Recommended by Steve’s dermatologist, whose underwater photography is amazing, and who has been there 7 times (and is returning again in February). We were joined by friends Mary Ellen and Ginny and spent 2 weeks snorkeling, bird watching, eating amazing food, watching lovely sunsets with adult beverages, awakening to beautiful rainbows and trying to catch a Ruddy Turnstone named Rudi who had fishing line tied around one leg.

Mary and Steve (because one has to have an engineer help with a project like this) devised multiple traps and nets, including the drapes from the house we rented. I strongly reinforced the fact I wasn’t insured for damages. They almost got him with a box balanced on a stick, but in the end only a hermit crab crawled in, ate all of the food and probably thought he was in a luxury hotel. Rudi was never caught, but had the ability to fly and seemed well fed, and the bird rehab on the island now knows of his predicament and location.

We visited a donkey sanctuary, a crazy botanical garden and the Washington Slagbaai National Park where the Yellow Shouldered Parrots and Crested Caracara where incredible. And in the solar salt works on the southern end of the island we saw flamingos! There were so many incredible snorkeling sites on the island we could visit a new one every day.  Dr. Snyder gave us wonderful recommendations for restaurants, and with great grocery stores available we certainly didn’t go hungry.

We loved it so much we’re going back next year. Anybody wanna come?

Enjoy the show!

Deborah