BONAIRE

We have been on Bonaire since late April, playing tennis almost every day, melting ( a nicer word for sweating) on a hot court. Our tennis rust is slowly peeling off.

Bonaire tennis court

A visitor interrupted our game 

Cheering section

Bonaire national bird is trupial, oriole family, it's nest swinging in the wind. After trupial's offspring find their own life away from home, saffron finch settles in it's hanging nest.

Saffron finch

Bonaire differs from other Caribbean islands, it is flat with the exception of the north part. There is only one large natural beach, enclosed in the lagoon on the east side. The island is surrounded by coral reefs, that attract thousands of divers every year. I joined their force last week by going through somewhat unpleasant tests. Well worth for enjoying the beauty of the silent world.

My instructor Chris Verstappen, who was said to have gills

As we drove the bumpy road across the island, we noticed the difference since we sailed here seven years ago. The desert is slowly giving in to green shrubs, though the forests of tall cacti are still dominant. The prickly plants are also widely used for fences.

Try to climb over this fence

Or try to stand on it

Kralendijk , the Capitol, is a charming small town with many souvenir, craft and jewellery shops, but also large supermarkets. There you buy what you recognise, most labels are in Dutch. You like the variety of foods? There are plenty of restaurants, from French 'Bistro de Paris', Argentinian, Polynesian, Chinese to the excellent fish treat in 'It Rains Fishes'.

Karelsbar on the Kralendijk's waterfront

There is no anchoring here. To protect the coral, mooring
blocks were put in the sand close to the shore

On Sunday locals come to catch small fish in a shallow water

Sunset over Klein Bonaire, the bird sanctuary