Impressions: Tennis on Bonaire

The tennis club is a minute walk from the marina and a very nice Dutch lady Elisabeth is running it. We met her three years ago, the last time we were on the island, and she included us into the tennis group. There are four courts, two are good and two have cracks just like our playing. If we were wise, we would play early. We are not. We start after nine and by eleven, the sun is melting us. The Caribbean grape vine, planted around the courts, is blocking the wind, which is good for playing, but bad for our hot bodies. It also provides home for green parakeets with yellow caps and orange picks. While we are playing, they are loudly settling their affairs. They are waiting for the grape berries to ripen, but have a competition. Bonaire women pick the berries also and make jelly out of them. Some day we’ll have to come here in early summer and pick berries ourselves. Sometimes we play in the afternoon with our Bonaire friends. In two sets we could only win three games against Trudy and Kelly. ‘Next time’, we promised them. Next time what?