26/1/12

Went to the National Park Washington Slagbaai which occupies N of the island. Mostly scrubland of very tall (10-20m) cacti intermixed with thorny trees.

they had a small visitor centre at the entrance.  How’s this for Gentlemen toilets:

At the entrance gate we were told latest time to leave various dive sites. Road were really rutted and rough. You could not enter park unless you had a high sided vehicle and you did need it. Stopped at various spots on the western coast including blow holes through coral.

Interesting landscape as you could see uplifted coral reef, wave cut platforms to present coral cliff and new wave cut platform beneath thence more coral reef.

Snorkelled off Wayaka II site which had a tiny little beach – well strip of sand – which you could just walk on. Some great fish though. Had lunch at small restaurant at Boka Sagbaai and then snorkelled again. Paul found a couple of canons under the cliff edge. When we left water couple of rangers trucks parked near our vehicle – obviously checking the route and making sure all the cars were out of the park before gates closed. Road from Boka Sagbaai back to entrance was truly rutted and very rough travelling.

A white flamingo – eat more shrimps:

At last a pelican photo:

Some sort of bird!!

Lizard alert, this is the male.  Females are just brown.

27/1/12

Boys spent morning visiting gas and hardware shops and in afternoon we supermarket! Since now province of Holland huge new Dutch supermarket opened up. Even managed to get part baked bread – as well as fresh stuff. Hans you’ll be pleased to hear that we bought mature gouda!

Annie and Stephen wanted to dancing in the evening and had found some sort of dance class at a hotel/resort complex near the casino. Lovely setting, fairy lights wound around palm trees. Needless to say Paul and I sat at bar drinking cocktails! Annie and Stephen can certainly dance though.

28/1/12

Went for the ‘diving induction to Bonaire’ with Gunnar, Vibeka, Oscar and Julia. Compete waste of time as it was ‘this is where the hospital etc’. However did get to dive, we had to jump off the side of jetty (first time) and then did not have enough weight to sink so had to add more weights to dive belt. Not an easy job, taking belt off and putting back on. All a bit of a faff really. Anyway Paul and I finally managed to get into water and sink. Started to go down the reef edge and then I got spooked by the midnight blue off to one side as we started to go down the reef so we came up into shallower water.

29/1/12

Went to beach just off marina entrance. Paul, another Paul, Gunnar and Oscar dived, the rest of us snorkelled. Saw a black and white spotted eel. Julia’s 15^th birthday and we all went out to the Argentinean steakhouse to celebrate. All this swimming is knackering.  Annie flew back to Scotland for a week or so and will meet up with us in San Blas.

30/1/12 – 1/2/12

Victualed up and left for San Blas on the 2nd February.