Bonaire in August - Helpful Tips please

[dvrliz1]

For inexpensive meals, and local flavor, you definitely may want to try out some of the "snacks". Snacks are small local restaurants, run by locals, but VERY good. As Cynde mentioned before Julio's is considered a "snack", even though it is in town. I would also recommend El Fagon Latino, authentic Columbian food and E TERAS, local food such as goat stew, chicken stew (stew=stoba in papiamentu), beef stoba, funchi, etc. Also, I heard Peking is excellent for Chinese food.... El Fagon Latino is excellent for lunch, we go their for soup and bread, the soup is serve in a bowl as big as a salad bowl with large chunky veggies, etc. Also, tried the fried yucca, (root veggie), same consistency as french fries, but better.... enjoy!

 

[cerich]

Leave nothing, I mean NOTHING valuable in the car while you dive. The local thiefs know how long you will be away and take advantage of it.

 

[ScubaJW]

Thanks yall!! All of the responses here are soo helpful. now I am much more prepared and know what to expect in Bonaire.

Scubaboard rocks!

 

[mjh]

As others have said book Salt Pier and Town Pier on arrival. At Salt I would do it as a day and night dive. Bring booties with a heavy shoe sole. Some of the entries are tough on the feet if you have light tropical booties. If you have time to kill we have a slide show and trip report for Bon. http://www.aquabluedreams.com

 

[scubarealtor]

how much of a latin influence does the island have? will i have an opportunity to practice my spanish?

 

[dvrliz1]

Spanish is widely spoken, you may even want to dabble in some Papiamentu....for example:

Bon Dia (Good Day you say this until noon)
Bon Tardi (Good Afternoon)
Bon Nochi (Good Evening/Night -- this is said usually after sundown)
Kon ta bai? (KON-TA-BYE) (How are you?)
Me ta bon, danki (I am good, thanks).

I think a good website is www.papiamentu.nl

Te awore (until later)....

Liz

 

[El Orans]

Karpata is a must dive!

 

[cirwin]

I second the following:

Antriol Catering (awesome local food under $8)
Hard Soled Booties

My own thoughts:

I wore a poly-pro lined dive skin and did 3 dives a day and a night dive every day and was never cold. Most people, however, wore either 3mil shorties or fulls.

Try Cactus Blue in town. Great big burgers, super friendly family running the restaurant.

Dives not to miss:

Margate Bay
Town Pier night dive (*not* IMO overrated)
Country Garden (boat dive)

 

[scubarealtor]

Spanish is widely spoken, you may even want to dabble in some Papiamentu....for example:

Bon Dia (Good Day you say this until noon)
Bon Tardi (Good Afternoon)
Bon Nochi (Good Evening/Night -- this is said usually after sundown)
Kon ta bai? (KON-TA-BYE) (How are you?)
Me ta bon, danki (I am good, thanks).

I think a good website is www.papiamentu.nl

Te awore (until later)....

Liz

muchas gracias pa' la ayuda!

the first few phrases look vaguely frenchish. is Papiamentu a creole language?

 

[herman]

Masha Danki Liz