Friday, February 05, 2010

Delta and Continental Add Additional Seasonal Airlift from North America to Bonaire

Continental Airlines and Delta have both recently added additional airlift from North America to Bonaire for the remaining portion of the high season and a portion of the summer season.

Effective February 12, 2010 until April 2, 2010, Continental will operate a second Newark flight on Saturdays (EWR-BON-EWR) in addition to their normal weekly rotation.  Continental flight #1553 will depart Newark at 11:55 PM and arrive on Bonaire the next morning at 5:22 AM.  Continental flight #1556 will then depart Bonaire at 7:00 AM.

Continental will also operate a third Houston flight on Mondays effective March 7, 2010 until March 29, 2010.  Continental flight #1898 will depart Houston at 11:30 PM and arrive on Bonaire the following morning at 6:00 AM.  Continental flight #1899 will then depart Bonaire at 8:30 AM.

Effective February 13 through August 14, Delta will upgrade the 757 (with 183 seats) currently operated on the Bonaire route to a 767 with 262 seats, providing extra capacity each week.

Please note that times will be adjusted in March in conjunction with the Daylight Savings Time change.  (Source:  TCB Bonaire)

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Sand Dollar Condominium Resort Announces New Management

Sand Dollar Condominium Resort is pleased to announce that Gilberto Lira has been named General Manager effective immediately.

Mr. Lira is of Antillean birth, and he has more than twenty years of experience in the hotel, restaurant, and tourism industry within the Antilles. He has worked in management positions in several highly regarded Caribbean resorts—Sunset Beach Resort, Divi Flamingo Beach, and the Plaza Resort in Bonaire, La Cabana and Divi Tamarijn in Aruba, and Pelican Resorts and Atrium Beach Resort in Sint Maarten, and he’ll bring the skills, drive, and enthusiasm to focus upon high quality service and customer satisfaction.

Gilberto has a BS in Hospitality Management from Florida International University and a diploma in Hotel & Restaurant Management from the Aruban Hospitality Trade Training Center, along with a certification in Leadership & Motivation from Cornell University and training certifications from the Caribbean Hospitality Training Institute. He speaks fluent English, Spanish, Dutch, and Papiamentu.

Sand Dollar is one of the premier oceanfront condominium resorts on Bonaire. All rooms have a view of the water and are steps away from diving and snorkeling on Sand Dollar’s famous house reef, Bari. Sand Dollar not only offers a 5-star PADI dive shop, photo shop, tennis courts, a pool, and high-speed Internet, but also has other conveniences within walking distance—a bank, a grocery store, deli, full-service gym, liquor store, drug store, restaurants, and Kralendijk, the capital of Bonaire.

For additional information about the resort, visit their web site by clicking here, or email info@sanddollarbonaire.com. (Source:  Sand Dollar Condominium Resort)

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Jong Bonaire’s Third Annual Fun Walk & Bike Will Be Held Sunday, February 21st, 2010

It’s the third year for this event, and much like other Jong Bonaire fund-raising events, such as the Swim to Klein Bonaire, the Fun Walk & Bike is gathering more and more participants each year.  This year, it will be held on Sunday, February 21st, 2010.

The walk will consist of a distance of 20 kilometers, and the starting time is 6:00 AM when it’s refreshingly cool outside.  The starting and ending points this year will be at the Jong Bonaire Youth Center.  Entry fee is FL 20.00 per person (USD $11.24) and children under the age of 12 are half price.  The entry fee includes a t-shirt, water bottle, drinks, lunch, and fruit.  Tickets are available at Freewieler and Jong Bonaire.  All are invited to come out for this fun event and help out a good cause!  For additional information and route information, click here (in PDF format).  (Source:  Jong Bonaire)

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Dive Friends Bonaire Announces New Management for Dive Facilities

Dive Friends Bonaire is pleased to announce the appointment of a new manager for their dive operations department.

Effective immediately, Pascal de Meyer will begin as Manager of Dive Operations.  Mr. de Meyer has many years of experience in diving operations around the world and on Bonaire, where he has been working within the local dive industry for nearly twenty years.  He joined Dive Friends Bonaire after Yellow Submarine and Photo Tours Divers, of which he was an owner, merged in 2005, and he has been actively working as Retail Manager since that time.

Dive Friends Bonaire has every confidence that Mr. de Meyer will continue the company’s mission to provide Bonaire’s friendliest dive operation while maintaining the highest of standards. 

Dive Friends Bonaire is one of Bonaire’s premier diving facilities offering full diving and snorkeling services while still providing personal attention.  Two retail stores are available in Kralendijk, in addition to four diving facilities.  For additional information about all their services, visit their web site at www.dive-friends-bonaire.com, or e-mail: info@dive-friends-bonaire.com. (Source:  Dive Friends Bonaire)

Friday, January 22, 2010

The Next Classical Music Concert is January 24, 2010

The Classical Music Board of Bonaire has announced their next concert, which will be in a new format.  On January 24, 2010, Krusa Musika will present a “Lazy Sunday Afternoon Concert.”

The program will be divided into three sets of thirty minutes each.  In each set, a mini-concert will be held for about 15 to 20 minutes, after which background music will be provided so attendees may socialize and talk a bit.  In between sets, a short intermission will be provided.  Linda Anthony will be singing soprano, Eric van Silfhout will be singing tenor and be on violin, Hans Faassen will be on piano and bass, and there also will be guest musicians.  The program has been planned to include vocals (solos and an a capella quartet), and instrumental pieces (on piano and violin).  Additionally, some 16th-century Dutch songs will be performed, along with other compositions.

The concert will take place at Cacique Hall at Plaza Resort Bonaire, and capacity is limited to a maximum of ninety persons.  Seating will be at twelve round tables.  Entry is FL 15.00 per person; tickets will be available at the door starting at 1:15 PM.  (Source:  Classical Music Board Bonaire)

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Buddy Dive Resort Receives New Boat, Now Offers Three-Tank Washington Park Safari Dives

Late last month, a new motor catamaran snugged up to Buddy Dive’s dock--with a welcoming committee which had eagerly watched the boat make its way from the horizon, past Klein Bonaire, to Buddy Dive.  This motor catamaran has lots of space, enough for up to 24 divers on a three-tank dive.

Equipped with everything on board that a diver needs, such as rinse buckets, a camera table, a sun-deck, a shaded area, and an entry platform for both easy entries and exits.  After or in-between dives, one can enjoy the sun and stunning views from a comfortable seat on the flying bridge.

Because of the spaciousness of the boat, Buddy Dive is now offering three-tank Washington Park Safari Dives, with possibility of dives made at Boca Bartol, Playa Bengi, Playa Funchi, Bise Morto, Wayaca, or Boca Slagbaai.  The price for the trip is only $120 per person and includes a lunch.  The boat will go with a minimum of just 6 divers, and the maximum is 24.  Those who wish to tag along, but not dive, are welcome subject to space availability.

Those wishing to check schedules or sign up in advance of their arrival on Bonaire may contact Buddy Dive’s reservations department by emailing reservations@buddydive.com or phone 717-5080. (Source:  Buddy Dive Resort)

Monday, January 18, 2010

CIEE Bonaire Announces New Lectures in January and February, 2010

CIEE has announced two new upcoming lectures in their continuing series of free, community-oriented presentations on Bonaire’s natural world.

The first will take place on Thursday, January 28th at 7:00 PM, and will be given by Dr. Sam Williams, University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom.  He will speak on factors affecting the abundance and distribution of the yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot (Amazona barbadensis) on Bonaire.

The second presentation will be conducted in conjunction with Stichting Kibrahacha, and it will be held on Friday, February 5th at 7:00 PM.  The topic will be trees and reforestation on Bonaire, and the presenter is Dr. Dolfi Debrot, Director of CARMABI (Caribbean Research and Management on Biodiversity in Curaçao).  Dr. Debrot has more than ten year’s experience with reforestation and planting of rare endemic trees on Curaçao and Bonaire. The last few years he has been planting trees on Klein Bonaire and in Washington Slagbaai National Park in collaboration with STINAPA.  Dr. Debrot has put together a splendid presentation with photographs of rare trees. This presentation also addresses the impact of feral ungulates on the vegetation. It shows how the bio-diversity can be increased by regeneration and reforestation.

Both lectures will take place at the CIEE Research Station Bonaire, Kaya Gobernador N. Debrot 26.  All are welcome and admission is free.  (Source:  CIEE Bonaire)

Friday, January 15, 2010

It’s Karnival Season on Bonaire!

Although the holiday season has just ended, that doesn’t mean that there’s not time to begin the next celebration, which, on Bonaire, is Karnival.  We’re already into the Karnival season, with events beginning now and leading up through to the Grand Karnival Parade in Kralendijk, on February 14, 2010, also Valentine’s Day.

Here’s the schedule for upcoming events:

January 16th:  Jump-Up in Rincon
January 19th:  Jump-Up in Wilhelmina Park, Kralendijk
January 20th:  Jump-Up in Rincon
January 24th:  Election of the King and Queen of the Youth Karnival
January 30th:  Final Night for the Grand Tumba Festival
January 31st:  Youth Tumba Festival
February 1st:  Jump-Up Kabo
February 5th:  Election of the King and Queen of the Grand Karnival (Adult)
February 6th:  Youth Karnival in Rincon
February 7th:  Youth Karnival in Kralendijk
February 10th:  Bikers’ Parade in Kralendijk
February 12th:  Marathon Jump-Up Jump-In
February 13th:  Grand Karnival Parade in Rincon
February 14th:  Grand Karnival Parade in Kralendijk
February 20th:  Closing of the 2010 Karnival Season

Be sure to enjoy as many events as you can!  (Source:  Island Government)

Thursday, January 14, 2010

New Restaurant Review:  La Barca Offers Traditional Italian Dining on Bonaire

It seems like 2010 has brought a wide variety of new restaurants on Bonaire to sample this coming year, from Chinese restaurants, to Italian restaurants, and everything in between.  La Barca Bar Restaurant recently opened its doors, and this reporter had the opportunity to give them a try.

La Barca is located on the oceanfront promenade in the premises of the former Angel Floating Restaurant.  The boat serves as a nice backdrop to the canopied garden, where dinner is served.  The menu, although not large, is varied and should offer something for everyone.  As with traditional Italian dining, La Barca offers starters (antipasti), different first courses (the pasta course), and various second courses (the main course).

My dining companion and I both elected to limit the caloric intake and so we each sampled the same pasta course, which proved to be plentiful and more than enough for a dinner.  We chose the tagliolini, a fresh egg pasta that was served with large shrimp, calamari, and shellfish, in this instance, mussels.  The pasta was perfectly al dente and the seafood married well with the pasta’s sauce.  Although I did not have wine, my companion approved of the wine list that was proffered and chose a nice red to go with the dinner.

The ambiance is understated Italian elegance, and those wishing to enjoy a drink at the bar sit on tall bar stools at the side of the boat’s starboard gunwale.  There’s an excellent breeze which keeps mosquitoes well away, so no bug spray was needed, and the tables are spaced well away from each other, so there’s no noisy intrusion from nearby tables.

To give other examples of menu items, starters can include a tuna carpaccio in citrus fruit marinade, duck salad with crudites and crunchy croutons, mozzarella leaves with tomato confit and Parma ham, among others.  Some of the pasta courses offered include Parmesan risotto with ossobuco morsels or a maccheroncini amatriciana style with fresh tomatoes, pancetta cubes, and pecorino cheese.

Some of the main courses that I’ve yet to sample on return trips include butter-fried Dorado escalope in poppy seed crust, grilled beef fillet with roasted potatoes, and for the vegetarians, a vegetable millefoglie cake with fondue, Parmesan biscuit, and orange citronette.

For such a small island, Bonaire offers a spectacular array of dining options, and La Barca is certainly a welcome addition!  The restaurant is located on Kaya Jan N.E. Craane, and reservations may be made by calling 717-4514.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider Reporter)

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Bonaire Wellness Connexions Begins 2010 with Many Activities

BWC has announced a very active calendar for 2010 which is perfect for active residents or tourists, beginning with the first event on Saturday, January 16, 2010.

This first event of the year will be the BWC East Mountain Bike Ride, a mountain bike ride through new goat and donkey trails along the east coast, which promises to be a thrilling ride. Price per participant is FL 20.00 (about USD $11.24); fee includes drinks and fruits.

Then, on Sunday, January 31, the National Park Mountain Bike Ride is planned.  This is a popular mountain bike tour in Washington Slagbaai National Park, and is for riders of all levels of experience; distance for beginners, intermediate, and advanced riders.  More advanced or experienced riders will have the opportunity to ride from BWC (town) to the entrance of the park, then ride the park with the whole group and then ride back to town (approximately 80 km). Advanced ride will start from BWC at 7.00 AM. There will be assistance in the park with a pickup in case participants get tired, so they can catch a ride.  Cost is $14.50 per person and includes a sandwich, drinks, and fruit. Please note that the entrance to the park is not included, so those who have a dive tag should bring that, along with the receipt, for free entry.

On Sunday, February 21, BWC will hold a 5k, 10k, and 1/2 Marathon.  Future events for 2010 include:

February 28, Island Road Bike Tour
March 28, Mountain Bike Race
April 17, North Mountain Bike Tour
May 2, Run Bike Run Off-Road
May 30, Tempo Race
June 13, National Park Mountain Bike Tour
June 27, Xtreme Duo Bonaire
October 3, Mountain Bike Race
December 19, National Park Mountain Bike Tour

Source:  Bonaire Wellness Connexions