Storm

A tropical storm is forming and models show it may cross over the ABC Islands.  It may just blow over (no pun intended) or turn directions or calm down to just rain.  The Caribbean Weather site suggests that we prepare for the worst and break out our hurricane kits. 

This was a good opportunity to try out our preparedness.  We have no idea how long the storm will last or if we will be without power and water.  This will be a practice run for us.  We sanitized our water storage containers and will fill them in the coming days.  We shopped for non perishable food items. We stocked up on batteries.  Our flashlights all work.

We charged every electronic devise and power storage items.  We downloaded books on our readers.  We tied down all of our hanging lights, and secured our decorator items so that they would not blow away.  All of the furniture pads, pillows and couch pads are stored inside.  We froze several blue ice blocks in case our freezer/fridges loose power.  Our gas grill has two full propane tanks.  We left our pool water level low so when it rains it won't overflow.  We are ready.

The normal people on the island, just went to the liquor store and called it good.

Fruits and Nuts

Our neighbors are urban farmers.  They have cultivated their entire lot with banana, fruit and nut trees, tomato plants, local herbs, and spinach that grows on a vine.  They have chickens and quails for eggs(they sell the eggs) and several bee hives for honey. If we ever have a catastrophe on the island we always say we will go next door and graze through their yard for food.  

This week they shared a Soursop (pictured above).  It's an awful looking fruit with a mushy pulp that tastes like grapefruit. You can't eat the seeds and the skin is covered with sharp nubs.  So you have to eat around those issues to get to the sweet and sour pulp.

These are Moringa seed pods.  They grow on trees all over the neighbor's place. They cultivate them for the seeds that they dry and press to get a fine oil that they sell.  The oil is used to lubricate things like watches and sewing machines. 

Our neighbors don't need the money from these crops, they just like growing things and living off the land.  She is a school teacher at the Dutch school and teaches English.  She is an American from Alamosa, Colorado.  Her husband is a nursing administrator at the medical clinics.  He is Dutch.  They met while working in Chile.  They have two kids, both born in Denver.  All of them speak English, Dutch, Spanish, and Papiamentu fluently.

This week, our neighbors, who we affectionally refer to as  Earth Muffins, also gave us Star Fruit. This is a nice normal looking fruit that tastes like a pear to me. It grows on a bush in their yard and is covered with the fruit.  

So there you have it...fruits to nuts.

Chagogo

A new resort opened on Bonaire called Chogogo.  It was built by Tui (Dutch airline and travel company). There was a lot of threats to fine the resort for not having a permit to bring in sand for their fake beach.  The national park agency was going to fine them one million dollars for their faux paus.  I think all is forgiven and they opened up despite the complaints.

We went to check it out.  You can buy a day pass for $25 with a $10 rebate for food and drinks. So for $15 bucks you get to use the resort and their amenities all day.  We ate lunch, had cocktails and laid in the shady lounge chairs.  There is a Lazy River running all around the resort which we tried with inner tubes. It was fun but you really had to embrace the lazy concept because it was a slow river.

The sand was brought in from the French Guyana because Bonaire does not really have sandy beaches. They have a nice walkway along the sea.  The coastline is coral so it's really hard to get in and out of the water.  We saw two old Dutch women on their hands and knees trying to get into the water to snorkel.  We found that quite amusing as we sat in our sun chairs and watched.

The pool is freshwater with chlorine and has a gently sloping entry that makes it more like a lake than a pool.  The sea gulls really enjoyed taking baths in the pool.  Fresh water is a rare commodity for the wildlife.  I am sure the designers never intended this huge pool to be a bird bath.

Festivals

Bonaire summer festivals are super fun.  Since we have been in lockdown for 2 years, everyone is anxious to get out and party.  And they bring their party hats with them!

The Bonaire Culinar is like restaurant week in a US city.  The restaurants offer a special three or four course meal at a cheaper price than usual so that people will try them out.  This is how we learned about many of the best restaurants on the island.

Our favorite was Rum Week.  There were events all over the island featuring rum. The Caribbean is ground zero for rum making and drinking. Rum week attracted distillers, distributors and connoisseurs.  We attended a rum tasting event at one of the fancy resorts. There were rums from all over the Caribbean and they poured rum in our glasses all afternoon and served appetizers... all for free!  Nothing is better than drinking rum on the beach for free. 

Taste of Bonaire featured food and craft booths lined up in Wilhelmina Park. The streets were so full of people that you could hardly walk.  We ate our way through the park, listened to some local bands and made our way home. The highlight was getting soft serve ice cream which is a rarity in the hot weather.  I always had my hands full of food,  so I forgot to take any photos of the event.  

 

Italian Wine

We dropped by our favorite wine bar and restaurant in Playa (downtown Kralendijk) to gather information on Italian wines and vineyards for our Europe trip.

Well two glass of wine later we left Grandi with three bottles of wine and a list of agritrourismo vineyards to visit in Italy. These are vineyards where you can spend the night on the property and visit the vineyard to learn about their wines and production. 

Grandi imports wines from Italy and has an extensive wine room for tasting and purchase.  They specialize in pairing wines with small plates.

Manouk, the owner of Grandi, couldn't resist having a impromptu wine tasting with us.  She brought out some of the best wine wines we have ever had. She always pours a glass and then says: " If you don't like it, don't worry because I will drink the bottle myself."  That's how confident she is in her wine selections.

She keeps catalogs of the wine she buys and imports.  She has business relationships with the vineyards in Italy. She is Italian and Dutch with family in both Italy and Holland. She really knows her stuff.

Now that we are armed with vineyard contacts and locations, we are securing vineyard tours in Italy.    

 

Airco

Airco (air conditioning) in Bonaire is a whole different set-up than in the States. Central air and heat ( which we never need) don't seem to be available on the island. Probably because all the buildings are made of concrete and there is no place to put ducts and vents.  At least that's my working theory.

Our house has an airco unit in each bedroom.  The kitchen/lounge area is not air conditioned.....yet. It is efficient because you only turn it on when you need that room cooled. It's sized for the area of the room and operated by remote control.

Each unit has an indoor component with a  compressor placed outside.  A hole is carved in the wall for the connection between the two pieces. Not air tight or attractive but works all the same.

We just replaced one of our four airco units in our new TV room.  Apparently these units only last about 6-8 years. We purchased a Daikin which is an international company out of Japan. We saw brands that I usual associated with electronics or cars:  LG, Panasonic, Gree, and Mitsubishi.

I am sure this is more than you ever wanted to know about airco in Bonaire. It's an essential item for living here.  This summer when it reaches 90+ and the trade winds stop I am going to be lounging in my newly decorated and cooled TV room...or at the pool...or the beach.

 

George and Gracie

The climate on Bonaire deteriorates almost everything: metal, wood, rattan, painted surfaces, shells, rubber and plastic. It's no wonder that our Indonesian carved wood statues that we affectionally call "George and Gracie" have succumbed to the outdoor conditions.

Even though most of the wood items outside our house are shabby chic or distressed with peeling paint and faded surfaces, there comes a time when they need to be cleaned up and renewed.
 

My trusty friend, Brenda,  accompanied me to the art/paint store to buy supplies. It always amazes me that you can find things on Bonaire.  Brenda knows all the places to buy things whether you are looking for dryer sheets, sewing material, fancy art from Italy or acrylic paint.

I sat down to start painting the figures.  It took only a few hours to get the job done.  I am pleased that George and Gracie have been rejuvenated. 

I am pleased with the results.  Now I am going to tackle some of the wood furniture items that need attention.