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Unspoiled
Bonaire is only gently touched by development.
Although your options range from bird-watching
to doing nothing, Bonaire is foremost a scuba
diver's delight and also offers some of the
Caribbean's best snorkeling. This sleepy island
doesn't attract crowds and has none of Aruba's
glitzy diversions except for a few small casinos
with minor action. Instead, turquoise waters
beckon travelers to discover colorful clouds
of tropical fish. Come here for the diving,
not the beaches.
Bonaire
is also a bird-watcher's heaven, where flamingos
nearly outnumber the sparse human population.
There are about 200 different species of birds,
not only the flamingo, but also the big-billed
pelican, parrots, snipes, terns, parakeets,
herons, and hummingbirds. A pair of binoculars
is an absolute necessity.
Bonaireans
zealously protect their precious environment.
Even though they eagerly seek tourism, they
aren't interested in creating another Aruba,
with its high rise hotel blocks. Spearfishing
isn't allowed in its waters, nor is the taking
or destruction of any coral or other living
animal from the sea. Unlike some islands, Bonaire
isn't just surrounded by coral reefs, it is
the reef, sitting on the dry, sunny top of an
underwater mountain
Boomerang-shaped
Bonaire is close to the coast of Latin America,
just 81km (50 miles) north of Venezuela. Part
of the Netherlands Antilles (an autonomous part
of the Netherlands), Bonaire has a population
of about 12,000 and an area of about 290 sq.
km (113 sq. miles). The capital is Kralendijk.
It's most often reached from its neighbor island
of Curaçao, 48km (30 miles) to the west;
like Curaçao, Bonaire is desertlike,
with a dry and brilliant atmosphere. Often it's
visited by day-trippers, who rush through in
pursuit of the shy, elusive flamingo. Its northern
sector is hilly, tapering up to Mount Brandaris,
all of 236m (774 ft.). However, the southern
half, flat as a pancake, is given over to bays,
reefs, beaches, and a salt lake that attracts
the flamingos.
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Hotels in Bonaire
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The
Bonairean culture is reflected in the faces
of her people. Its origins are as varied as
are the ethnic roots of the 12,000 residents.
The real Bonairean culture is based on traditions
that go back many generations and are chronicled
in the songs and dances that are performed during
holidays and festivals. It is also based on
strong family ties and a general respect for
nature and an understanding of an environment
that originally was foreign to those first settlers
and slaves that were forced to work the inhospitable,
arid land.
Those
early days of slavery conditioned the people
to be strong in the face of adversity. And,
it was during this time that the spirit of the
people began to develop and they made up songs,
invented dances, and began to sing in the old
African Tradition. These songs and dances evolved
into festivals and have survived to become an
important part of life and culture on Bonaire.
The
dances of the Simidan and the Bari are the best
known. The traditional Waltz, Mazurka and the
Polka and the local "Baile di Sinta"
(ribbon dance) were performed as well as the
Rumba, the Carioca, and Merengue which came
from other islands. American Jazz also influenced
the localtraditions of song and dance. Along
with an eclectic assortment of homemade musical
instruments, those early performers set the
stage for a rich, local tradition which continues
on to this very day.
The calendar of events will alert visitors to
those that are taking place during their particular
vacation period. The period from January 1-6
is Maskarada, while the Spring Harvest Festival
occurs from the end of February until the end
of April, and the summer months celebrate Dia
di San Juan and Dia di San Pedro. Bari runs
from the end of October to the end of December.
Many
of the festivals are regional. It may be strange
that an island this small has regional differences,
but the fact is that there are some subtle and
not so subtle differences from neighborhood
to neighborhood. The Village of Rincon is perhaps
more apt to celebrate all the holidays in grand
style, while the village of North Salina devotes
a lot of energy to Maskarada. The best example
of strong cultural ties is during Dia Di Rincon
(Rincon Day). Thousands of participants come
from all the Antilles and Aruba
to celebrate.
The
cultural tradition continues to be influenced
to this day. Visitors may just as well enjoy
a Mariacci band or a local group performing
on the same venue. Some of the most beautiful
music you will hear may be a Mozart or Vivaldi
piece played with an Antillean beat.
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