Our first full day of diving on Bonaire was dedicated to getting oriented, both with our gear and the Divi Flamingo dive resort where we were staying. The four of us went out on our own for a shore dive on the house reef before going out on an afternoon boat dive with Divi’s dive shop. Bombs away!
I have to admit that even though I’ve logged hundreds of dives in my eight years since first strapping on a tank, I’m always nervous that first dip in the ocean—particularly as I hadn’t been diving since last October in Grand Cayman.
So it was pretty nice to get to do a shallow dive straight from the shore with three friends who wouldn’t judge me if my buoyancy wasn’t perfect. It was doubly nice to do so in visibility as crystal clear as this.
photo by Alex in Wanderland
The first night, we headed out to dinner at Capriccio, which would prove to be my favorite restaurant on the island. I never go to Italian restaurants while at home in Nashville, but this one made me rethink that idea as it was seriously one of the best I’ve ever tried (ravioli filled with pumpkin mousse? I need that in my life on a regular basis).
The pasta was all handmade and the wine collection extensive. I’ve been on a wine kick lately, so Steph and I shared a bottle (OK, two…) and then each had a moscato to end the evening. Dessert, too, of course, because #vacation.
It was probably a good thing then that our East Coast diving excursion was canceled the following day due to rough waters—I might have sunk after that meal the previous evening. We’re a pretty laid-back group when it comes to travel plans being altered on the fly, so none of us sweated it. And since we were already right next to Sorobon Beach Resort, and they were so kind as to let us sign up last minute for a morning yoga class, we thought why not?
Every morning at 8am, there’s an outdoor yoga class at the oceanfront resort. There are other active pursuits, too, like SUP yoga, sailing, kayakying and mountain biking but we stuck to doing a few asanas on solid ground.
Hitting the mat with the salty air and ocean breeze as the setting? Don’t mind if I do.
After the class, we wandered around the resort, and I was a bit envious of all the surfers and California types who made this their island base here. So chill, so calm, so perfect.
Sharing the bay and right on the other side of the divider is Jibe City from which all the windsurfers take flight. I ate lunch there on my last visit to Bonaire, and we’d find ourselves back here the following day, too. Can’t stop, won’t stop—it’s such a fun spot.
We had an hour or two to kill on the beach, which I used to wade out in the shallow bathwater of Lac Bay and ogle the windsurfers. Eventually, my compadres joined in to cool off.
Our driver came to pick us up shortly after as we had a lunch date—but not before we took the opportunity to climb the lifeguard stand! I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this was our youngest pal Alex’s idea. I’m way too mature for that.
JUST KIDDING.
photo by Alex in Wanderland
What, like I’d miss the opportunity to scamper up into a precarious position? Never! I’m 32, not 82, guys.
Our final destination for the afternoon was the tastiest one yet: Kite City at Atlantic Beach for a little food truck action. If you’re shocked to see a food truck on such a tiny island, let’s just say you’re not alone. And one with a permanent post on the coast with a trailer full of beanbags? It’s like we hit the food truck lottery.
We didn’t waste any time ordering, and while we waited for our food, I pulled up a beanbag to the shore and worked on my tan. Sister’s wedding is just a month away, after all; I’ve gotta at least be a few shades darker than my beige matron-of-honor dress.
The food came out 20 minutes later and was oh-so-fresh it couldn’t have been plucked from the water more than a couple of hours before. Angie, Steph and I ordered the seafood platter—which was a mix of seared tuna, sashimi, barracuda and dogfish—while Alex, our token non-fish eater, settled for a chicken sandwich.
We washed all the seafood down with sangria because a) it’s the tropics and b) we’re human. Not to mention, c) Kite City really whips up a potent pitcher of sangria!
In fact, we had such a good meal that we came back the next day post-diving for a reprise! You know it’s impressive when you spend two of seven afternoons at the same spot on an island packed with good restaurants.
All in all, day two was the most perfect Bonaire afternoon, and it didn’t even include a single dive! Just goes to show you that this little island really does offer a little something for everyone.