Dia de Rincon in Bonaire
It has been almost a month and Don and I are still enjoying the beauty and diversity of the incredible coral island of Bonaire. The Starship is ready to head west though, we have a craving for corn tortillas, arepas, and pupusas! After our next set of guests we plan to make the break from the Eastern Caribbean back west. The transition weather month of May approaches and moving around this very contrary sea becomes somewhat more manageable so Don is watching the weather carefully.
Old friends from Santa Cruz Barb, Curtis, and Matt have joined us and brought the Captain a new autopilot to install, some snail mail to peruse and other goodies. Guests are like Christmas, send a message North, supply beer and snacks, and packages start arriving! As we have learned Bonaire has much more to offer other than the world class diving it is so famous for. Curtis, being an off-road enthusiast and sand railer guided us to the Washington Slagbaai National Park on the north tip of the island.
A Nature reserve since 1969 this sparse and dry park is home to multiple species of birds, wild goats, and iguanas, as well as cacti and rocky yet beautiful beaches. Hawks, brown pelicans, bananaquites, hummingbirds and flamingos all made an appearance.
Later a beach combing expedition on the east facing windward side left us with awe at its beauty and dismay at the waste that so frequently ends up on these remote spots.
This coral strewn beach has sadly become the final resting place for an old discarded computer with keyboard and of course many, many, many, plastic water bottles. But Bonaire is also attempting to harness Mother Nature in a positive way and these tradewind turbines are always turning.
The second largest town on Bonaire is Rincon and is also the oldest, established in the 16th century by the Spanish. Dia de Rincon was being celebrated and a day was spent watching parades of brightly costumed women and children, live music, harvest celebrations and traditional dances.
This is a day that celebrates the kunuku lifestyle, better known as those who farm or ranch on Bonaire. At sunset all were dancing traditional Simadan, the harvest dance that gives thanks for a good harvest.
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