the salt ponds
flamingos breed in the Goto lake area
Four wheel drives are mandatory in Washington Slagbaai National Park
huge waves pound the northeastern coastline
but some prefer to stay in the shade
you may meet a free roaming donkey everywhere on Bonaire, except for in downtown Kralendijk
Lac Bay is a surfers paradise
Lac Bay has the distinct relaxed atmosphere of windsurfers
the restored slave huts from 1850
the lighthouse at Seru Bentana was hit by lightning in 1954, killing the lighthouse keeper .
Bonaire

Bonaire is the smallest of the three ABC islands with a total population of around 17.000. The capital is Kralendijk.

Bonaire has been inhabited for at least 4500 years. The tall Caquetio lived here when in 1499  Alonso de Ojeda showed up and colonized the island for Spain.

The Dutch West India Company used the island as a plantation and to harvest salt. The salt ponds are still in operation today.

Bonaire is a special municipality of the Netherlands since 2010, but sofar the new status has not brought the hoped for improvements in living conditions.

The economy is based on tourism. The worldclass reefs, loaded with fish, make for a divers paradise. Surfers prefer the windy southeastern shore  at Lac Bay.

A real gem is Washington Slagbaai National Park and you can combine this with a trip to nearby Goto Lake where flamingos are abundant. And look out for giant green iguanas and wild donkeys.

Do not miss the surrealistic colored salt pans with the slave huts. You may spot some very colorful flamingos here.

Since 1997 we have visited beautiful Bonaire several times.

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the government building in Kralendijk
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Bonaire sports no sandy beaches but you can get plenty of sun on the pier while watching the reef fish
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a fearless green iguana. They may reach an overall length of 1.5 meter
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flamingos feed in the salt ponds
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