Bonaire Bliss
Hop in a boat and throw the paddle away
Offer my heart up to the break and the sway
May 2025. It was time to visit an island and turn into vapor. We found a great deal on flights to Bonaire, formerly of the Netherlands Antilles and now a special municipality of its European colonizer.
We stayed in the capital of Kralendijk (“coral dyke” or “coral wall”). Here we enjoyed the leeward side of the island with its gentle turquoise waters and constant hum of maritime activity, visible from our first glimpse of the island on final approach to Flamingo International Airport.
The sleepy, walkable downtown with its pastel façades features great restaurants and adorable arcades. The main plaza turns into a bustling open-air market whenever a cruise ship nearly doubles the town’s population, which thankfully was the case for only two days of our weeklong visit.
The main draw of Bonaire, though, is its underwater treasure. Hop into the Caribbean Sea anywhere on the leeward side and snorkel with pufferfish, barracudas, and sea turtles. Even the water directly underneath our hotel balcony teemed with life.
Unfortunately, the X100VI is only weatherproof—not waterproof!—so enjoy these views from just a few feet above sea level. See the second series for pictures from the remote areas of Bonaire.
Recipes used: Classic Cuban Negative, Reggie’s Portra, Vibrant Arizona, Bright Summer
