Grunts...The average water temperature in Bonaire is close to 80 degrees. I doubt that these guys miss me as much as I miss them. 

Bonaire Beach Day...Beaches are few and far between on Bonaire as much of the shoreline is ironshore. This spot, a popular shore dive, is known to divers as "1,000 Steps". A very steep set of stairs provides access from the road above. The stairs certainly seem like a 1,000 steps when carrying dive gear!

Changes in Lattitude...I went outside early this morning, put out the garbage and got the newspaper. It did not look or feel anything like this........... (looks even more inviting in the larger view).

One very Friendly Island...Be sure to click on this boatload of happy people for a larger view.

It's hard to describe Bonaire to people who have never been here. Hardscrabble and beautiful at the same time...dry cactus landscapes, aquablue vistas and underwater colorful reefs that teem with life. And... it is the people that really give the place it's warm and welcome feel, there are no hawkers selling tourist trinkets, no parasailing and no tours to island eco-farms. Most visitors will find that polite questions are met with helpful and genuine attempts to make you feel welcome, people on the street respond to a universal "hello".
Some of that "welcome" feel is captured (for me) in this shot. It was Sunday, the one day that the 13,000 inhabitants all seem to enjoy the gifts of their little island. This boat was passing by our place and I raised my camera to get a shot...the reaction when I was spotted speaks volumes.
I just know that we will return! :-)

Bonaire Icons...Lots of photos to process upon our return! ....The "White Slave Huts" are one of two historical monuments in honor of those who worked as slaves in the salt pans of Bonaire. 

Yesterday...all my troubles were so far away.
Arrived in the wee hours of the morning in a city with 25mph winds and 17 degrees. Gotta love that "change of seasons"! :-) 

Homeward Bound...Tomorrow we leave our little slice of Caribbean Paradise. The weatherman on the cable TV tells us that NY will see it's coldest day to this point in the year when they open that Jetway for us tomorrow. Yikes! The good news is that we have a wonderful nest waiting for us in that upper lattitude! :-) 

Scrolled Filefish...One of the many inhabitants that welcome us to the reef each dive. :-) 

A Rare Sight...It's very unusual to get a photo of Alida without a camera in her hand. Strange but true, there she is camera-less! Lol 

Bonaire's "Other Sport".....Windsurfing has become a very popular activity on Bonaire drawing fans from both Europe and North America. The island's Lac Bay on the windward side provides an ideal and shallow area for windsurfers. 

End of another Dive Day...Killer views from our private terrace keep nature's show an endless wonder. Love it. :-) 

The Wild Side..Bonaire's windward side is a very different environment than the diver friendly leeward calm. Breakers on the ocean side can be huge and thundering. There is one dive operator diving the "Wild Side" and advertising adventure dives....I'm of the thinking that vacations should be easy adventures! 

Steps into the Sea...our front porch here in Bonaire making our entry into the reef beyond very uncomplicated. :-) 

Sea Salt...Mountains of sea salt. Bonaire's original industry was salt and it still is a big part of the local economy. (best view is in the large size..click on the image). :-)

Apres' Dive Cocktail Hour...Our neighbors came by for afternoon cocktails and snicky-snacks at the end of the dive day. Nice company, nice neighborhood. :-) 

Historical Bonaire...The Red Slave Huts, a national monument in Bonaire, is dedicated to the memory of the slaves who labored in the salt pans. These huts, which are very small, served as housing during the salt harvests. 

Evening Sail...The internet time here is sporadic and slow, the views are endless, peaceful and beautiful. 

Welcome to Bonaire... Upon arrival our "Welcome Committee" was waiting on the veranda. :-) 

Back in Bonaire... The view from here.... 

Winter Ready...This guy is all set and ready to deal with the winter weather, my strategy is to escape. Getting ready to head South, the balmy Caribbean is on my radar. :-)
(he looks better in the larger image, click on his winter coat!)

Ice Free...The warmer than normal temperatures are being enjoyed by all! Extended feeding time for our local waterfowl. :-) 

Salty...Walking around marinas in the winter months has always been a mild diversion for me. There is often a sense of "who did it and ran..", items and gear left hastily with the intent to worry about details in the Spring. And of course, there is always that sense of "wait till next year" that gives character to vessels in storage. This tired and dependable member of the fleet caught my eye. :-) 

NFL Playoffs...Even the most die-hard JETS fans share a small twinge of surprise at this weekend's playoff berth. In what was to have been a "rebuilding" year under a new head coach the JETS have earned the respect of the most cynical of fans.
Frequently the Super Bowl is an anti-climatic close to the playoff process. Wild Card games and Divisional Championships tend to have the most tension and excitement. New York fans are in for a real treat today as the JETS kickoff at 1pm and that other team, the Giants, will struggle against the Eagles starting at 4:30. The last time both NY teams played in a playoff game the same weekend was in 1981. It's definately a very opportunistic day to own a Sports Bar in the NY metropolitan area.
LET'S GO JETS! :-)

Long Island Winter?...I'll gladly take 60 degrees in January and smile all the way to the beach. The crazy weather has nearby flora confused as trees are budding and flowers are starting to emerge. Looks like a slow year for the home heating oil industry! :-) 

Brother and Sister...Sharing sweet childhood memories. :-)

Port Jeff Ferry...Most weekends at this time of the year see crowds of skiiers rushing to catch the ferry to New England. The balmy weather so far this winter has skiiers looking for other outdoor pursuits. Conditions yesterday certainly were ideal for a boat ride on Long Island Sound even if the slopes were snow-free. 

Perspective...Seeing things differently requires a new perspective and a different approach. Resisting change makes it a challenge to frame things in a new or unique way sometimes, so I thought that I would try a different point of view! Just a tongue in cheek attempt to shoot a common image and get an uncommon result. :-)

January Ice Pond...The weather continues to be unusual and a bit bothersome to those who recieved ice skates from Santa. With temperatures staying in the 50's it's more like early Spring than winter. I heard the weatherman say that this December was the first time since 1888 that the area did not get any snow during the month of December. I think that I'll just continue to enjoy it while I can! 

Wishing Everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!