The three islands of (from E to W) Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba make up the Dutch islands known as the ABCs. Bonaire was superb; here we saw our first wild flamingos, got used to decent supermarkets and good food ashore, made new friends and Gerard did dozens of dives in this world-class diving area. Our 10 days or so in Bonaire went way too fast but we enjoyed a cracking sail to Curacao.
Curacao was OK, the anchorage in Spanish Water was very protected and a great place to leave the boat for 3 weeks whilst we took time out to fly home and see our respective families. After a cruise up and down the west coast of Curacao with our now long-time friends on Iceni it was time to make the fearsome journey to Cartagena. But before that sad goodbyes to the Icenis who have gone north.
Aruba was rubbish; expensive, windy and unfriendly so we were pleased only to be passing through!
Date(s): September 2006 - November 2006. Album by Gerard Coulson. Photos by Gerard Coulson. 1 - 68 of 68 Total. 6628 Visits.
Goodbye to our friends on Orion
The ABCs 02
The ABCs 03
Arriving in Bonaire
Arriving Bonaire
Those small pinks dots are flamingos!
Jonty is 6
Monica has made a Lego brick cake!
The ABCs 09
The ABCs 10
Peaceful flamingos
The ABCs 12
The ABCs 13
The ABCs 15
On the northern end of Bonaire
Blowholes
Monica and Pieter
The kids in the back of our rental pickup
These were everywhere
as were these!
This iguana came over and bit Beecy's shorts!
The ABCs 23
The ABCs 24
Pieter and friend
More flamnigos
The ABCs 27
The ABCs 28
The ABCs 29
Slave huts on the south end of Bonaire
The ABCs 31
Salt harvested from the salt pans
Tom is 8 today!
The ABCs 34
Curacao. We go for a last cruise with Iceni
The ABCs 36
The 2 boats at anchor. Good spot for diving
The ABCs 38
The kids enjoying a burger!
Turtle head
Tom strokes a nurse shark at the Curacao aquarium
Jonty feeds one...
and gets a bit scared!
My go!
and M's go!
Tom gets a kiss from a sealion!
Performing dolphins
The ABCs 48
The ABCs 49
The ABCs 50
We visit an emu farm
The ABCs 52
The ABCs 53
The ABCs 54
The ABCs 55
Jonty, going for the cool look!
I'm tired mummy!
The ABCs 58
The ABCs 59
The ABCs 60
Aruba, oil refinery
The ABCs 62
In company with 5 other boats, we help a friend get a broken sail down. The chap who sails this boat is 73.
Friends on Wild Orchid
Jan and Murray on Decourcy Spirit
Apprioaching the Venezuelan owned Monjes del Sur
Our friendly soldiers, on board to check papers.
All 6 boats in our mini flotilla, secured along a line across the tiny harbour. Later a 6 foot swell came in and we moved around a bit!
This tiny military harbour is in the middle of nowhere
