Loving my time in Bonaire

(The first picture is of me with Tonky Frans, one of the world's best freestyle windsurfers, and the second picture is of the week's ABK gang. For more pictures of my week in Bonaire, click here.)

I'm almost done with my week in Bonaire, and I'm sad to know that I have to go back to NYC soon! Compared to my week spent in Bonaire last year, I am having an infinitely more fun time this year.

I came to Bonaire last year with a bunch of male windsurfing buddies in their late thirties and up. I didn't realize what happens to men when they spend a week away from their wives and children -- all signs of domestication fade within the first day, and they revert back to the juvenile immaturity of their patheticly nerdy and pimply high school years. By day 2, I had heard the same pervy sex jokes a million times, but with different names and locations inserted (no pun intended). I had my own apartment and was content to do my own thing, so I was surprised to find certain members of the group got upset when they had to do things alone. They demanded that the group be their entourage at all times. The group, on the other hand, was surprised when I did not take well to being assigned the role of team secretary/mom/restaurant reservation maker/make sure everyone gets up and to the airport on time and chose to dine on my own some nights. By day 3, two of the men rooming together were not getting along. Their behavior had regressed to childish and passive agressive cattiness, and they tried to get other members of the group to pick sides in their little fight (which they never would acknowledge was a fight, because that would be too adult). I've heard men comment about female cattiness, but that must be because they've never gone on a windsurfing trip to Bonaire with a bunch of male windsurfers before!

After the drama of my week in Bonaire last year, I resolved that I would go to Bonaire alone this year. It's been fantastic! Many of the people I met while in Bonaire last year returned at the same time this year, so I already know a few familiar faces. I can walk into any restaurant and have dinner without worrying that I'll have offended someone, and I haven't heard a single unfunny pervy sex joke all week! Plus, it's been blissfully drama free without all the politicking backstabbing. I get enough of that at work, thank you very much.

So far this week, I've eaten at El Fagon Latino, Mona Lisa and Wil's Tropical Grill. Not too much has changed on the food front since last year. I still dislike Wahoo. My fave restaurant on the island is still Wil's (I'd gladly have dinner there every day while in Bonaire), although the Mona Lisa is pretty good. I had heard good things about El Fagon, but the food was a little too greasy for me.