Feathers, Fins and a few Scales on Bonaire

One of our main reasons for going to Bonaire was to snorkel.  Bonaire is known for rigorous reef conservation, which has resulted in healthy coral and lots of colorful fish.  And we weren't disappointed!

There were many types of coral in the reef.  Some of them were actually "coral" in color:

We saw many kinds of fish.  These is a French angelfish:

Another French angelfish.  I love this picture because it looks like he is giving me a disdainful look:

This smooth trunkfish was my special buddy.  He followed me around one afternoon for over an hour:

There were abundant parrotfish, in many different colors:

 Janet took this picture of a parrotfish:

And she also took this picture of a flounder:

There were lots of flamingos.  In the mornings, as we sipped our morning coffee, we could see them flying by the house.  We often spied them in the briny pools along the sides of the road.  A common site:

Carolyn got this closeup of a flamingo:

We were visited by this green iguana while picnicing one day.   He wasn't interested in our food -- he was eating the blossoms on the tree.  But I was probably about one foot from him.  He wasn't afraid of us at all:

This is a whiptail lizard, known commonly as the blau-blau.  The blau-blaus wanted our lunch.  Badly.  And weren't afraid to beg for it:

Of course, there was an educational component to our visit.  We visited the Bonaire Botanical Garden, owned and operated by Manuel Simbana.  The gardens are delightfully quirky, full of art made from found objects, and Manuel gave us good information about alternative medications and alternative power sources: 

I got all excited about his collection of hand cranked sewing machines:

He utilizes many kinds of manure in his gardens.  We got to feed the bunnies, who supply some of it:

And I have no idea what these are, but they are a wonderful example of nature as art:

 

At the National Park we viewed an exhibit on the geology of Bonaire:

 It was a nice exhibit:

And the museum had a whole room with exhibits about sharks.  Carolyn liked the great white:

 I loved Bonaire!  And I feel inspired and refreshed.  Now, time to get back to work.....