Bonaire Day 6: Lekker, Gezellig & the Yellowtail Damselfish

Day 6? Already? Time is a strange thing on vacation—somehow both leisurely and fast-moving. We started our day slowly. For me, that meant a peaceful morning on the patio making travel plans, joined by my new friend, the hermit crab.

D got in a gym session, and I tagged along to help with navigation since B decided that 10:30 a.m. was just too early. On our way home, I snapped a photo of the Bonairean flag near the center of Kralendijk.

A quick note on that flag, because I find it beautiful, and our guide for yesterday's tour told us all about its meaning: The dark blue and yellow represent the sea and sun, while the white band between them symbolizes the sky. The yellow also nods to the Kibrahacha tree, which blooms briefly only after perfect conditions—a moment considered lucky by Bonaireans. The black compass speaks to Bonaire’s history as a seafaring island, with arrows symbolizing equality in all directions. Finally, the red six-pointed star honors the island’s original six villages and the sacrifices of the enslaved people who built its foundations.

After our slow morning, we geared up for a sunset tour aboard the Aquaspace, a very cool and very unusual sailboat. Designed in the late 70s by French architect Jacques Rougerie—who worked with Jacques Cousteau, no less—this vessel has a rich history and an underwater observation area that makes you feel like you’re sailing through an aquarium. It was restored in 2022 and now hosts tours around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire, complete with drinks, snorkeling, and a three-course meal.

Let me just say: I remembered my Dramamine and am so grateful for that. Even so, a quick trip to the boat’s super-heated loo had me questioning my choices. Also, I tragically failed in the photo department—either forgetting to take them altogether or having my phone locked up “in the brig” (read: safely stored). So no pictures of the food or the incredibly unique sunset... sigh.

But take my word for it: the food was amazing. We started with tuna sashimi, followed by steak and pasta salad, and closed with apple pie for dessert. The drinks flowed steadily, and the atmosphere on board was friendly and relaxed. Of the dozen or so guests, we were the only ones not from the Netherlands, and while the tour was given in English for our sake, everyone was kind and inclusive—teaching us a few Dutch words like “lekker” (tasty/good) and “gezellig”, which loosely means a warm, cozy feeling of being together. Honestly, that’s what I aim for every time I travel with friends and family.

The snorkeling from the Aquaspace was the best we've had in Bonaire—B and I spotted a massive puffer fish, and I confirmed my undying love for the Yellowtail Damselfish. So dainty, so colorful—so my favorite.

On our way home, we swung by the grocery store and tried to get better photos of the Bonairean flag near the center of town—D had spotted some flamingo-shaped lights surrounding it. Sadly, the photos turned out blurry because I was slightly distracted by a herd of donkeys right next to our car. They were skittish. So was I. We agreed to keep our distance.

Back at home, we finished Season 2 of Dexter and turned in for the night. Tomorrow is our last full day here, and I’m already feeling a little wistful. Bonaire has been good to us—beautiful, friendly, and filled with the kinds of memories we’ll carry for a long time. One more day to soak it all in. Sleep tight!