Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
who come out to eat and party. The food is low on the gourmet scale, but
you can get some fried fish, goat stew, and funchi, if you're hungry.
The real draw is music. Around mid-afternoon, a local musician or band
(often the well-known Tipico Bonariano or Glen I Su Gang) begins to play
and everyone starts dancing, including grandmothers and wet-from-the-
sea kids. The action goes on as long as the cheap-rum punch lasts.
Tour a Kunuku Home
Ellen Cochrane-Herrera, a
lovely Bonaire native, in-
vites visitors to tour her
countryside home,
Kunuku
Rooi Lamoenchi
, which
has been in her family more
than 100 years. She leads
the two-hour walking tour
herself every morning and
afternoon, and tells inter-
esting stories about life on the former plantation as she explains
the antique tools, furniture, and household items, which are all
original to the property. After touring the house, guests visit the
grounds, an old slave wall, a dam built by hand in 1908, and aloe
fields. The countryside is lovely, and it is quite possible to wander
aimlessly for hours through the woodlands, discovering indige-
nous plants and breathtaking views of the ocean. The house is lo-
cated in the countryside east of Kralendijk and not marked on
most maps. You can easily become lost, so ask for a brochure with
a map at the activities desk of your hotel or call Ellen for direc-
tions. Tour times vary, so call ahead to make reservations. The
cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children between the ages of six
and 12.
717-8489; www.webpagecur.com/rooilamoenchi.
North of Kralendijk
Follow the scenic coastal road out of the capital past several resorts and
the water distillation plant to Kaya Karpata, just past the deserted
landhuis. This road will take you to
Rincón
(Spanish for corner), the old-
est town on the island, founded by the Spanish, and among the oldest in
the Caribbean. At first glance, there is no reason to stop but, as you drive
through, remember that this was once a slave community that became the
birthplace of many of the island's political and business leaders. It is also
the town that hosts the largest parade during Carnival and it's the place to
be on April 30th, Rincón Day (Dia di Rincón) and the Queen's Birthday, one
of the most popular holidays of the year.
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