March 9 - Kralendijk, Bonaire

I sleep late, Adrienne has a 2 tank dive. Eliza & family expect to rest until noon. Pann & Terry are going to take a taxi tour of the island.

There are few passengers remaining on the ship with me. The weather is again near perfect.

Yesterday in Curacao was refueling day. No barge pulling along side the ship. A pipeline runs directly from the refineries, along the dock, thru filters and metering, and into a hose attached to the ship.

Looking down at the crystal clear water  many schools of small fish can be seen just under the waters surface. The few birds that fly overhead quickly make thier catch and fly on.

Again we are the only cruise ship in port. Sharing our pier is a barge loaded with concrete block and brick to feed the many construction projects underway. The economy of the ABC islands is so much better than most of the other Caribbean islands.

There are tentative plans for a walk to a nearby watering hole for a local beer later in the afternoon.

Adrienne's dives are  successful, no emergencies, and lots of "fishies" and other sea creatures to view.

I pass on the local brewery, and remain on the ship.

There continues to always be seating in the Concierge lounge, our meeting location on the ship. A couple of beverages are in order before dinner.

OK I have to digress. I arrive first and grab a seat at the bar. The couple next to me start a conversation about tipping. After being critical in general about how other passengers do or don't tip, he shares that he always tips his server after they have three drinks. Everyone does what works for them. The conversation drifts to other subjects. Twenty or so minutes later they need to leave for dinner, he confirms with his wife that they have had 3 drinks, each, and tips the server $1.00!  That's about sixteen cents for an otherwise free drink. 

While on the subject of tipping. I met  a couple on the last trip that had already been here 31 days. Having never been to Curacao, they proudly told me that with all they saved by cancelling all thier tips every day they were extending thier cruise another 11 days.

Some people can just irritate me.

We head to the dining room a few minutes early, tonight we are third from the last table to leave!

Our entertainer tonight is a hypnotist. A humorous show where he hypnotizes a group of passengers and suggests silly behavior. The victims comply.

The seas remain under 5 feet, with waves almost directly on the bow as we head to our next port of St. Lucia, a day and a half away.