Deb and I had another outstanding day on the island of Bonaire. First, we went to Washington-Slagbaai National Park on the north end of the island. We had intended to visit the two springs in the park that attract birds, but we didn’t have the luck we had the last time we were there. Today, the first spring only had a few birds and when we got to the second spring there were already a bunch of people there. We decided not to deal with the crowds. We’re from Montana, so any natural attraction with five or more cars is “crowded.”

Later, we had a delightful picnic, accompanied by thirty or so blauw-blauw (six-inch-long whiptail lizards with bright blue tails). The blauw-blauw obviously knew what picnics were all about. When a piece of lettuce fell from my sandwich, they all converged on it as if in a scene from the movie Jurassic Park. Reptiles are kind of my thing, yet Bonaire is the first time I’ve ever witnessed them begging for food. Earlier in our trip, an iguana tried to climb right up Deb’s leg (leaving nasty scratches) for a taste of her sandwich. With the blauw-blauw, I set aside my usual “do not feed indigenous animals” creed and enjoyed their antics. Then, while I was sitting on the picnic table bench, leaning over to photograph a group of lizards, an especially brave one climbed right up my back and bit my ear! The blauw-blauw wasn’t being aggressive. I mean, how would it know an ear wasn’t food unless it gave it a taste? My ear is fine. The bite startled me more than anything.

After that we snorkeled for an hour in a bay with crystal clear water (many photos from that outing to come) before leaving Washington-Slagbaai National Park and driving back to the condo we are renting on the south end of the island.

Once back, Deb and I looked at each other and discussed whether we were too tired to go out snorkeling again—or too bored, because we’ve already snorkeled roughly eighteen times since arriving on Bonaire. Oh, what the hell!

Out we went to the reef beyond our private beach. Great move Marty and Deb! Every time we snorkel, we find something new, and highlights this time included the French angelfish in this photo, a porcupine fish, and an octopus!

Finding an octopus was #1 on our snorkel wish list, and somehow, I spotted one blending in with the coral. I yelled for Deb, and just as she turned the octopus bolted for a better hiding spot. Fortunately, Deb tracked the octopus, and we were both able to see its eyes checking us out from a hollow in the coral. It was so cool! Unfortunately, the waves were rocking and rolling, and none of my octopus photos turned out. But now that we know where the octopus hangs out, we’ll be looking for it again tomorrow.

Okay, it’s time for drinks on the balcony while listening to the waves roll in.