Bonaire's Capital City Kralendijk

The capital city of Bonaire and a regular port of call for cruise ships plying the southern Caribbean, the ocean-side city of Kralendijk is a small city on a small island, but is not lacking in sights, sounds and tastes.

On the colorful main drag you can walk up one side of the street and down the other in less than half an hour. While making this less-than-arduous hike, you can hear a mixture of Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamentu spoken on the streets. Kralendijk has a bouquet of pharmacies, banks, surf/resort apparel shops, and restaurants housed in stucco buildings that are all the shades of a cup-cake rainbow, without the sprinkles.

Bonaire doesn't have the hip-hopping nightlife or strips of giant casinos found on some other Caribbean island destinations. They do have one casino at the Divi Flamingo resort, and it's barefoot casual. After winning a boatload of cash here, buying a round of drinks at happy hour will make you the most popular drunk in the pack. (Responsible divers will of course remember that drinking and diving go together like pickles and Nutella chocolate spread. Take my word on this one…) Happy hours are the best times for socializing and mingling with the island folk. The drinks are cheaper, the tall tales taller, and the fun… funner. (and the grammar poorer) You can’t go wrong, as the island has a laid back, do-as-you-please attitude that you’ll fall in love with.

And let’s not forget about the food. The food here is yummy. The restaurants are world class-something you would have a hard time finding on any other island in the area. The most common menu item is local fish, and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. You can find Italian, Chinese, French and authentic Bonairean food all within walking distance. Waterfront patio seating is common, often situated on the open-air docks sprinkled along the water, allowing you to enjoy a tasty dinner and frosty beverage as you are caressed by a gentle Caribbean breeze

The people on this island are fond (and protective) of their home. They are always approachable and more than willing to help you with directions or offer some assistance. Bonaireans tend to be a friendly, happy bunch.

There's a taxi service in Kralendijk which will take you anywhere on land as well as regular service by boat to the small protected marine park of Klein Bonaire.

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