September 16th My alarm rang at 0600 but I didn't hear it. Could it be that I am tired? Probably. But this is not something I allow myself to usually digest. Or admit. 0700 came around and I woke up, wondering why the sun was casting an inviting ray into our room. My accomplice slept. Good, no guilt! We donned on our work out gear, packed the camel back full of water, and hit the road like two happy kids on a walk about with a goal in mind, power walk to the Donkey Sanctuary a few friendly kilometres away. We walked and talked. The growing heat of the day slowly increased as we made our way further down the cactus lined road leading to 'the' sanctuary. I thought to myself, I couldn't imagine running right now. But I certainly didn't want to cut Aviva's workout short because I have been 'out of it' for a couple of months now. So I marched along with as much gusto as I could muster and when we arrived at the sanctuary, we decided to pass it and carry on a bit further. Ok. I looked at my friend, face flushed, sipping water more frequently, and thought, this is good, we are getting our work out in. Well. We had to turn around and wrap it up. Our walk was a whopping 40 minutes long and by the time we came back we were both spent. Ah Geese! Who knew a little heat and humidity could take it out of you! Once back at Bella Fonte, we decided to eat our breakfast out on the dock, in case Mr. BellaFonte (the Iguana) wanted to join us for some food. Aviva was prepared for this possibility. She saved for him the heart of her apple. How thoughtful. But he never showed. Marsha, Michael, Aviva, and I travelled North of Bonaire and decided to do two snorkel dives before lunch. Our first stop was at 'A Thousand steps'. Luckily for us, there were only about a hundred or so. Arms full of towels, snorkel and fins we gingerly made our way down the coral formed steps to the azure sea below. A gem was awaiting! The ocean, so inviting, made the ungraceful entry into its warm waters a haven. There is no sand here. Bonaire IS a reef, therefor the shores are often piled high with bleached bony remnants of coral. Beautiful to look at and deadly to walk on---barefeet. As you walk, the porous little things make the sounds as though you are walking on plates. Anyways, you make it into the water and its a treat to finally wear the mask and flitter your mermaid feet away into an imaginable graceful sway into the waves. Or at least, that's what I think of when I finally end the mishaps of getting in---as I nearly choke and rock back and forth with each wave while trying desperately to put on the flippers, which always seem smaller when you're in a hurry. No matter. You get in. Meanwhile, Aviva is already across the ocean, I see her little orange pipe sticking out of the waters. And her father is out there too, leading the way. Marsha is behind me. She's finished packing up the goods on shore and she's beating me into the sea. But the sea, Good GOD! It is simply Bliss. The first stretch of water is a clear blue, windex blue, and it's so clear! It's unbelievable. I've seen so many beautiful fish, micro, macro, and full on large. The sea life below, swaying to an unheard song, the creatures doing what they do, and us above, enjoying every minute of this incredible opportunity. I have never snorkelled before. Well Mexico does not count, I was only ten feet off shore! I have never gone this far from land before or seen depths like this. At first the waters are clear blue and there is a sandy bottom. I tried to swim underneath the surface and try as I might, my ears remind me that I am not accustomed to this sea-life. Meanwhile, my blond friend looks like a sea-gazelle, gracefully powering her way to the bottom of the sea floor to take a picture of some obscure creature beneath a rock. I am amazed. She makes it look so easy and so realizable. I try again, and I make it a bit further, and my body floats up like nothing to the surface. Meanwhile we are slowly finning our way further out and the depths increase, more coral and dense lush forms grow in dark clusters on the bed bellow. As I move forward, my eyes widen as I take in the blue, so much of it, all around me, and sooooooo far away from shore, but Aviva, Michael and Marsha are there too, so it all feels safe. But oh God, there is a new site, a deeper blue takes shape and the rocks and bushes disappear and suddenly, there is nothing below. Nothing. Just Blue. And it's beautiful and frightening all at the same time. I am tempted to look up, pop my head out of the water, look for fins (shark fins) yeah I know, like that would be helpful, but the thought exists all the same, AND back to my story, I don't do that...I didn't do that. Instead I just marvelled at it. And I saw my friend descend into it until she could descend no more and it was suddenly real. I am IN the ocean. And I am enjoying this. It was also special to see a family swimming together. Aviva and her father and mother, this trio spending time together, savouring moments like these as a family, as one. And I the observer and participant as well, invited to partake, and to witness life's moments. We went to two other dive sites today and soaked up the ocean. I love the sensation of moving my body in it's powerful waters. At one point, we were quite a ways out, when I spotted a white form afar. My heart froze. A great white. No. Bubbles rising. Of a great white. No. Bubbles rising from two divers! Ah what heavenly relief! Two divers below, faaaaaar below taking pictures of sea life. It was neat to be above them a few trillion miles up and seeing their shapes down there, pausing to capture a moment, and releasing a million bubbles from their air tanks. Now I know why my mother's fish like swimming in the little trap that lets out a stream of bubbles, it feels neat. The trail of the air tickles and makes sounds as it fizzes along your frame. I looked around and found my friend doing the same thing, Aviva enjoying a cast of bubbles. This reminds me, yesterday I think she scared a couple of divers. There they were, many meters below, minding their own business, when who shows up, an agile and experienced diver in a snorkel. She waved at them and was off. I would have liked to have seen their faces. I bet they were not likely expecting visitors. But Bonaire is known for it's diving, so....it's fair game. We came home tired and happy. Tonight we sat on the deck to watch the sunset. The skies a mix of grey and blue, the ocean a rich navy blue, the orange-pink sun the size of a planet sank beneath the surface with exquisite beauty. A perfect 10/10. Luckily, there is a breeze here which saves the day. So tomorrow! Aviva has high hopes of feeding Mr. BellaFonte (the Iguana) and she is saving all remains of her fruit for this reunion. We nearly had him today but we were called in for our excursion. I must add this, as she cooed to the giant lizard, another guest tanning, looked in horror at the beast approaching. As we darted off the dock I laughed and said to Aviva, you realize...that lady is not going to welcome Mr. Bella Fonte like you do! Ah Geese! We will see what tomorrow brings!!!!! Tomorrow Aviva begins her kiteboarding classes. And I begin my open water scuuuuba course. We are at opposite ends of the island it seems, but, we will have things to talk about for sure! A demain Dd