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Social Profile
Food & Drink: The restaurants serve predominantly Creole cooking, particularly seafood dishes, including conch shell meat, grilled spicy fish and lobster. Island specialities include iguana soup and kabrito stoba (goat stew). A variety of Chinese, Indonesian, French, Italian and international cooking can also be found. There are several hotels, restaurants and bars in Kralendijk to choose from. Restaurants and bars are usually closed by midnight.
Nightlife: This is centred on both the main hotels and restaurants. Having eaten, evening entertainment includes dancing or listening to reggae groups or calypso steel bands. The island has two discos and two casinos.
Shopping: The reductions on duty-free imports make the purchase of some perfume, jewellery or alcohol well worthwhile. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1400-1800. Larger supermarkets are open Mon-Sat 0800-1900, with some open Sun 1000-1400.
Special Events: The following is a selection of the major festivals and other special events celebrated in Bonaire in 2003. For a complete list and exact dates consult Tourism Corporation Bonaire (see Contact Addresses section).
Jan 1 Maskarada (New Year).Jan 4 Carnival season opens. Jan 9 Eighth Sailing Competition. Feb 15-Mar 4 Various Carnival events. Mar 2 Cycling Tour Dos Pos Cycle Bon. Mar 6 Simadam (harvest) Festival, Rincon. Mar 29-30 International Fishing Tournament. Mar 30 Windsurfing Competition, Lac Bai Cai. Apr 1 Simadon Harvest Festival, Rincon. Apr 20 Annual Easter egg dive and snorkel event, the Dive-Inn. Apr 30 Queen's Birthday Sailing Race. May 17 Seventh Bonaire Mountain Bike Challenge Race. May 18 Cycle Bonaire, 90km Road Race. May 31 Songfestival Jong Bonaire. Jun 14-22 Seventh Bonaire Dive Festival. Jun 22 Seventh Angola Construction Sailing Competition, Kas di Regatta. Jul 6 Eleventh Annual Bonaire Arts Day. Sep 6 Bonaire Day. Sep 7 Bonaire Bikers MC Flag Day Weekend 2003; Local Fishing Tournament. Sep 20 International Coastal Clean-up Day. Oct 5-12 36th Annual International Sailing Regatta. Nov Underwater Cleanup. Dec 10-17 King of the Caribbean Freestyle Pro-Am. Dec 31 End of Year Windsurf Race.
Social Conventions: Dutch customs are still prevalent throughout the islands, although they are increasingly subject to an US influence. Dress is casual and lightweight cottons are advised. Bathing suits should be confined to beach and poolside areas only. Nudity is prohibited on beaches except at Sorobon Beach Resort, a privately owned nudist resort. Tipping: There is normally a ten per cent service charge in restaurants and a six per cent tax. Tipping is not widely practised but porters are usually given 50 cents-US$1 per bag; taxi drivers are generally given ten per cent of the fare.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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