The
nearby dive sight was appropriately named ‘1000 steps'. Most of the beaches on Bonaire are not of fine sand, rather
they appeared to be mass gravesites for dead coral. Shore diving in itself takes some skill and timing. One must watch
the wave pattern, walk in spread legged to a depth that allowed donning fins, all while wallowing in the surf. Doing this
on coral rubble added to the challenge. We opted to continue on to a less strenuous shore. Hiking down 1000 steps with 50
lbs of gear was more of a challenge then we were willing to endure.
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We
found Karparta to the north. This abandoned plantation was built in 1868, and its primary purpose was to raise goats for skins
and meat, as well as producing aloe, charcoal and dyewood. It was later bought by the Dutch and turned into an ecological
center. We wandered around the ruins for a short time, taking pictures and exploring the buildings.
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