Rincón, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Focus on Rincón Cemetery:  Nase in 1912 and muri in 2000, she just made it into the third millennium. That's Papiamento, but no translation needed. There are two other Papiamento phrases: (1) Aki Ta Drumi, and (2) Sosega Na Pas. The first translates as 'Here Sleeps'; the second as 'Rest in Peace.' Then, there is the three-syllable 'mother': mamama, which sounds so much more mournful than mama. [2017]

Rincón, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Focus on Rincón Cemetery:  Let's talk about language. Bonaire is a special municipality of the Kingdom on the Netherlands, so you would expect to see a touch of Dutch on the headstones. 'Born' and 'died' are in Dutch, but the final salutation is in Papiamento, the language of the ABC islands. Sosega na pas means 'Rest in Peace' in Papiamento. [2017]

Rincón, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Focus on Rincón Cemetery:  The phrase Drumi Dushi is found all over Rincón Cemetery. If you were traveling in the ABC Islands, you would see dushi quite a bit. In fact, it is used as a branding agent, to signal that you're in a sweet place like no other. In fact, it means 'sweet.' So what do you think drumi means? Sleep. On Bonaire's tombstones, look for 'sweet sleep.' Now you should be asking yourself this question:  What language is that? [2017]

Rincón, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Focus on Rincón Cemetery:  Do you see the Dutch influence here in the Dutch Caribbean? The name is easily recognizable as Dutch, and the color of the cladding seems to have been picked to match the name, which translates as 'green mountain.' In fact, the tomb's tiles look very much like something you would find in an Amsterdam cemetery and not very much like Bonaire. What do you make of 'Drumi Dushi'? [2017]

Rincón, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Focus on Rincón Cemetery:  The cemetery in Bonaire's second largest town conforms to regional standards: surrounding stuccoed wall, tombs above ground in which caskets are stacked vertically, modest memorial plaques with a personal touch or two, in need of more maintenance than it gets. [2017]