There are innkeepers, and there is Carmen. Carmen and Marcel moved to Bastimentos from the Netherlands three years ago, and got this Caribbean inn.
Most of the lodgings are on the water. Guests are delivered via water taxi. They are called by flying a red flag at the end of the dock.
Carmen is a force of nature, a mother to all who visit, a cook to those who sit at her table, and friend and supporter of all of the locals. Marcel is a former landscaper who now keeps the place running, and runs a fishing business on the side.
The room was neat and efficient, with views into the surrounding flora.
Next to Carmen’s Place was a much higher end place. The cottages were all peach-colored, sitting over the water on docks. In the back, was the Caiman Pond and nature walk. Fortunately, the Caiman’s come out only at night. In the middle was a meditation spot.
Carmen and Marcel have the gift of creating community with their guests. We met Germans (85% of their guests), Swiss, Romanians, Brazilians, and Swedes. Some were guests in neighboring AirBandBs. Meals were eaten communally. The first night, Carmen didn’t cook, so Marcel and Carmen joined us for dinner in Old Bank, the town.
