In the tropical garden of Landhuis Bloemhof on Curaçao, under a radiant, starry sky, with bats flying overhead, and in the early evening, the piercing sound of Amazon parrots preparing for their night’s rest, we presented our new nature book to a large audience on Saturday, July 19th. For the book launch, Leon Pors and Michelle Pors-da Costa Gomez chose a format of anecdotes and stories linked to some of the special photos featured in the book. Our choices related to the topics and the inclusion of the sister islands of Bonaire and Aruba.
The result was a magical evening: positive, informative, and above all, an evening filled with love for the island and the nature it harbors. Nature that is special, unique, but also under enormous pressure due to various factors. The fact that Leon and Michelle were able to conduct this evening together, in the presence of their daughter Yalena, made it extra special and completed the creation of the book. They are not only co-authors and photographers of the book, but also designed and did the layout entirely themselves, a process that only intensified their connection with this final product.
“We are immensely grateful for the assistance we received from so many different people in creating this book. For example, Drs. Gerard van Buurt, who supported us from start to finish with advice, practical help, and photos. A beautifully written foreword by Michele Russel Capriles. Textual corrections by Henny Klein Klouwenberg and Miriam Jonker. And of course, the photos we were allowed to use include images by Gerard van Buurt, Ard Vreugdenhil, the late Judith Schnog, Carel de Haseth, Henny Klein Klouwenberg, Timmy Harms, Emmely Bouthisma, Yalena Pors, Yesenia A.M. Arends (Aruba), Ross Boss Wauben (Aruba), Luigi Eybrecht (Bonaire), Kasper Lendering, and Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Netherlands). Without all of you, the book wouldn’t exist!”, according to the authors.
,,Last but absolutely not least, we’d like to thank the fantastic team at Landhuis Bloemhof from the bottom of our hearts for creating this magical evening. It always feels like coming home when we organize activities with you, and this night was infinitely special. Thank you Elodie, Crisen, Marlon, and Pat for all your assistance this evening, and all the other team members for their support leading up to the presentation. You made it magical!”
The book “Zoogdieren, Reptielen & amfibieën van Aruba, Curaçao, & Bonaire” is available for purchase at Bruna Curaçao and will be available at Landhuis Bloemhof this Friday! Other retailers will follow soon, and we’ll let you know as soon as we know.
Photos of the book presentation in this post were taken by Marlon Reina, Crisen Schorea, Miriam Jonker, and Michelle Pors-da Costa Gomez.
