Mauritius, catamaran day trip

This is our day before last. We took a day trip on a catamaran to the island of Ile aux Cerfs. We highly recommend you take this trip if you can. You'll get a mix of snorkeling, eating, dancing, parasailing...and sunbathing on a boat!





We even tried some...parasailing! (I needed a lot of convincing after the couple before us hit a passing boat at take off!



Although the island itself is one of the top tourist sights in Mauritius, the boat trip is definitely an experience and worth it. You don't need to bring anything with you on the boat since lunch and drinks are included in the price when you book for the trip. On the island you will find 2 restaurants and a bar as well as plenty of souvenir shacks.




On our way back I think we had a little bit too much rhum and sun...

Mauritius, inland day trip

After having breakfast at La Faya restaurant this time, we went on a group visit to the center of the island (you can book the tour directly at the hotel).

We started off at the Phoenix glass gallery where you can find environmentally sound souvenirs made from recycled glass. You can see them being made in front of you too.
Then we went past a town called Curepipe and up to Floreal, a slightly posh suburb where you can find all the embasies and consulates. About 1km west of Curepipe you will arrive at th Trou aux Cerfs, an extinct volacanic crater some 100m deep. From the road around the rim you get beautiful views of the plateau



On our way down, we stopped at Curepipe to visit one of the many model-ship showrooms and workshops (Voilliers de l'Ocean).



The visit continues at the largest Hindu temple on the lac of Grand Bassin (or Ganga Talao). It s a renowned pilgrimmage site to which up to 500,000 of the island's Hindu community come each year to pay hommage to Shiva during the Maha Shivaratri celebrations.



This is the largest Hindu celebration outside India and it takes place in February or March depending on the lunar cycle.



Once there, pilgrims perform a Puja, burning incense and camphor at the lake shore and offering food and flowers to Shiva.







On the road again, we visited the Chamarel region which is known for its waterfalls and its "earth of seven colors" (la terre aux sept couleurs). We stopped for lunch at a private mansion on the Gorges of the Black River. The views were breathtaking.










...but the monkeys were too busy to enjoy the view!


On our way back to Port Louis we stopped at the National Reserve when it started pouring...we didn't see much of the animals except for birds. In my opinion this was an unecessary stop, and this is the only pic George got from there, hiding under a tree!

That night we were so tired from that long day that we missed he cocktail hour and went straight for dinner with another couple we met there on their honeymoon.

Shirley and Dean from South Africa.