Day 2 in Mauritius and I’ve another ship’s tour booked. This one visits the Southwest of the island which seems to have the main scenic sights. It was a very efficient tour: 5 minutes photo stop here, 15 minutes there, and a history lesson on bus in between. I’ll let pictures tell the story….
Cyber City, big IT presence with international call centers, modern buildings, big malls, highways and small metro. Built outside Port Louis to help with the island’s horrendous traffic but still very bad52% of the island’s inhabitants are Hindus, largely because of the large number of slaves and indentured Indian ancestors brought over in 1800’s. They developed the Ganga Talao sacred site with 2 large statues including the 33m high Shiva. In February there’s a festival that 400-450k come to make a pilgrimage and collect sacred water. There’s parking for 1000’s but today only 3 tourist minibuses.Just down the hill is Grand Bassin, a small volcanic crater lake that became sacred to the Hindus and now dotted with small statues and offerings.Black River Gorge National Park Guide said monkeys were brought to the islands by pirates as their onboard pets….100m high waterfall formed by 2 separate rivers which are old lava paths of 12 million years agoChamarel’s 7 Colored Earth, discovered in 1879 while clearing land for sugarcane. Plantings never took so had the soil scientifically tested and it’s sterile. It’s composed of iron and aluminum oxides which spontaneously repel each other = striations of seven different colors.Giant tortoises: originally from Seychelles. Sailors used them for food as grow up to 150 kilos and can last 3 months without food. Now all in parks as conservation effort.SW coastLe Morne Brabant – a UNESCO heritage site. 1840’s slaves hid here during tumult. When soldier came to tell them emancipation act signed and they were free they were afraid of his uniform and all jumped off mountain thinking he was coming to recapture them. Moving memorial at base2.5 hour beach break. I spent it having a local beer with a lovely couple from Durban Returning back to the ship. Passed by the one remaining salt pan, drying salt from seawater Celebrated Mary’s birthday at dinner
Allison’s Wanderlust 