Mauritius

After ten years of engagement we finally manage to say the fateful yes!! And we choose as our destination the beautiful island of Mauritius. After consulting various brochures on which resort to stay in, we chose the tour operator Veratour. In fact it was not the first time we travelled with them, and having had a very good experience on the previous trip, we opted for LE GRANDE SABLE. At the time of booking the agency had informed us (but you can also read it in the brochure) that the resort was very small, with an almost family atmosphere. But for us it was our honeymoon, and what better place than an environment of complete relaxation!!? Everything ready: after getting married on 27 September, our flight was to take off at around 6 pm Italian time on 29 September.

But did you really think that, after a wedding that went like a fairy tale, there wouldn't have to be some obstacle somewhere???!!!! Well said!!!....on the morning of the 29th the travel agency calls us and tells us that the airline Volare airlines has cancelled the flight due to an engine failure (could that be true?) and there is a delay of a good 24 hours....!!! We set off the next day...!!!!At that moment we would have liked to grab the pilot, the hostesses, the whole airline by the hair...but then we said to ourselves, after all you can't have everything in life...and so we made our peace with the idea that we would leave the next day. The flight lasted about 10 hours, no turbulence, all smooth until the destination and all at night fortunately, at least we slept a bit, also because by the 4th hour of flight my husband was already fidgeting....he couldn't sit still.

Once in Mauritius we were amazed by the beautiful airport they have! Spotlessly clean, imagine, in the toilets there was a cleaning lady permanently in there drying the drops on the sink every time someone washed their hands and ready to go into the bathroom to check that the tourist had left everything clean... speechless!! an almost manic cleanliness!! A welcome to leave you stunned; everyone was ready to help you and give you information...and then, as soon as we had passed the formal customs checks, our luggage was already ready!! It may have been luck, I don't know, I only know that the airport works very well.

Waiting for us was the resort team, who accompanied us to the hotel where we would spend our fantastic and unforgettable honeymoon!! The resort was exactly as described in the brochure: small but spotlessly clean, all furnished in straw and wood in an ethnic style; suited to those who really want a holiday of sun, sea and lots and lots of relaxation!! Suited to families and couples; bear in mind that most of them were couples on honeymoon! The resort is right on the sea at Belle Mare, in the east of the island. Nearby there are characteristic little villages with souvenir shops and typical markets. For currency exchange I advise doing it at the airport because it is more convenient; we did it at the resort but the commissions are higher.

In Mauritius, folks, you have to haggle everywhere! in fact they take offence if you don't stand there playing the back-and-forth, and this thing is hilarious. Especially for my husband, who being a salesman had found bread for his teeth!! The island is very peaceful; you can easily visit it on your own too, with taxis, which are everywhere, ready to take you wherever you want and.....hear, hear....they wait there parked while you visit the little village and then drive you back to your starting point! They are Fantastic! The places we visited were the wonderful Île aux Cerfs, truly worth it! The sand is dazzling white and the water turquoise, a spectacle.

On the little island there are bars, small restaurants, coconut palms and pineapples, and lots and lots of sun and relaxation!! We then visited the tea factory, where you observe the whole processing from picking to packaging of the tea, very particular. Then at the end of the visit they take you to a chalet to taste all the types of tea....delicious, taste them all, I even stocked up to take some home to Italy! Then we went to see the Sacred Lake and the Hindu temple. An enchanting and mysterious place where you feel the typical sensation of the sacred and the fascinating. There we received the Hindu blessing, which consists of having red Indian symbols painted on your forehead with saffron (they wash off easily with water).

After that we visited the Chamarel waterfalls and the seven coloured earths, the latter truly spectacular! And finally we saw the colonial house, a characteristic French-English villa, where you breathe the charm of all the history Mauritius experienced in colonial times. A bit of the history of the country you're visiting is always needed, for me! It enriches you inside. I should point out that we did all the excursions with the resort, so organised directly by them, and I must say at modest prices, but for the more adventurous I confirm that you can easily do them on your own too, because the island offers you everything from tranquillity to the organisation to get around.

The climate is distinctly tropical, so you go from sun to downpours within two minutes, but the wonderful thing is that once the rain is over everything returns to how it was, so don't be scared if one day you wake up to rain, because two minutes later the sun starts beating down again; in fact, equip yourself with high sun protection. As for the food, as they say in Rome...it's amazing!!! Everything delicious, even their typical dishes, although they are spiced and come with typical sauces, it's all delicate and tasty.

Not to mention the fish, the typical fish of the island is the Marlin, prepared in every way: fried, with sauce, grilled...it's delicious! and then let's not forget the Lobsters, which are even served as simple appetisers; just think how many they have and how good they are!!! Mauritius is a place that leaves its mark on your heart, a land of a thousand scents and colours where people always smile at you, a place where dreams come true! Goodbye Mauritius!!!