Seychelles, gems of the Indian Ocean - PRASLIN

First day in Praslin

............continues from Mahè................

It's 08:30 when the Cat Cocos enters the small harbor of Praslin. An hour of navigation that put our stomachs to the test. I thus discover that I don't suffer from seasickness. On disembarking the ferry and most of the passengers look like they've faced a war! Waiting for us on the pier is Marcus, the owner of the GuestHouse I had booked. The island is so small that in 5 minutes we reach Anse Volbert and enter the "SkyBlue GuestHouse," our corner of paradise. The bungalow is so beautiful that we could stay here and already be happy to have come. A small living room and bedroom with sliding glass windows onto the private veranda. A well-equipped kitchen and bathroom. Deck chairs and loungers in a fairy-tale garden...wow! We settle in and enjoy the veranda recovering from the early rise and the rough crossing.

We then go to Beau Vallon (4 houses, the bank, 3 shops and a supermarket!!!!) to do the shopping. Here in Praslin our nest is so beautiful that we'll make the most of it to the fullest! After lunch we go to the beach we have in front of us, Cote D'Or. It's beautiful. Long, white, sand that looks like flour, crystal-clear water and very few people. We like it right away. We wait here for the sunset, already in love with Praslin.

Second day in Praslin

What better way to wake up and wish each other Happy Ferragosto?? We have breakfast on the veranda. This time it's my turn to cut the papaya and make the omelettes, but it's a joy. Only an espresso is missing for complete happiness......but we make do with Nescafé! We leave early, this morning we've booked the excursion to Curieuse Island & St. Pierre directly through Marcus. A local guy accompanies us on a nice boat just for the two of us and he'll be available until lunch.... even though the price we paid was a bit steep. The weather is gorgeous and sailing towards Curieuse lets us admire the island and its colours. Jimmy drops us off on the beach in front of the Aldabra giant tortoise reserve, from which we'll walk to Anse St. Jose. There are lots of tortoises in the reserve, used to the intrusive presence of tourists. Cute and amazing, but unfortunately it smelled of zoo......

The walk to Anse St. José takes about 40 minutes and lets you cross the island's unique ecosystem and admire some lovely views. But I'm not all that enthusiastic, since I would have preferred to do the whole tour by boat. Anse St. José is beautiful, but nothing special compared to so many other beaches we've already seen. Considering my disappointment, Jimmy immediately sets off again towards St. Pierre where he'll give us all the time we want for sunbathing and snorkelling sessions around the much-photographed islet, which really is fascinating. We head back at almost two, lunch at home and in the afternoon back on our beach at Cote D'Or. Today too we wait for sunset, strolling lost among the locals and the breathtaking scenery. We feel like we're on a second honeymoon....

Third day in Praslin

This morning the car arrives, Marcus has made sure we got it at 8.00 right at the bungalow. So after breakfast we set off towards the Vallée de Mai, the UNESCO site where the famous Coco de Mer palm grows! You can choose the group guided tour or go on your own, we choose the latter. The entrance fee is rather expensive, but it's for a good cause..... Near the entrance the park is crowded with tourists and groups, but you just have to move a little way along the trails to find yourself alone, immersed in a corner of rare beauty. Not only for the lush palms and the giant cocos but also for the wildlife you can observe. Birds, insects and the famous Seychelles spiders (too many for an arachnophobe like me). We do the complete circuit choosing the central and northern routes. About 2.5 kilometres for two hours of total symbiosis with nature. Don't miss a visit.

Once out of the park we continue to the west coast of the island, battered by the currents. We see Grande Anse, Anse Kerlan and Petite Kerlan and then turn back, doing the full loop until we return to Anse Volbert. Beautiful beaches, peaceful corners and lovely views but not such as to deserve stopping there... So we continue towards Anse Lazio, where we arrive at lunchtime. Our hearts skip a beat. It's truly wonderful. The beach, the sea, the coves that follow the main tongue of land. It undoubtedly deserves to appear among the most beautiful beaches in the world. There are more people here, yet it isn't crowded and you can still enjoy your own corner of privacy. It's sunset when we leave; before heading home we take the road to Zimbabwe. Nice views but nothing special.

Fourth day in Praslin

This morning the weather is gorgeous and we want to go back to Anse Lazio to spend the whole day there. Along the way we stop at Anse Possession and Anse Boudin. Both would have charmed us but the desire to go back there is stronger. It's 9 when we set foot on Anse Lazio again and we're still almost alone. Magical colours. We won't forget it easily. We stay here all day, having also made sure to bring toast with us for lunch. If you want, there are two restaurants but both very expensive. If you want to refresh yourself and have a drink, I highly recommend the little "Honesty Bar". It's on the last cove, nestled in the vegetation. You have to look for the sign that points to it and climb the wooden stairs. You'll find a nice terrace, a counter and the fridges....everything is strictly do-it-yourself. There's the menu with prices, you serve yourself and put the money in the little box.

In Italy I don't think it would last long....... but there it's a must! And a fresh Seybrew on the little terrace would make anyone honest! It's our last evening on Praslin and we're a bit sorry. A small note: Anse Georgette. The famous little cove that, to be visited, requires advance notice. It's the only case where the law is not respected. In the Seychelles, just as in Mauritius, the concept of beach privatisation doesn't exist. Access to all of them must be guaranteed, even where a resort has been built (see Port Launay, Petite Anse, etc.) However, for Anse Georgette the resort managers often refuse access even when given advance notice. Even with 4 days' notice, we couldn't see it, not even to take a photo. So it's not so certain that you'll manage to go.

Goodbye Praslin

This morning we have to leave the island and our heart at the SkyBlue. At 12 we have the ferry that will take us to La Digue. We make the most of the morning for a bit of shopping, the usual souvenirs, and to say our goodbye to Cote D'Or. At 11 sharp Marcus's dad is ready to take us back to the port. Here too I had booked the tickets from Italy. The Cat Roses is ready to sail. Bye bye Praslin