Heading off to an Emerald Island

I feel that our Cape Town trip has been pretty well documented and I am really happy to have it on my blog. This is all new to me (blogging) and I'm loving it, the creativity of it, and realising that it's like having my very own scrap book on line. In years to come (whatever's left for me) I will look back on this blog and enjoy our trips all over again. And when I'm in heaven ('cause that's where I'm going...it's the only place where there's a Woollies!) maybe others will still enjoy it (or delete it.) It's also a way of sharing trips and thoughts and 'photos with whomever is interested and wishes to take a peek.


I have now decided to document our trip to Mauritius in 2007 because it was absolutely heavenly, such an unexpected gift and so lovely to be altogether in a very familiar paradise that I had not been to for years and that Tony had not yet discovered.


It all happened when a person that Cathy knows asked her to do a workshop for her in Mauritius in return for 2 weeks free accommodation in their 'campement' (beach cottage). This campement has four rooms and Cathy was invited to bring along whomever she pleased. So after much thought (about bringing some of her friends and having a wild time) she invited us. That was a lovely surprise. Thank you Cathy!


So here goes, a tribute to a beautiful holiday, beautiful people, a beautiful island, family and memories for ever.


We were all ready and had been packed ages before, when our best friends came to fetch us to take us to the airport.
I was thrilled to be going back to Mauritius and be breathing that well-known hot and humid air again and immersing myself in memories of long ago. I still have quite a bit of family there (in-law) and I was feeling really pleased to know that I was going to see them again and catch up a bit on old times.

We booked our luggage in and did all the things that everyone else does, ie wander around, look at the duty-free shops (which are more expensive than anywhere else), look at other passengers wondering which ones are terrorists, look at books and magazines (should I buy one for the flight...no...flight too short) and....have very expensive coffee! I felt like a kid waiting for Christmas...I wanted to just get on that 'plane and take off...let's go, go, go!

Well at last we were on board, hand baggage safely settled in the overhead racks and us safely tucked and belted up in our seats. I awaited the take off eagerly as I love take off although I'm always a bit nervous, but a kind of excited nervous. Cathy was less eager as she is scared stiff and her face tells the story.

Brace yourself Cath, here we go!

It was a lovely flight, short, just the right amount of time to be in an aeroplane, time enough to enjoy what you are served to eat (if one can enjoy airline food at all), time enough to anticipate getting there and time enough to observe the other passengers.

When we landed in Mauritius and the 'plane doors opened we were suddenly hit by hot, humid air that is full of exotic spicy smells and the sweat immediately starts forming little droplets on your forehead (very alluring). You know your make up is going to go one way!

In the terminus there was a happy mixture of people, tourists, locals who are Creoles, Indians, Chinese, whites and there were two Muslim men facing East on their knees saying their prayers to Allah. It was not what we were used to seeing in SA and we found it very sacred and I took it to be a blessing for us.

We recuperated our baggage and headed off towards the exits where we looked for a taxi. Not having been to Mauritius for a long time and hearing stories about how the taxi drivers take tourists for a ride, (good pun), we asked a few taxi drivers how much they would charge us to get to our destination. We were told the same price each time so we hopped into the first one we had asked and headed off into the dark and the drizzle, to our 'campement' where we knew there was a meal waiting, having been prepared by Jocelyne who was going to be our cook and cleaner during our holiday. What absolute luxury!