Mahebourg Market on the Right Day

Mahebourg market day is a wonderful mix of colour, smells, cultures, languages, bargains, exotic foods and hot, spicy street food. It is busy and vibrant, filled with the locals who are always looking for a bargain as well as spices for their curries which are cheaper at the market, and tourists who throw themselves into the whole experience, some shyly, some raucously. 

We bought some inexpensive track pants for Tony, colourful earrings for me, beautiful vividly-coloured, soft, silky fabrics for Cathy who wanted them to decorate her apartment in a more Eastern way. Then we just spent a long time walking around and absorbing the peaceful energy of the place. People are not hurried, they are smiling, the women are feminine, they are friendly and often stop and ask you where you're from and what you think of Mauritius.

 

The market is set by the sea and the views from some spots are really stunning with the mountains in the background. The whole atmosphere is one of tranquility amid what looks sometimes like a bit of a chaotic mess.

 Cathy decided to try a dhalpurie from the vendors, which is Indian flat bread made with ground split peas or lentils into which is crammed hot, seasoned, usually red lentils. She took a bite and she said that immediately she felt as if her head and eyes were on fire, that's how hot it was and she had asked for a 'mild' one. But it's so good that you quickly get used to the hotness even though your tongue feels like it will never be the same again. Later in the holiday she was even brave enough to have another one.

 After the market we went back into the middle of town and found a Chinese restaurant and welcomed a cold beer followed by a delicious dish of noodles and chicken with vegetables.

We sat for a long time just looking out at a different type of life, loving it, loving the people and feeling quite at home in this very different setting.

We took the bus home with very noisy and excited school children already on it but who were very  quickly told by the conductor to stop their racket as there were 'visitors' on board. Very impressive. We were obviously the 'visitors' and got some dirty looks from the children but tried to give them sweet apologetic smiles as if to say: 'not our fault that you got reprimanded!'