Mauritius is an island nation off the coast of the African continent in the south west Indian Ocean. The Dutch established the first permanent settlement in 1638 but because of the tough climatic conditions abandoned the island in 1710. The British took control from France during the Napoleonic Wars and Mauritius became independent from the UK in 1710. The majority of the population is Indian and there are also many people of African descent as well as European and Chinese minorities. The island is renowned for having been the only known home of the dodo which was first sighted around 1600 and became extinct less than eighty years later.
We went in to Port Louis by shuttle bus this morning but nothing we really needed to buy (just a fridge magnet!)
It seemed so much busier than when we were here about 20 years ago and as there wasn't anything we particularly wanted to see again we caught a taxi to Grand Baie beach. We had a few hotels recommended to us where we could use their facilities but the first one was full and the second wanted us to pay some astronomical amount. We went on to The Mauricia Beachcomber where they were very helpful and stayed there for the rest of the day. It had two huge pools and was right on a sandy beach with a very inviting clear blue sea. Our taxi driver, Ram, picked us up right on time and took us back to the ship. A good day.
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