With a scooter across the Jacarandes at Mauritius. Tropical holidays

A little example for those who do not know us yet and has not read other tales of our travels:
My husband and I call ourselves Diego backpacker and I just could not sit still more than a few days in the same place in the world there are too many things to see and do to do the same things.
Our eyes are always eager to see things and places nuovi.questo is the spirit with which we dealt with our week in Mauritius.
Usually before a trip I read all the diaries of those already on the site to get an idea of what to do or see, where to eat or sleep, try other choices for good or bad ...
This time we started a little unprepared, relying only on a few short stories and our inseparable Lonely Planet.
Now I explain you why: usually planned our trip well in advance so the time is considerably longer and then our goals are goals of many other backpackers ...
This time it was decided that the only available the week off we dedicated to casa.pitturare awaiting new doors ... but according to the two of you who have travel in the blood miss out on a flight discounted by 50% in week loved the world that includes both Christmas New Year away?
Of course not! Four days before we stopped the flight only over the price of 550 €
(see www.todomondo.it).
We ran in a bookstore to buy the Lonely Planet and just enough time to print some stories, and having confirmed that in this island for 90% of those who visit do so with an organized trip All'inclusive and staying almost exclusively in idle village on the banks of a wonderful sea, as a result of the info available are few.

NOW WITHOUT ANY CLAIM ALSO WANT TO ADD MY INTEREST AND IF YOU NEED INFO MAIL: didodandan@fastwebnet.it.
I can also send a small file that I collected before the trip.

 

Tuesday

We land at the international airport MAHEBOURG 10.20 after 'flying about.
There is a time from Italy + 3 hours.
Awaiting there the lady at the exit of the only "hotel" booked on the Internet from Italy.
Not knowing anything always prefer to have the first two nights and not have to spend looking after the whole flight ...
We found on HostelWorld, the comments were very favorable and the price was affordable.
MAHEBOURG is located at 10-15 'from the airport:
THE BAMBOO 25, Rue Mariannes Street MAHEBOURG
p. +230-7960445 F. +230-6318287 Www.lebamboo.com
A double room with private bath at a cost of 28 € per person, breakfast included.
As already mentioned the kind offers to come to take the cost of 9 €.
Now I tell you my opinion:
the location is good because it is practically in the center of the small town and walk almost everywhere you go, there is the promenade and near the bus station every 15-30 minutes where the un'autobus for all destinations.
The house has two floors where the first floor, the owners live, I must say very kind and very available, even if we specify any "pleasure" is that we are well paid.
Upon entering Room offered us a glass of fruit juice paid 1 €
Since we arrived in the dining room in the timetable, she has offered to cook for us ... ok, we cooked and we know nothing about this place, so you eat, rest and then start your exploration ...
Premise that she cooked what seemed to her because she is not a restaurant with the menu 'made us pay € 8 per person Chinese rice dish with a little' chicken and lots of vegetables jumped around a bit together ... 'I think dear ..
But there are remedies, no problem ... I can not leave a comment completely positive for the room: fairly clean and well lit by the door window but from a passage to another room, so privacy very small in our case.
In addition, the tent is very clear and beautiful dawn light that enters many for someone like me who sleeps only with the, dark, mean awake early and try to remedy with a 'towel over my head ... What a beautiful scene!
But this real backpacker to remedy the bed ... sfondatissimo but we did a lot of effort to get used and therefore almost sleepless nights.
Another sore point is that you have in the bath room no hot water and then I could not wait to go!
The only positive is that there is a conditioner, otherwise there was to die, because it does not then open the window because everyone will pass by and see you.
Another small detail: there is no room where to have breakfast and then you make it in their dining room table in their round five seats, one attached to another if the same happens when the husband, son or other travelers. (There are baquette (very good) at the center of the table, butter and jam, and then tea or milk.)
So if you have the better you can go because the end is not terrible but I have not found a good value for money. (28 € per night in local currency are rs 1148).

Maybe if we were to do another night if we could go diving in the area we went to see another place close by and recommended by Lonely Planet:

NICE PLACE GUEST HOUSE
RUE Labourdonnais - MAHEBOURG
TEL +230 631 9419 FAX + 230 631 1208 PORT + 230 780 9008
E-mail: niceplace59@hotmail.com

The Lonely speaks well and also to us the kind we made a good impression, we did see a study (a small apartment) seemed ok and clean price of 600 rs (14 € per night) It also has rooms that cost about 500 Rs (12 €)
I think that in this case there is a good value and price!
From him the next day we rented a scooter to explore a part of the island in complete freedom. Paid for rs 600 a day (14.6 €), whereas if you take it for several days now pay 500 rs!
The afternoon of our arrival we took un'autobus for one of the areas with the most beautiful sea described by a guide: BLUE BAY
For the journey of about ten minutes we spent very little (60 cents in two).
The bus leaves you in the center, where later in this location there is virtually nothing if not a great beach with a nice and refreshing pine wood (which is common in almost all the places we'll see) used by a lot of local picnic , never seen in all my travels, many people grilling and eating outdoors.
The "Mauritian" especially the Indians call them men of the picnic!
I said to BLUE BAY nothing apart from a sea that the rays of the sun takes the wonderful colors that make you think of being in paradise.
There is one large car park with a bar and a seller of fresh fruits and at that time there were three ice cream vendors, with their colorful vans to Walt Disney.
Apart from this there are stalls selling local products or people to ask.
And then we started to struggle to incorporate information.
We ask everyone for a diving center, but all gave us a ride on glass-bottom boat to admire the rich seabed coralli.Ci still seems absurd to believe that in a place where the sea is so beautiful that then go to around with the glass bottom boat diving this was the only one that reported by Lonely Planet into an Hotel.
But it is!
Is the CORAL DIVING CENTER www.coraldiving.com
Tel +230 604 1000 tony@tonyappollon.com

has 2 locations: one inside the hotel: Blue Lagoon Beach Blue Bay
and the main one inside the hotel: LE Preskil in Pointe d'Esny.
We wandered in search of info we ran a diving center in the secondary and once chosen the draft and the price for the final confirmation call to Preskil.
For tomorrow everything pieno.Grazie anyway. We are still hopeful that there are other fun diving competition, we realize quickly that there is nothing.

Wednesday

Let's get our scooters (provided that there are not many who hire them, because almost everyone is in the mega-villages and never discovered what awaits them outside the holiday All'inclusive, we have a scooter to follow the directions of Lonely that took us from NICE PLACE).
Type you forget? to tell us that the helmet is used for both and after the first five minutes where all we could see something behind us shouting we understand the need to go back and take the second helmet!
Done, let's go direct to the beautiful places of the island in the eastern
BELLE AND SEA Flic Duoc.

Party is a beautiful day, the sun, fortunately for us (otherwise we would literally burns)
is sometimes hidden by clouds, but when he manages to do all the colors peeking around us take even more lives!
From the green crops of sugarcane, the wonderful red flower called the Jacaranda tree (only looking at the pictures you will understand it is something so beautiful that remains inside) and no less importance, indeed the blue-green sea!

Often we felt the only tourists but we never had the slightest feeling of discomfort
Only flaw to run on a scooter is the fact that roads are made only for those who knows, there are very few directions and often we extended our trip because it chose the wrong path.
Even as BELLE MARE Trou d'Eau Douce are very similar to BLUE BAY: a kilometer long beautiful beach with its beautiful pine forest behind and then almost nothing. Honestly some restaurant to eat there, as there are also some souvenir shop, but trade has increased since the sale of jerseys and pullovers of cotton, which is in Cham famous brands like Armani, D &D; RAPHAEL LAURENT etc. ... we both forced choice or later you will understand how we got to visit someone .. and frankly we were not attracted, but is due to how I made it, because I read a lot of stories of people who made the expenditure and that confirmed that the clothing cost 1 / 5 compared prices that you are in Italy.
But I do not care any signature!
We relaxed a bit 'on the beach in the shade of pine trees and off to fill our stomach.
We follow the advice of the Lonely and look for the REST OF SEPT
Chinese cuisine, Indian and Creole.
7 Chemin-Trou d'Eau Duoc
Tel: +230 480 2766 email: restau_sept@yahoo.com
A little 'we ask and a little' follow the signs that occasionally appear and disappear ...
There I quote the description of the Lonely but does not reflect our expectations 100%.
The site is "cute" in every sense, and we understand that prices will soon be written in the guide are no longer real and we will confirm later: that since 2005 there has been a bell'aumento.
The portions are not anything particularly exciting and not at all abundant.
We spend about 27 € rs 1090 in two for me to eat a plate of four shrimp Noddles and the usual sauteed vegetables and sweet as a bit 'of pineapple, while Diego gets grilled shrimp (ne'arriveranno a dozen small) and a fillet fish and other grilled and then pineapple flambe.
But in the end all our travels or attempts are made choices, some choices turn out to be most successful in comparison to others, but nothing tragic, indeed ...
I must admit that we have stayed a bit 'above, but if we decide to try diving for the day after he has two places to go diving, if so we would have stopped one night more in the morning transfer to the area from NICE PLACE.
But instead of calling in the morning before starting our tour is not the primary cause of the easy availability of a phone, we refer to later in the afternoon until four o'clock we face at Le Preskil ask for info. All full for tomorrow.
Ok, then tomorrow we raise the curtain direction FLIC EN FLAC
Before giving the scooter we stop in the "shopping mall" where WAY LONDON pry a little 'and bought some' of the vanilla, fruit juice and sunscreen because the sun beats bauguette and a lot to do with the nutella snack (turned out that once in the room will become our dinner).

Tuesday

We were undecided whether to go by taxi in FLIC EN FLAC to travel more convenient but we decided to go to savings, and so here we are with our backpacks off at the 'bus.
We learn quickly that to go in what seems one of the most touristy town on the west coast there are no direct buses.
Take what leads us to Curepipe and then the targeted four BORNE last one that brings us to the destination.
We spend a stupid, exactly 21 +18 +21 rs (1.5 €) per testa.Ma arrive at FLIC EN FLAC after more than three hours and I have a start of my usual headaches.
We are tired and we are in better physical condition to run under the noonday sun looking for a place to sleep.
We looked around but do not see houses with the sign or similar rooms ...
We enter the first travel agency in the hope that we see a list of people who rent, the lady makes two phone calls and says I'm sorry but everything is full, it is Christmas week and New Year.
On one side there is that also reported on Lonely is called:

FLIC EN FLAC TOURIST AGENCY
Tel +230 453 9389 Fax +230 453 8416
www.fftourist.com e-mail: ffagency@intnet.mu

The girl tells us that he only available small apartment in a residence with swimming pool, the price of 50 € per night. In both tremble a little 'legs ...
The girl who can do his work begins with the usual words: when it is available, but later could not be true, at least go see it and then decide ... etc ...
We are sustained by the guy with an SUV ... Let's see the apartment and even if not a thousand and one night is still full of all, is two floors: the ground floor is the lounge with two sofas and TV, has the 'good-sized kitchen with refrigerator dishes etc. ... with even the microwave.
Upstairs is the bedroom with air conditioning and bathroom.
Looked at us wondering what to choose ... fatigue played against us ...
We decide to stop for a night and possibly confirm the two later if we find something cheaper ...
Where we sleep can also be found on Lonely Planet:

Escales VACATION
Think it's owned by the agency named above:
+230 453 9389 Fax +230 453 8416
www.fftourist.com e-mail: ffagency@intnet.mu

The area is really nice and tourism, but not so full of people suffer from too much.
It's nice!
We arrived this time in the hour of dinner and right next to the residence there is an Italian restaurant that cooks well, there's also pizza.
Called: CHEZ PEPE PHONE + 230 4539383
We try and remain satisfied: I eat a pizza with vegetables and I also come with the pineapple along with onion, mushrooms and peppers, not exactly Italian but very good.
Diego orders a plate of mussels gratin (plentiful and delicious) and a plate of spaghetti with seafood (also has plenty to say little, so that he can not finish everything).
We spend no small even in this case 810rs + 15% taxes altogether 931 rs (a little 'Yes 23 € in less than two), but if you eat well to also pleased to spend.
Sated we put to bed for an hour that is almost three ...
Force us to get up to try to book for diving, fortunately, the area is a bit 'more vibrant and close agency before there's a diving center and we wandered for at least two directions.
We stop in the first and since we do not inspiring book now two dives the next day because it was already completely full, but the next day.
The place is really pretty: a small size of shopping center where inside there is a Spar supermarket, where you will find almost everything and everything serves near there: car rental, shops, agencies, mail phone, bank, many restaurants ... but the whole is more than tolerable because it is not chaotic or unlivable and then when you move a mile already reigns peace and tranquility totale.Noi after diving we stopped in the supermarket because the apartment is possible to cook or at least eat in peace ...
As we turn we see a house which we rent out rooms and info on availability and prices:
The price is good on the 20 € and for the next night but the room's availability can not vision because at the time occupied, you should go tomorrow ...
We do not have much time stressing and for once we decide to treat us well, are just three nights and
in Italy for 50 € you have a small room in a 2-3 stars if you're lucky ...
Diego to return stops at a restaurant near CHEZ PEPE face that seems authentic Creole cuisine and the availability and order removal of French fries and grilled lamb and spends about 4-5 euros.
With the air conditioning and a bed in excellent condition we spend a good night we're ready for our second ride on a scooter.

Friday


We want to leave early to get the most hours of sun, but I have a little dispute with the alarm and the time and wrong time of one hour, and when we realize it instead of the eight are already serious nove.Niente . The scooter hire him there as the residence for 24 hours and we pay 500 Rs (about 12 euro).
As soon as we leave the apartment phoned diving in Blue Bay in hope of being able to book two dives for the Monday before the start, knowing it is an area with beautiful sea-bottom and not dive there has been a bit 'stomach.
We try, but they are filled to make a hole inside the bay for one afternoon.
The next morning we have the plane but since the maximum depth is 8 meters can accept in whole tranquillità.Il next step is to find accommodation where to stay near the diving and a means of transport to reach the goal (taxi or bus ?) We think later ...
Leaving little to do with the scooter immediately understand that it is much newer and accessories, and fortunately much more convenient than Mahebuorg.Possiamo hired to do a lot of street ...
We head straight for Port Louis where we want to see the typical market and a couple of shopping centers around since there is not much choice to do some gift or as a souvenir ...
We arrived after thirty minutes between the various stops for a few photos etc. .. we understand fairly quickly that the market area is near the port, but once you are a sea of people and chaos makes us want to spend the vistarlo.Forse I've found a characteristic or skin, so we were not inspired, but it seemed just a lot of stalls and shouting vendors in China, but precisely because we've fallen from scooters I have no idea if I really lost qualcosa.Oppure not what the market described in the guide.
But the beauty of a holiday DIY is not just what to do only what we want?
Passes the mega traffic Port Louis and head to the famous garden
SSR PAMPLEMOUSSES BOTANIC GARDEN
We liked it even though we are not fond of botany, but we like the nature in all its forms of animals or plants, I want to warn you that contrary to what the guide or other stories that reported admission free, for us we get paid 100rs per person (about 2.5 €). We have preferred to shoot it in total freedom and avoid having next one who talks all the time but you can take a leadership paying it little more than 1 million (50rs) taking care to see two Sometimes the same plants and rare or lose endemiche.Fra the various plants are also happy because they offer a good walk away from the heat and sunlight. In the area there is a clean bathroom and even the vendors of soft drinks or simili.Proseguiamo our exploration directed toward other beautiful beaches of Mauritius northern type: Trou aux Biches, Mont Choisy and Grand Baie.
Our idea was to find a nice place to sea with a nice restaurant and spend pomeriggio.Ma where again the lack of road signs does not help us, we turn towards that which we feel is going in the right direction but it seems that with the roads easier to take you forever and never to the ground by the sea! "A little 'bored and hungry and with a little' afraid to peck a 'shower too far away from home and no jacket makes us desist from continuing to try, even we came very close. We decide to use the afternoon to see PORT LUIS
In withdrawal we enter the shopping mall called
CAUDAN WATERFRONT define the place of the more worldly capitale.Ricorda and I believe we are inspired by its namesake to that of South Africa. Shopping center full of shops, offices, restaurants, bars, etc. ... everything seems a bit 'too expensive even though two or three gifts We gladly run away.
Find a store or rather is a chain of BAOBAB that sells 100% cotton shirts with various designs and with the written order Mauritius.Il price is not given but not impossible, for us as we buy some memory and two as a gift ...
Again on his return we find no indication for FLIC EN FLAC and following our map go a bit 'a feeling and a little' just follow the signs to nearby cities.
There is an absurd traffic, we are happy to have half to two wheels and when overtaking cars still, speed things up ...
Wrong way, ask and it almost seems that not even tell them to know the shortest route without having to reopen within the last terra.In a gentleman tells us to follow him because it is directly in the same area ... Everything becomes easier to check and see the horizon ' sighed and looked so blue sea!
Really turn yourself is not easy, we do not understand why this significant lack of information stradali.Avevo already read some stories of travelers who had taken the rental car the wrong way several times and then later to confirm the final on Sunday when we take the taxi staff (then I'll explain the reason for this tactical move) he gave us the feeling every now and then to turn round or not to be too sure of the road choice.
We arrive at FLIC EN FLAC that there is still light so complicit that we are masters of the scooter until tomorrow morning, we decide to turn the whole area, at least to know at a glance and we arrive to the area of the big hotels (called Wolmar ). Nothing so extreme, some nearby shops and then the larger and tourist villages.
What to eat for dinner? "I am very hungry and I have cooked: in almost all the holiday we had lunch outside and about two or three o'clock in the evening about eight o'clock we had never really hungry.
We decide to try again Creole cuisine take away. In the pine forest near the sea in front of all the restaurants there are three or four vans or kiosks with kitchen.
Choose the one that inspires us and Diego asks for a little of everything '(two grilled chicken legs for both the white balls of boiled fish, like small eggs, other vegetables, meatballs, rice as a side dish and than the usual fries) pay the 10 € around and head back home ...
Glance that in the room there is also a cleaner system that gives you everything and left us to our surprise also turned on the air conditioning which usually just go out there one after that off to save you the bill .
The place we like and we enjoy our choice even if a little 'regret that we will pay the 150 € but we are on vacation and want to enjoy it.
I'll throw you another good night's sleep as normal while Diego law until late.

Saturday

Today finally came the great day of diving, we'll see up close the beauty of the sea and not only its beautiful colors.
We meet a little 'before ten to compile all the documents and test equipment and then dive.
The diving is called:
SEA-URCHIN DIVING CENTER
TEL: + 230 7525307 www.sea-urchin-diving.com

Arrived at the center and completed all the formalities put on your wetsuit and fins and we follow the group crossed the street and through a narrow road we come to the beach. There is a small boat waiting for us so that soon we is not that we in any doubt assails me most: my kind gav? The bottle? Everything on the boat, ok we trust, but usually at least try it for gav see what size you need ... And it's all on board and everything in ordine.Che strong type of the evening we booked a dive fast and he has guessed at a glance our sizes etc. ... We are in a dozen, There are two dive master, we open with a fall to a depth of 20-25 meters, the other girl will fall into another diving spot with those who can reach the depth of 35-40 meters.
Everything is well planned and takes place very well.
We do two dives, the first call: ROCHE Cateau
You dive into the wall, nice but nothing stratospheric (after they have been diving at Sipadan-Mabul in Borneo) where I have around me hundreds of fish is not a good immersione.Dai joke, we must be able to enjoy every dive even individuals, small details, it is certain that the macro will affect more and more. ... After a break of one hour by boat do the second, the name already says it all, called Aquarius, and we liked it a lot, we saw lots of fish all around us. ... Beautiful and beautiful again.
We return about two in the afternoon and after the usual hand that you download from the boat and after washing "our equipment" and after paying trying to satisfy two basic needs of the moment: hunger and shower! We pay about 30 € each dive low (tot for 4 dive 4700rs)
+ The fee that you pay only the first time that t'immergi and goes for two months and throughout the island of rs 100 each (about 2,50 €).
Fortunately everything near and in five minutes we are at home and passing CHEZ PEPE 'take-away order two pizzas to be removed in ten minuti.Tutto perfect!
A nice hot shower and a good pizza gioia.Ora fill us with a nice nap and what can I expect more?
Tomorrow we leave our apartment, towards Blue Bay, how to get there?
Total savings to play again and take the bus and get some 'cooked at your destination? But then what do the rest of the day?
We decide to play another card, certainly more expensive but at least allows us to see things and make the island throughout the day.
We wandered in search of a travel agency and ask a taxi takes us to the hotel staff that while it stops in all sights and attractions of that part of the island.
Accepted the offer to spend € 45 for all day domani.Il taxi to take us to 9:00 in front of the residence and leave us to our hotel to Maebuourgh until 17:00 or so,
Other agencies were offering rates more or less similar, but this seemed very elastic, it was not him to decide what to do but we see noi.Forse conversations with a taxi driver could spend a little bit less, but we had no desire to become stressed too much to pull three euro less ...
The agency is called: FRAGAWILLIS & LEISURE CO
Royal Road Flic-en-Flac
Tel: +230 7474500 --- 4538897 Cell +230 7344097
Proved correct in that we will pay tomorrow night says the driver, perfect!
How do you tell then we were happy with the service and accuracy demonstrated by our driver, here's how to contact him if you want to play it safe:
TAXI SERVICE
Mahadeo
Tel: +230 4252834 mob. +230 2598576

I think his staff is:
Kevin Bijoutier e-mail: kevinmahadea@yahoo.com
cell: +230 7651397

I have entered all the data available then you will see ....
After a pizza at three in the afternoon again in the evening we did not really hungry, folded again with take-away dishes.