After a bit of mixup on exactly where we were to meet the van picking eight of us up that morning we were off on our adventure for the day.
This was a tour we'd all booked separately with Get Your Guide and while we had a great time it wasn't exactly the tour that was advertised. This ticket counter we passed at the dock might have given us a clue.
If we've learned nothing else in the past five plus months it's that a tour can be whatever you make it. You can complain your way through it or find the good stuff and just enjoy the ride. You can see I was enjoying this ride out to Ile Aux Cerfs.
This was the ticket we were handed at the dock for the day so that the boat driver would know what we had signed up for: Ile aux Cerfs, Ile au Margenie, G.R.S.E. Waterfall and BBQ. We would soon find out that anything else on the tour was extra.
The waterway out to the island was lined with these fishing boats
and here and there with fishermen as well.
The beach on Ile aux Cerfs, or Deer Island, was nice once we got there but not exactly the best for swimming. Okay, we'd go snorkeling, but to get out to the reef you had to take another boat and there was a charge for that plus not really enough time to go. So Plan C was to just enjoy the view on a lounge chair, except the lounger was $20 an hour, just a little prohibitive, even though we were only going to be there an hour. Karl found a rock to sit on, padding it with a towel,
and I went parasailing! He'd already done it once long ago so didn't want to go again.
Mark, Laura and I had been talking about finding a place to parasail since we started the cruise, so we decided that this was the day, this was the place. Bob had been before and was totally game to go again, Jane has overcome a lot of fears on this trip and was going to give it a try. Off we all went via boat to an offshore platform for our sail.
Laura had so much fun the her first ride with Bob that she decided to go again with me. With minimal instruction they strapped us in, sat us down on the platform with our knees bent, unhooked the chute and we were off.
It was so great floating up there in the sky, looking at the
gorgeous waters and scenery below.
It was only about a four minute ride but I loved everything about it, except my crash landing. Well, I didn't exactly crash but you're supposed to land standing up and I fell over, my feet didn't start moving like they should have. It was pretty funny. The instructor was saying "Madam, get up!" and I hear Laura saying, "She's trying!" It all worked out and I was happy to check parasailing off the list of things I'd always wanted to do. Funny note here, there were two different companies doing parasailing near one another and Karl had been watching the wrong one the whole time from shore. Oh well, he can always watch the video!
A photo of our speedboat for the day. Our driver was there at the back.
We were back on the speedboat for a little more scenic touring after our return. Note here that the houses along this shore do all their transport by boat, it takes much to long to travel from place to place by driving.
I needed a screenshot at this point of where we were on Maps as we headed to the waterfall.
We pulled off to the side when the boat driver saw monkeys bouncing from branch to branch in the trees along the waterway. It was really good of this family to pose so nicely for us. Photo credit here to Mark.
The river became unnavigable once we reached the Grand River South East Waterfall. It was so shallow we were amazed we could get this close. Well done driver!
It really was lovely along the river, the greens of the foliage, the blue green water, and the blue sky.
I'm not sure exactly what these birds are called, one site identified them as Mascarene Martins, another as Tropicbirds. Whatever they are called we saw them both days on the island.
As we came back out on the sea we again got those incredible waters and sky.
Our last stop was on Il au Margenies where we walked in from the boat to the small island for our BBQ.
The tables were set up nicely for us and we were definitely ready to eat.
Food was pretty basic but good. There was a really delicious tuna steak, some BBQ chicken, a chicken hot dog, potato salad, rice, and garlic bread. Yep, pretty heavy on carbs and protein. We had a slice of fresh pineapple for dessert. Plus there was all the water, soda, wine or rum you wanted.
When we first got there I noticed the bin of sea urchins sitting in the water and wondered what they were for. Turns out that for an extra fee you could eat some. They brought the plate of them to the table to tempt us be we all declined. Steve decided that he really wanted to try some urchin. We'll never know for sure if it got more tempting because of the rum he had with lunch! Anyway, on the lower right is what they ended up looking like inside after being cracked open and cleaned. You then ate the orange part raw. He was willing to share and eventually I tried a tiny piece. I alone was brave! It was okay, not too fishy, not too slimy, a little salty and savory. I can say I tried eating something new. Steve enjoyed it so that was good.
On the sea side of the island was a beach with coarse sand that we could walk along or relax on until time to head back to shore. There were a lot of these purple flowers growing in the sand.
Bob and Jane relaxed on the beach while Karl, Mark, Laura and I walked down to the tide pools at the point.
As always, Karl was in his happy place, anywhere with ocean.
It would have been interesting to know how old all this black lava rock really was.
Not much to see in the tide pools except some sea cucumbers.
Had to take a picture of this really amazing tree that was back at the dock.
It was back to Port Louis to prepare for departure. Just a couple of last photos of Mauritius before we left, both thanks to Jane and Mark. We had passed this unusual mountain with the rock formation balanced at its tip the day before but hadn't been able to get a photo then. Turns out it's called Pieter Both and that gigantic rock formation at the very top of it, actually resembles a human head!
It had been a wonderful couple of days on Mauritius, an island full of friendly people and beautiful scenery. I was grateful for the treat it was to have two days there and for good friends to explore it with.
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