Honey Hill Tourists

Monday 2nd June – Souvenirs!

Shaun is still not 100% so a day by the villa for him.

But I went out souvenir shopping! Close to home around the west coast, I headed to the nearest “shop lokal” just a 5 min drive away in Black River. Everything locally made so I picked up a few postcards and a keyring. Then onto a bag shop I have been eyeing up whenever we have taken the road south. Lots of lovely woven bags – I finally settled for a beach bag and pleased with my purchase then headed north toward Tamarin.

There to My Pop Up Shop – I had read about this one it is local artisan stuff. I was still looking for ceramics of some description, but nothing there which caught my eye. I did buy some Mauritian honey though!

On my way back to the villa I stopped at a shop I had been intrigued by on our travels. The Bargin Basement. Seriously, it was like a car boot sale! But I did pick up a little dish with, I thought, a picture of a Mauritian Dodo.

Turns out it wasn’t a Dodo, but a swan. According to ChatGPT a French pewter dish in the heraldic style from the early 20th century.

Tonight we went for a walk on the beach and then battled with the bitey insects …

Honey Hill Tourists

Sunday 1st June – Hair of the Dog

The great food and wine … well Shaun has been sick as a dog all day. He has spent his time asleep in bed, asleep on the sofa on the deck, asleep in the chairs by the ocean, asleep in a chair by the pool. He has now announced he is trying to stay awake until 8pm (5pm your time) before heading back to bed.

I have been fine ….

A day on the sun lounger for me – and also playing with this blog – I hope you like the new format! There was a bit of panic at 2.30 when I suddenly realized that the supermarket shuts at 3 on a Sunday. I made the quick dash to the Super U, not that I think Shaun will be having anything –

We had planned to head to the Black River Gorges for a hike tomorrow, but I don’t think that’s wise. I think another day at the villa, and perhaps we can go for walk along to beach to find the Martello Tower museum.

You asked about 4 legged creatures – we have dogs (including a dog this evening on a paddle board with its owner), goats, a cat who strolls through the garden each evening and a lizard who lives around the pool.

The birds are funny – a pair of miner birds and some green parrots who fly in and around the palm trees.

Far more prevalent are the bitey insects! We have some defences, the DEET spray, the citronella sticks, an electric FlyHunter but still they keep biting!

Honey Hill Tourists

Saturday 31st May – Some R&R

Last night we stopped at a local restaurant, and booked a table for dinner. This morning we did some tidying around the villa before spending a day by the pool with the aim of finishing another book.

We moved between the chairs overlooking the ocean, the sun loungers by the pool, the dining table on the veranda and the comfy chairs on the deck.

We turned on the radio and had some gentle music in the background.

An action packed Saturday but the time flew by!

We walked up to the restaurant around 7 and sat in the courtyard with some great food and wine …

Honey Hill Tourists

Friday 30th May – All at Sea

Up early this morning! We are due at the marina just before 9.

We packed the car – lots to take today: snorkeling gear, hats, sun screen towels, books – and made our way to the marina. Loaded into the little boat we headed out of the marina to deeper water and our boat for the day.

The skipper and two crew showed us around and we sat on the deck up front as we set sail. We first headed out to sea in an attempt to see some dolphins – they weren’t around on Friday, but we both got to lay on the netting at the front of the catamaran as we cut through the waves.

This being Mauritius, and the start of winter, we have learnt to expect all seasons – and indeed we spent ten minutes wrapped in our towels a the rain fell.

But rain soon turned to sun and we were heading back to the shore and a reef just by our own beach here at La Preneuse. The boat tied to. body it was time to snorkel and see the fish.

The sea was calm and warm – our skipper and crew threw some bread into the water and the fish were jumping up to get their share! Then on with the mask and fins as we snorkeled around the boat and a little toward the reef.

Back onto the boat and hosed down with fresh water, I made my way to the front deck to watch Shaun as he continued to snorkel.

We then headed south down the coast and the crew BBQd some fish, chicken, prawns and sausage for our lunch (terrible hair! but the wind was blowing … ).

Next stop the lagoon near Le Morne. The water is shallow here and the sea a beautiful turquoise. Rising from the lagoon is The Crystal Rock – a freestanding coral rock shaped over centuries by ocean currents.

And the smaller Dragon Rock

Back onto the Catamaran where we had a dip in the sea – a really strong current here meant we spent the entire time bobbing about in the water hanging onto a ring the crew had tied to the back of the boat! Fun all the same!

Back to the villa and a BBQ by the pool watching the sunset …

Honey Hill Tourists

Thursday 29th May – Tea!!

Time for Tea

Back to the sun shining and time to plan what to do for the day. Shaun had to check the tide and weather just to make sure …

We headed off just after 9 to find one of the tea plantations on the island. Bois Cheri which started in 1892 and offered factory tours and tea tastings.

Just like everywhere else, it seems, it was an hour away. But this time south and then inland on some switch back roads through the forests. The peak on the right is the one behind us here at La Preneuse.

Arriving at the plantation we visited the museum before joining a tour of the factory. Last modernized in 1953 but still going strong!

Factory visit and tea tasting over, we headed back to La Prenusue along the southern edge of the island. Really wild with lots of wind and big waves!

One more stop at Bel Ombre and the C Beach Club for some lunch before heading into the hills and forests once more and back to La Preneuse.

The late afternoon here was just beautiful – the sun was setting so we strolled up and down the beach before settling in at the villa to watch the sunset.

An early night … tomorrow we are off on our boat trip!

Honey Hill Tourists

Tuesday 27th May – a Day at the Villa

A day at the villa

The sun was shining this morning – and having been visited by the gardeners and the housekeeper, we decided to spend the day at our own beach and villa.

Shaun visited the bakery and we had coffee and fresh pastries before Shaun headed off in one of the kayaks and I set up a chair and umbrella at the bottom of the garden overlooking the beach and sea.

Binoculars in hand, I watched Shaun paddle out to the reef and then up and down the coastline. I read lots of the latest Richard Osman book sitting on a sun lounger!

The afternoon saw us by the pool before we headed out in late afternoon to visit the boat charter place, about 5 mins drive south.

That sorted – we are booked for Friday – we decided to head south some more and ended up watching the sunset from the beach at Le Morne. Totally beautiful, and wonderful to see so many people (in Mauritius beach terms) arriving to watch the sun set and then heading back home.

Honey Hill Tourists

Monday 26th May – a Trip North

Gardens and the North

Shaun found the local bakery this morning – just at the end of the road, La Kaz A Pain. The French influence here in Mauritius brings with it amazing pastries, bread and deli.

Having finished coffee and croissants, we jumped into the car and headed north to the Botanical Gardens in the district of Pamplemousses. We even joined a tour with an entertaining guide who showed us the best bits the garden, including the numerous varieties of Palm Tree. My favourites though were the spice trees, leaves smelling of grapefruit, or cinammon, or 4 spice. The water lilies and the giant tortoises weren’t bad either!

We had brought a baguette with us from the bakery and sat on a bench under the trees watching the world go by …

Rather than heading straight home, we went via the coast road around the north coast. Some amazing beaches – we stopped at Grand Baie – before heading across the middle of the island and the hills.

Our final detour was close to home – Flic and Flac about 7km from our villa. A coastal road with people gathering to enjoy the sunset and some bars and restaurants alongside the Mauritian street food carts. I think we will be back!

As the sun was setting, very early here at around 5.30, we headed to our own villa and beach to catch the last rays and watch the sun set. Shaun even went into the sea – warm and shallow.

Back to the supermarket to pick something for supper which we have just finished. Now sitting on the veranda enjoying the sound of the waves lapping against the shore.

I think tomorrow we will potter around the beach and villa here and perhaps venture into the village if we are feeling adventurous.

Honey Hill Tourists

Sunday 25th May – Villa Cozy

We have arrived at Villa Cozy! A stunning villa right on the beach.

We headed to Gatwick Airport on the train from Farringdon, and watched the planes take off and land while we waited for our flight to board. A very smooth flight and we both managed to sleep. Passports and baggage collection totally uneventful and soon we were picking up our hire car and driving to La Preneuse.

We are on the west coast of Mauritius and it definitely feels like a residential area. The villa is wonderful – you can certainly tell it is someone’s family home with really thoughtful touches and a well equipped kitchen!

We stopped at the local supermarket on our way through and are just about to light the BBQ to cook some steaks for supper. I am not sure what the plans are for tomorrow, but Shaun is threatening to take a dip in the sea each day ….