Mauritius – Africa's Economic Miracle and the Prince Maurice Hotel„
A small, tight-knit international group decided to vacation on the island of Mauritius… Years ago – this is how Dodo begins his story – which is why the photos I'm about to share are vintage.
We left from northwestern Europe in the dead of winter. Dressed in „armor“ to protect us from the cold. Stepping off the plane after a long flight and layovers, we were hit by a hot curtain of haze. The temperature difference – at least 50 degrees...
But the island's climate is wonderful – there's no unbearable heat, something between late spring and early summer all year round, by European standards.
I saw on the map that we are about 900 km from the huge island of Madagascar. And unlike the misery and poverty there, Mauritius was supposed to be the economic miracle of Africa...
The purpose of our two-week vacation, as the distance and long journey did not justify a shorter stay, was the new hotel „Prince Maurice.“ To the east.
In the poorest part of the island.
The northern coast is built up and touristy.
To the east, at that time, the holiday resorts for solvent tourists could be counted on one's fingers. Perhaps the government wanted to find a livelihood for the population in the eastern part of the island and raise the people's standard of living, even if only a little...
I read somewhere that Mauritius's Human Development Index is among the highest in Africa. That it's the most competitive and one of the most developed economies on the Black Continent. The country relies mainly on manufacturing – processing work, with sewing being highly prevalent, as well as on financial services, tourism, and information and communication technologies.
But the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly not spared tourism.
I was worried about the poverty we went through to reach our little oasis at the bottom of the pearl of the Indian Ocean...
„Prince Maurice“ is located on a bay, with five-star bungalows.
And the bay... it will be the hero of our story.
Lux, spices, and life by the Indian Ocean
The complex itself offers everything for a lavish and luxurious vacation. I'll briefly mention golf, fitness, and I won't dwell on the water activities – anything you can think of.
The houses are grouped on small islands – in zones. On the shore, inland, and in the middle line.
There is a large central hub with restaurants and bars where entertainment takes place...
The food in the restaurant was unique.
There are several bars, a sushi restaurant. A cornucopia of fruits and vegetables… And did you know that pineapple is considered a weed on the island? The sorbet made from it was superb.
The team is international – the main chefs are Indian, there are Chinese chefs. Periodically, for the season, they invite famous French, English, and Italian chefs.
Dress code is mandatory.
Beautifully arranged tables. Cinnamon sticks, seeds. Flowers and leaves from the local flora. Which I only saw in Mauritius.
You can quite happily stay in the bay and not miss the world.
For all senses – pleasures
There are hookahs in the corridors.
Sink into the soft sofas to watch the sunset and enjoy a drink in solitude or in company.
The island itself is a favorite among newlyweds.
The sand is like silk – soft, gentle, fine...
And the ocean – it's warm and... treacherous. It's not true that there are no sharks, but the coral reefs around the island form a natural barrier and rarely let large predators into the lagoons and bays.
You can swim by the beach all you want, but I was drawn to the opposite shore and decided to undertake a water landing soon...
A few days after arriving, I noticed that the staff were stretching nets and building walkways like catwalks. I assumed there was going to be some kind of fashion show…
But when I saw that they were filling sacks with sand and propping up the little houses with them, tying palm trees, I became worried.
I understood that the intense tropical cyclone Connie will hit us.
Feverish preparations began – all tourists were moved from the front line to the interior, and the bungalow windows were boarded up. On the second and third lines, the windows were firmly bolted with shutters.
Whatever facilities there were, they were withdrawn inside the complex and covered.
We were strictly instructed to stay in the bungalows, not to go anywhere. They were going to bring us food…
The horses charged at me
It was scary – you couldn't go out, and if you happened to rush to the gym or the central part, the sky would drench you with buckets of water.
The wind rages and bends the trees. The ocean roars terrifyingly. And this is day and night. There is no rest.
You don't know what's happening outside. Because the windows are bolted shut.
Every now and then, a coconut hits the roof with the sound of a projectile.
You can't sleep, you're worried...
The horses have been raging on the island for three days.
Afterwards, we read that the power supply in many parts was cut off and that one person had died. But overall, there were no major damages to the population and the island.
But our vacation was cut in half.
We were unable to visit and carry out the planned events.
After the cyclone passed, the sun rose and life was very quickly restored – literally in a day.
The sky lit up again, the water sparkled, and I decided to embark on my adventure to the opposite shore of the bay. It beckoned me.
End of part one.
To be continued.
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