3rd March 2016

We had an early start today, heading north to visit the Botanical Gardens in Pamplemousses.

For once, we stayed focused on our destination, making no stops along the way. Although we weren’t entirely sure of the garden’s exact location, a quick detour to a Forestry Station provided the directions we needed; it turned out we were quite close.

After purchasing our tickets, I arranged for a guide to show us around and explain the various plants and trees we’d be seeing. As our tour began, we were soon joined by a French couple, and a little later, a French family. The guide, fluent in both English and French, was exactly what you’d hope for: knowledgeable, engaging, and full of fascinating insights about the gardens and Mauritius as a whole.

One of the more surprising takeaways was how few of the species in the garden are indigenous to the island. Most were introduced by the Europeans, adding yet another layer to the island’s rich and complex history.

The gardens are renowned for their giant water lilies, ‘Victoria Amazonica’. A large pond brimming with these impressive plants made for a truly spectacular sight. The massive, plate-like leaves floated serenely on the surface, drawing plenty of admiration from visitors.

Another highlight was a species of the world’s largest palm. These towering giants were awe-inspiring, and their unique life cycle caught our attention. They live for about 60 years, flower just once, and then die. The next flowering is anticipated in two years, and it’s expected to draw crowds from around the globe, a rare natural event not to be missed.

Beyond the botanical marvels, we also visited the garden’s resident giant tortoises, always a crowd-pleaser, and encountered some surprisingly friendly deer, who seemed more than happy to mingle with their human guests.

After returning to the car, we checked the map and set the GPS for a small mountain lake called La Nicolieve, hoping it would provide a much-needed respite from the heat. The walk through the gardens had been sweltering, even with our best efforts to stick to the shade beneath the trees we were admiring.

However, when we arrived at the lakeside, it was anything but cool. The heat was stifling, and standing out in the open for long was unbearable. We snapped a few photos before retreating to the car, where the air conditioning once again became our saving grace. From there, we enjoyed a leisurely drive through the mountains, stopping occasionally to capture some scenic views.

With our mountain photo expedition complete, we decided to head to Flacq for some shopping. However, when we spotted a shopping mall just outside the town, we opted for the convenience of its straightforward parking and decided to browse there instead.

After dropping off our shopping at the hotel, we headed back to the beach we had visited a few days ago, where Sue had enjoyed collecting shells. Once again, she went straight into hunting mode, and within no time, she had filled another bag with her treasures. A brief shower appeared, but it didn’t faze her; the hunt continued unabated.

We returned to the hotel by 5 p.m., where we took some time to rest in our room before getting ready for dinner. We decided to try a restaurant just a few minutes down the road. As we arrived, the storm began, but we managed to get seated on the verandah, just far enough from the downpour to stay dry. The air was cooled by the rain, making the meal much more pleasant as we didn’t have to deal with our clothes sticking to us.

The storm lasted long enough for us to order desserts without feeling guilty about lingering too long. The car was parked at the farthest corner of the parking lot, and we knew we’d get soaked if we attempted to dash to it any sooner, so we waited for the rain to ease.

That evening’s entertainment in the hotel was a pop band, but unfortunately, the rain was still lingering, so most residents had to be seated in the dry, quite far from the music. Despite the damp conditions, the show went on. We decided to drag our balcony chairs under the parasol in our usual spot by the pool. Even though the rain persisted, we were still thoroughly entertained by the performance, proving that a little weather couldn’t dampen our mood.