The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2020 - Issue 27

bite travel It may not be the biggest island in the world but when you look at the many things you can do and the places you can visit in the capital city of Port Louis and the surrounding regions, you’d think you were somewhere the size of Cuba. The capital city was founded in 1735 by the French governor and pioneer Bertrand-François Mahé de la Bourdon- nais. Today, it is the administrative and business capital of the island, and buzzing with activity dur- ing the day, it is full of cultural and historical treas- ures that should not be missed. Here you will find Place d’Armes, Port Louis’ most imposing boulevard lined with palm trees which leads up to Government House, a beautiful 18th-century French-colonial building, which is the official address of the Parliament of Mauritius. You may be amused by the solemn statue of Queen Victoria with a ‘we are not amused’ facial expres- sion while the statue of French governor Mahé de la Bourdonnais is found at the quayside end of the avenue reminding the people of Mauritius of their French heritage. One of the oldest theatres and playhouses in the Indian Ocean, Port Louis Theatre was built in 1822 and decorated in a classic London theatre style, accommodating around six hundred spectators. It hosted a horde of plays, operas, oper- ettas, vaudeville and other shows for many years but despite being renovated in 1994, the theatre has fallen into decay and has not been touched since. It is unknown whether the au- thorities will fix it up but at present, it stands as a historical monument. Built between 1834 and 1840 by the British to guard the city against riots during the abolition of slavery, Fort Adelaide is located on a hill offering fantastic views over the city and harbour. Today, local and international concerts and artistic shows are performed here while the old barracks have been restored and transformed into a row of intriguing boutiques. You can get there via Suffren Street which will take around 10 minutes for the climb. If you decide to visit Aapravasi Ghat (Immigration Depot in Hindi), you will find a small complex of buildings located on the seafront that once served as the island’s main immi- gration depot for indentured labourers from India after the abolition of slavery. This UNESCOWorld Heritage Site since 2006 has some of the original stone buildings intact, with displays on living conditions, the hospital wing and bathing ghats. Almost 70% of Mauritius’ citizens can trace their roots back to Aapravasi Ghat. The South and South-East side of Mauritius has the wildest and most beautiful landscapes, with sandy beaches bordered by cliffs carved by waves, rocky shores, sugar cane fields, and the mountainous terrains offering magnificent panoramas. One of the main fishing villages on the island is Mahebourg built along the shore of the immense bay of Grand Port. It was founded in 1804 by French Governor Charles Decaen and witnessed the only napoleonic naval victory over the English in 1810. Whilst under French administration, it was sadly known for its slave markets. It still holds a lot of emotions for the peo- ple of Mauritius and is one of the rare places on the island that has kept this particular period of its history engraved in stone. Pointe Canon in Mahebourg is a fantastic place to take pictures of Lion Mountain, the Grand Port, Ilôt Mou- choir Rouge, and Ile aux Aigrettes. A popular concert venue, Pointe Canon is known for its annual memorial ceremonies celebrating the abolition of slavery on 1st February. History has always played a part in the shaping of a country or island and the best place to visit is the National Naval and Historical Museum. Located at the entrance of the town, the Château de Robillard, a French colonial building from the 18th-century, houses the National History Museum. Here you will find old maps, engravings, crockery, pirates’ swords and even fragments of shipwrecks. The most fascinating find is the bell recovered from the wreck of the St Géran. More of the island’s sordid past is found at Cavendish Bridge which was constructed in 1856 for sugar cane transportation. It was commonly known as the ‘Pont de la Ville Noire’ mean- ing ‘The Black Town Bridge’ and was originally constructed from wood while all the other bridges were made from steel. Finally, between 1908 and 1911, it was transformed into a reinforced concrete bridge. At 155 metres, this landmark is said to be the longest bridge on the island. For the magic of the blue lagoon, visit Rodrigues which is described as the ‘jewel in the crown' of the Mascarene Islands and located 560 kilometres north-east of Mauritius. If you are an adventurous person, the secure waters of the lagoon and the trade wind that buffet the island will provide many opportunities including scuba-diving where you will witness the diverse coral reef eco-system and its colourful assort- ment of sub-aquatic flora and fauna. Or you can partake in windsurfing, kite-surfing, sailing, and fishing. On the east side of the island is Îles aux Cerfs, a privately owned island that has lots of beaches and lies off Trou d’Eau Douce in the largest lagoon of Mauritius. Whilst it is pri- vately owned, there are some public beaches such as Roches Noires and Poste Lafayette where you can fish and breathe