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(note: this is one of my pre-scheduled posts set to appear at 5:00am EST each morning I am in a port city. I will post follow-up information about each trip once I am able to get back on the computer.)
The ship is scheduled to arrive at 1200 in Port Louis, Mauritius.
We will be in Mauritius for the next 3 days.
This is the trip I will be going on today...
Multi-Cultural Evening (Time: 1930 - 2345)
Description:
Located ten minutes from Port Louis, the Domaine Les Pailles recreates an old Creole and colonial estate including a rudimentary sugar mill, horse-driven carriages, a spice garden, a small train and a rum distillery. Guests are greeted at the Sugar Mill Mauritian Creole-style. Enjoy a traditional Sega show, complimented with a fruit cocktail and snacks, before being led by Sega dancers through an alley of torches to La Cannelle, a Creole restaurant. A Mauritian multi-cultural dinner show will feature four dance performances (Indian, Chinese, Oriental and Creole). Afterwards, a DJ will provide music for your listening and/or dancing pleasure before returning to the ship. (PRICE: $114.00)
Update:
The ship got in around noon and we didn't have to meet with the customs officials face-to-face again. I was trying to figure out what I was going to do today - either go with the group that was going to the beach villa today and spend the day there or stay close to the ship and go to the multicultural dinner event I had a ticket to go on.
approaching Port Louis, Mauritius on the ship
(click here for bigger version of the video)
me on the ship approaching Port Louis, Mauritius
approaching Port Louis, Mauritius, on the ship
(click here for bigger version of the video)
approaching Port Louis, Mauritius, on the ship
After meeting up with the group who was heading to the beach, I learned they were planning on walking around the town for a bit before going to the villa. I also found out that two people (Emily, the nurse and Kristen, the assistant field office coordinator) would be going to the villa tomorrow morning because they both had to be on-duty for today. Since I knew I could go with them in their taxi tomorrow, I decided to put off going to the beach until then so I could go on the dinner I had already paid for tonight.
I joined the group of people who were going to walk around in the town for a little while and learned there is not a whole lot in Port Louis. Some mall-type stores and some restaurants, but it didn't take long to see all that was to be seen there. From where the ship is docked, you take a water taxi to where the shops are - it is ridiculously close and there could easily be a small bridge built, but for some reason, these water taxi boats take passengers the one minute or so across the water to the other side for $1.
At any rate, with the group of 11 I was with (2 students I didn't know and the rest were staff people), we ate at an Indian restaurant called Namaste. With Joe (the videographer) and Ben (the Global Nomads documentarian), I split three vegetarian dishes.
After lunch we walked around a bit more and then some of us headed to the ship again.
Once back on the ship, I took a quick shower and a nap before having to wake up for the dinner I was scheduled to go on.
Essentially the dinner was a buffet of different dishes (chicken, beef, rice, vegetables, etc.). During the dinner, dancers performed different cultural dances and then at the end the DJ played music and people got on the dance floor.
dance performance during the multicultural dinner in Port Louis, Mauritius
(click here for bigger version of the video)
dance performance during the multicultural dinner in Port Louis, Mauritius
(click here for bigger version of the video)
a "lifelong learner" and a student dancing at Cannelle restaurant in Port Louis, Mauritius
