Mauritian Ti' Punch

The recipe for the cocktail: endless beaches, a dazzling palette of colors, some breathtaking hikes, and excellent cuisine...

For the tasting, follow along in the pages of this travel journal! 😉

Don’t forget your hiking shoes, a swimsuit, sunscreen, but also a sweater, your driver’s license, and your credit card...

Just over 11 hours of flight, and we’ll be setting foot on Mauritian soil!

Well, Agnès, back home and the travel journal is already here 😊

I think this travel journal is gonna bring back some memories (... or maybe not, since 2007 😏!)

Here we go! 😎

Hi Isabelle,

The very beginning of the travel journal is already here! For the rest...😏

Welcome to this tasting, Muriel!

No idea what changes there might have been since 2007...😉

Well, I'm on the fence... They talk about punch, tasting, and I rush over—if only to live up to my reputation (even if it’s overhyped). But when they mention Mauritius, endless beaches, and I’m less sure... In the end, they bring up good food, so we’re going! 😉

Plus, I *love* the "yum yum's" !

The cabin lights gradually brighten, and the passengers on the Air France flight slowly wake from their torpor after such a long journey.

The friendly flight attendants hand out the modest breakfast served to economy class passengers, and the plane begins its descent toward Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport.



Just a few more moments, and we can finally escape this flying sardine can!

The formalities aren’t too long, but we’d made sure to book seats not too far from the exit.

Given the number of open counters and the laid-back attitude typical of the destination, passengers in row 40 and those dragging their feet won’t be breathing fresh air anytime soon...

Now we’re in front of the baggage carousel.

We quickly grab the first suitcase, and then...

I finally hear my name over the announcement.

We have to go to the baggage service!

I think we’ll be starting this trip with only half our stuff...

Bingo! The other suitcase is in Paris—it should arrive tomorrow.

We fill out the form and indicate we’d prefer to pick it up ourselves rather than have it delivered.

No way we’re waiting around all day!

"Yes, yes, no problem, we’ll call you!"

We soon leave the customs area and look for the car rental counters.

Ah, over there!

The employee carefully fills out the contract in very neat handwriting, then has us pay what we owe.

He forgets the deposit—we notice a little later.

Handy for avoiding hassles when returning the vehicle!

Now we have to wait for the KIA to be delivered.

Since the airport parking is free for the first few minutes, rental companies leave the cars outside and only bring them over at the last moment.

"Okay, you can follow me!" a new employee exclaims.

He walks around the car with us, scribbles down all the scratches on his report, and asks us to return the vehicle with the same fuel level.

He then hands us the parking ticket and warns we have 5 minutes to leave the premises if we don’t want to pay...

"Okay, okay!"

We load the suitcase, get our bearings, and head for the exit.

I think we’re now fully settled into this new vacation!

---/--- The weak coffee served on the flight wasn’t very effective at keeping us awake.

How about we grab a real espresso and a sweet treat?

No sooner said than done—our eyelids feel a little lighter, and our brains start to clear.

We take advantage of this stop in the commercial area to withdraw some Mauritian rupees—about 50 for 1 €, so the math is easy!

Unlike in other countries, local banks don’t charge fees or try to trick travelers with unfavorable exchange rates.

So, currency exchange offices are even less useful here than elsewhere!

No need to carry too much cash either, since most transactions can be done with a card.

Now that our wallets aren’t empty and our stomachs and throats are satisfied, let’s get down to business!

We drive around Mahébourg and head northeast along the coast.

Watch out—the driving is on the left, the roads are narrow, and Mauritians have their own take on traffic rules.

Don’t expect to average more than 40 km/h, and don’t be surprised to see vehicles parked in the middle of the road...

Why bother pulling over?

Want to buy a pineapple?

I’ll just stop in front of the shop on the road and make my purchase. Others can go around me!

This applies to phone calls, chatting with a passerby...

Surprising at first, but actually pretty convenient.

No need to panic if you’re lost—just stop right away and check your GPS calmly!

After all, parking spots are almost nonexistent...

We arrive in Bois des Amourettes.

What a lovely name!

Towns, villages, and landmarks often have charming names.

Mostly in French!

Curepipe, Trou d'eau douce, Bois Chéri, Rivière des Anguilles, Bel Ombre, Belle Mare, Cap Malheureux, Trou aux biches...

The language won’t be a culture shock for French speakers, since most Mauritians speak French.

Their mother tongue is often Creole, but French hasn’t been forgotten, even though English is the island’s official language.

Most ads, signs, and menus are in Molière’s language, so you’ll never have trouble making yourself understood.

The culture shock is elsewhere...

A strong feeling of being in India!

A toned-down India, sure, but it’s all there!

But back to Bois des Amourettes...

We park the car to take a short walk by the sea.

The weather isn’t great—that’s an understatement—but who cares? It’s our first encounter with the Indian Ocean.



The wind is howling, the sky is leaden—this isn’t exactly how I imagined Mauritius...

After a stop at the supermarket in Centre de Flacq, we arrive at the house we rented by the beach in Palmar just in time for lunch.

The interior is a bit dated, but what a location!

A few steps through the garden, and we’re on the sand...



We can see the sea from the bedroom and the outdoor dining area—pretty nice after all...

I knew the title would make you drool, Bruno! 😉

endless beaches

This will only be a small part of this travel journal.

A nap to recharge our batteries, and then we head out for a walk on the beach.









It's gorgeous, but the water temperature—and the outside temperature—hardly make you want to put on your swimsuit...

The sun will come out on the way back, but the wind won’t let up!

You just have to look at the trees to understand it’s better not to wear a wig if you choose to stay on the east side of the island...



This first day in the southern hemisphere will end on a citrusy note.

Enjoy your tasting! !

Bingo! The other suitcase is in Paris—it should arrive tomorrow.

See why I only travel with a carry-on? ;P It’s one of the huge perks.

When someone mentions punch and tasting, I come running—if only to live up to my reputation (even if it *is* overused).

Not sure if "overused" is the right word here When I saw you show up, I thought, awesome, we’re gonna try a bunch of new drinks!

Still had to zoom out the VF map to locate that little Indian Ocean gem, all sunshine and white sand—fake news judging by your arrival!

Since you mentioned your flight, how do you get there from your Auvergne hideout? Direct, layovers, flight time? And while I’m asking, how do you explain that French influence? PS: I’m just as bad at History as I am at Geography....

Bingo! The other suitcase is in Paris—it should arrive tomorrow.

Oh, you see why I only travel with a carry-on suitcase! 😛 It’s one of the huge advantages.

Between waiting for a suitcase every now and then (which has never happened to me) and running around for a laundromat after 3 days, I’m more Team Agnès—but we’ve already had this discussion 😉

Sure, but that’s not much! 🤪

I’ve adopted a technique that lets me get by for a few days: a few clothes in my carry-on backpack (including the essentials, like my swimsuit here...) plus the things I won’t easily find on the spot (prescription meds + contact lenses).

And the suitcases got mixed up!

We each had some of our stuff, and luckily, we got the one with the toiletries bag.

On the other hand, the masks and snorkels... 😠

On the other hand, masks and snorkels...

Oh wow, you're bringing masks and snorkels too I gotta say, that’s next level...

fake news judging by your arrival!

Normally, it's the dry and sunny season.

But since there are no seasons left anywhere...

I wasn’t expecting very high temperatures, but I thought we’d have blue skies all the time.

Nope...

I think it’s better to go from mid-October to the end of November or in April/May. It’ll be warmer, especially in the water!

Since you’re talking about your flight, how do you get there from your Auvergne hideout? Direct, layovers, flight time?

I rarely fly from Clermont-Ferrand. No competition means it’s really expensive!

This time, we left from Lyon with Air France, with a layover in Paris. The Paris-Mauritius flight takes about 11 hours 30 minutes.

I don’t recommend Air Mauritius. The airline’s been struggling since COVID, and their customer service is, let’s say, far from perfect! We were supposed to take them on the way back, but they canceled the flight and rebooked us without asking on another one, without sorting out the connection to Lyon... Air France put us on one of their flights instead.

From Lyon, Emirates lets you break up the trip.

Corsair also serves the island from Paris.

The flight price is the main barrier to the destination. It’s currently the most expensive ticket I’ve ever paid outside of school holidays.

I’m as bad at History as I am at Geography....

If you can locate Madagascar, you’re pretty close to Mauritius. 😉 The little island is to the right of the big one!

It’s a former French colony (1715–1810). The British then replaced us (1810–1968)...

Creole is based on French. There are also quite a few French expats, and many tourists are French too. Finally, your favorite customer service department might have its call centers there (little time difference, it’s convenient!) I guess that’s why French has endured.

---*--- If you locate Madagascar, you’re pretty close to Mauritius. 😉 That little island is to the right of the big one!

It’s a former French colony (1715–1810). The British then replaced us (1810–1968)...

Creole is based on French. There are also quite a few French expats, and lots of tourists are French too. Finally, your favorite customer service department might have its call centers there (a small time difference, which is convenient!) I suppose that’s why French has lasted. (Thanks to Google Translate...)

Ah wai, you're bringing masks and snorkels too

Well, if I'm going somewhere I think I'll need them and there's plenty of room in the suitcase, yeah! 😛

It's like ski boots—I'd rather not rent that kind of stuff...

This time, it's a trip of just 15 days without bulky/warm clothes. The suitcases were light! (I never reach 23 kilos anyway).

There was even a little room for some rum on the way back...

If you're thinking of Madagascar, you're getting pretty close to Mauritius. 😉

Oh, you know, when I think of Mauritius, I actually associate it more with Réunion. A lot of travelers do a combined trip to Réunion and Mauritius.

As a true party lover, I’m joining you all to clink glasses, friends! 😄 And I’m curious to hear your take, Agnès—yours is already so different from mine since you’re starting where I ended! 😆 Looking forward to the rest

On the other hand, masks and snorkels...

Oh wow, you're bringing masks and snorkels too Now that’s next level...

For me, that’s like sci-fi Recently, I outdid myself—spent a week in Istanbul with just the small bag that fits under the seat in front on the plane. It was amazing!

Yeah, that makes sense! But Madagascar is easier to spot on the globe than Réunion.😉

Hi Christelle,

We went counterclockwise.

No idea why, actually? 🤪😄

After a mask and snorkel in Istanbul, it won’t be much use...

And where’d you fit the raki and Turkish delight on the way back???

And the raki and the Turkish delight on the way back—where’d you stash them???

There’s everything you need in Béziers

The beach doesn't seem to have changed much 😉 ... but at the end of April, it was glorious sunshine 😛

I've adopted a technique that lets me get by for a few days: a few clothes in my carry-on backpack (including the essentials, like my swimsuit here...) + things I won’t be able to find easily on the spot (prescription meds + contact lenses).

Same here! Ever since American Airlines lost our two checked bags during a layover in Miami (we had nothing left, so our first stop in Cancun was a hypermarket to buy the basics... makes for some memories 😏), we’ve been packing enough for 2-3 days in our carry-on luggage.

I'm off... to a destination I don't know yet! 😊

On the other hand, masks and snorkels...

Oh wow, you're bringing masks and snorkels too Now that’s next level...

For me, that’s pure science fiction Recently, I did even better—a week in Istanbul with just the small bag that fits under the seat in front on the plane. It was amazing!

The same person who has a 74kg photo bag

Didn’t you know it was me who invented Tetris?

The sound of waves crashing against the coral reef set the rhythm for our night.

The chirping of birds in the garden trees sets the rhythm for our breakfast.

Yellow, red, punk—they flutter around our table, on the lookout for the tiniest crumb.

With the last bite swallowed, it’s time to think about what’s next.

Île aux Cerfs?

Oh no! There’s too much wind, and the water’s way too chilly for a beach day!

A hike in Ferney Valley?

Great idea! Perfect weather for walking, and it gets us closer to the airport to pick up our suitcase!

We pack a few supplies for a picnic and drive to the entrance of the Ferney estate.

This valley holds the last patches of primary forest on the island—areas that nearly disappeared a few years ago to make way for a highway...

Entry is paid, and the funds go toward maintaining this natural sanctuary: endemic trees and plants are replanted, while a relentless battle is waged against invasive species.

Three trails wind through the estate: a 5-kilometer walk accessible to all (75 meters of elevation gain), a more challenging 13-kilometer route (530 meters of elevation gain), and a demanding 18-kilometer hike (970 meters of elevation gain).

The lazy ones can opt for a guided 4x4 excursion, a choice we skip, preferring to take on the 13-kilometer challenge—a great warm-up for the trip ahead!

The start of the hike is shared by all options until the Aldabra tortoise enclosure.



This species isn’t native to Mauritius but to the Seychelles.

The island’s native tortoises, in fact, disappeared in the 18th century, victims of the appetites of various colonizers.

The Aldabra tortoise has exceptional longevity: supercentenarians are common, and the oldest member of this family is the venerable Jonathan, born around 1832!

The other impressive trait of this animal is its weight: up to 300 kilos for the males!

It’s best not to let one step on your foot when you get close for a photo.



A few steps later, we enter the estate’s nursery. Mauritius seems like paradise for green thumbs, a little less so for fans of lunar landscapes...



Then we tackle the steep part of the walk!



We disturb a family of wild boars and catch a fleeting glimpse of a deer herd at the top of a distant hill.



I’ll let you spot a few pairs of ears...

Nature surrounds us; there’s not a soul in sight.

I’ll let you enjoy the landscapes in silence, just like we did.







Silence, sometimes broken by my grunts—it goes up, it goes down, it’s rarely flat!

A light rain makes us furrow our brows, but the sun quickly reclaims its rights.

They say Iceland is the land of four seasons in one day—I get the feeling Mauritius is too, just in a slightly more tropical version...



Ten kilometers later, my legs start begging for mercy. Phew, flat ground again!

The trail eventually follows the Nyon River, and we find our car again.



Any news about the suitcase?

No, nothing! I’ll call them!

What do you mean, a driver is on the way to deliver it to us???

We told you we’d come pick it up!

Oops... Here’s the delivery guy’s number... Call him...

One attempt, nothing.

Ah, a call! Must be him!

Hello, it’s your landlady... Yes, I got a call from Air Mauritius about your suitcase... Would you mind if it’s dropped off at the caretaker’s lodge?

The homeowner will sort it out with the delivery guy, and we’ll finally get our luggage back when we return to Palmar.

Phew!

The sun is shining in the late afternoon, so we put on our swimsuits.



I dip my toe in the water. Feels like I’m in Brittany...

The wind is still strong, I shiver, and I give up.

My partner will be braver!

---/---

6:00 PM, the sun sets.

6:30 PM, it’s dark!

That’s kind of the issue with these tropical destinations—days are short.

But let’s not get discouraged—cheers!



Life isn’t just about Ti’ punch... You’ll also find plenty of South African specialties in the country’s supermarket aisles.

I'm dipping my toe in the water. Feels like I'm in Brittany...

I would’ve picked (or maybe I will pick) this destination largely to enjoy swimming in the Indian Ocean + white sand beach + sun lounger + cocktail and chilling out. When did you go on this trip? I quickly skimmed your posts and didn’t find it 😕

In September!

On paper, it was the right time (dry season and rising temperatures).

After that, the start of the trip was on the east coast, which is windy. It’s nicer on the west side, even if the weather isn’t quite like Thailand’s.

You also have to keep in mind that I get cold easily...

I went there at the end of April/beginning of May and went swimming (which means the water temperature was at least 26°C 😇)

The weather still isn’t tropical today, so we’re definitely giving up on the idea of lounging on the tempting beaches of Île aux Cerfs.

Instead, we decide to take a little loop north.

Our first stop is the Hindu temple of Sagar Shiv Mandir.

It looks like an English cake...





The second stop, much more understated, won’t feel too unfamiliar to someone from Auvergne.

The Catholic church in Poudre d’Or is, in fact, built from basalt, just like many Mauritian buildings.





Makes sense, since this land—just like its neighbor Réunion—is the result of volcanic eruptions!

There are no longer any active craters on Mauritius; you’d have to swim and then hike to Piton de la Fournaise if you want to see molten lava.

A few kilometers later, we reach Goodlands, the most Indian town in the country.

If you want to buy a sari, this is the place to go!

From temples to churches, we finally reach Cap Malheureux, which owes its popularity with tourists to its highly photogenic chapel perched above the waves.









A stall on the beach offers grilled food but takes advantage of its location by inflating prices.



We skip it and go to eat a little further away under the protection of the god Muruga.



To digest the flambéed banana, we decide to go for a swim.

But where?

The crowded beach of Grand Baie doesn’t tempt us, so we head to Mont Choisy instead.

No wind, blue skies—I dive in!

Well, more like I inch in centimeter by centimeter until I’m up to my neck...

The ice cream truck regularly drives along the beach, and food trucks offer stir-fried noodles and other quick specialties.







Nice spot, but too bad the water isn’t at 28 degrees!

A little relaxation, a walk with our feet in the sand, and it’s time to head back.

Tonight, we’re having Chinese food.

Not the best option of the trip, yet it’s here we’ll spend the most on a meal.

Well, only around fifty euros for two—can’t say the destination is particularly expensive...

You always find the same crowd around the happy-hour journals! 🙂

Save me a spot, I'm joining in...

Team Ti' punch or team Savannah Dry? 😉

Don’t be narrow-minded in life—I refuse to pick sides ;)

I don’t know about that kind of cider, but for Mauritian ti’ punch—if it’s the same as the West Indian one—there’s no comparison. Damn, it’s good! !

Team Ti' punch or team Savannah Dry?😉

Darn! I missed the Savannah Dry in Mauritius (but at the time, I hadn’t been to South Africa yet—I didn’t know about it!) Like Pascale, both! 😎 Otherwise, I’ve got almost the same photo of the famous church... they must repaint it every year! 😏

We always find the same people around the apéro journals! :)

Save me a spot, I'm joining...

I get pegged as the resident alcoholic, but it still brings people together ;)

For the West Indian one, I can't compare—I haven't tried the product yet! 😊

They must repaint it every year! 😏

Since it's a central tourist attraction, I guess so! 😄

A travel journal about a beach destination in the tropics without an apéro is like a travel journal about South Africa without a wild animal! 🤪😂

A travel journal about a beach destination, tropics without an apéro, is like a journal about South Africa without a wild animal!

As if you needed a specific destination to justify your "thirst"

Some destinations are still more suitable than others! 😉

A travel journal about a beach destination or tropics without an apéro is like a journal about South Africa without a wild animal!

As if you needed a specific destination to justify your "thirst"

Haha, the masks finally come off!

Don’t worry, Bruno, we’re just teasing you ‘cause you’re one of the few guys hanging around here, but honestly, we’re all total lightweights 😂. And I totally agree with you, Agnès, about that restaurant next to the church charging 3-star prices—we turned around too! Christelle

Restaurant, restaurant—easy to say... 😄 A shack, a barbecue, and some camping-style tables and chairs.

I noticed that prices were often pretty high at food trucks and other beach setups when the beach itself was well-known.

More expensive than a proper restaurant in the end. 🤪

Besides, there aren’t actually that many classic restaurants (independent ones, not hotel restaurants). I get the feeling a lot of tourists are on all-inclusive packages. Where we were on the east coast, the choice was *very* limited! !

Quick question: why did you choose the east coast as your base?