Day 22: Blue Mauritius: A Brief Encounter with Paradise

As a child, I cherished collecting stamps, dreaming of owning the legendary Blue Mauritius—a treasure for philatelists worldwide. Though one of the 12 remaining examples remains far out of my reach, I find myself today in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, able to afford at least a small piece of its philatelic charm: a genuine Mauritian stamp.

Mauritius, a gem in the Indian Ocean, is part of the Mascarene Islands, along with Réunion and a few smaller islets. Located about 2,000 kilometers off Africa’s southeastern coast, it feels like a remote paradise—or, as some might say, “in the middle of nowhere.” With a length of 60 km and a width of 40 km, it’s astonishing that Arab sailors managed to discover this tiny island centuries ago. Since then, Mauritius has been shaped by Dutch, French, and British colonization, gaining independence in 1968. It is perhaps most famously associated with the dodo, a flightless bird driven to extinction here.


View from the ship at Port Louis

The Day in Port Louis: A Fast-Paced Tour  

Our stopover on the island is brief—less than 9 hours. With limited time, we opt for a prearranged tour covering the island's highlights: the botanical garden, a rum distillery, and the northern coast.

The Botanical Garden:
The guide, fluent in German, shepherds us like a school group, rattling off the names of 65 out of 120 palm species in both Latin and local terms. There's no time to linger or truly absorb the natural beauty; it’s a rushed march back to the bus.




Retired street dog in the botanical garden reminds us of our late dog

The Sugar Plantation and Rum Tasting:  
We arrive at a stunning colonial-style plantation house turned museum. Unfortunately, the pace allows only a hurried glance at its exhibits. At 11 a.m., we’re ushered into a rum-tasting session under the blazing 32°C heat. I decline, choosing instead to savor the serene view from the balcony.




The Northern Coast:  
A brief 10-minute photo stop at the island’s northernmost point feels like a tease. The scenery is breathtaking, but the clock is relentless.  

Cap Malheureux: where the French lost the battle against the British Navy

Finally, the bus drops us at a suburban shopping mall, where we’re left to grab fast food from KFC or McDonald’s before heading back to the ship.

Verdict: A Lesson Learned  

While Mauritius is undeniably beautiful, this whirlwind tour left little time to genuinely experience its charm. The tightly packed schedule, lack of flexibility, and rushed atmosphere were frustrating.  

Conclusion: Next time, I’ll skip the cruise-organized tour and explore on my own terms.


Location: Port Louis, Mauritius

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