Flic en Flac |
| Monday, 03 March 2008 00:00 |
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There’s no doubt among visitors to Mauritius that the island is one of the most beautiful in the world, a pearl in the Indian Sea. The brilliantly white beaches with their powdery sand, lined with palm trees under which people seek shade, and the warm ocean breeze give it a touch of paradise.Flic en Flac is a small town that will cater to your idea of paradise. The former fishing village has a 4 mile beach with fine sand and tranquil, turquoise water, making for perfect holiday pictures. The beach hugs Tamarin Bay and is protected from rough surf by coral reefs that also invite snorkelers and divers to come and take a closer look. The reefs are just 100 yards off the beach and alive with fish and flora. The town center and the vivid beach promenade offer plenty excellent restaurants serving local cuisine. It is a tasteful mix of Indian, European, Creole, and Chinese influences, which makes for a unique dining experience. The backdrop of the small town is 1790 ft. high Mont du Rempart, definitely the best viewing point in the area. This is not the only excursion you should make; the salines in the vicinity of Flic en Flac, where to this day the locals produce salt, are worth a trip as well. Other day trips include the Tamarin Falls (a 30 minute ride), the Crocodile Park (about 1 hour drive), the Chamarel Falls (45 minutes), the botanical garden of Pamplemousses (1 hour), and the Mauritian capital Port Louis (30 minutes). The botanical gardens of Pamplemousses are particularly proud to present a palm tree species that is extremely rare in the world and close to extinction, the Talipot Palm Tree. It blooms only once in its entire life, shortly before it dies. The Chamarel Falls are also very popular, among locals as well as visitor, partly because of the colorful, volcanic underground, which resulted from lava cooling at differing speeds, partly because of the breathtaking 300 ft. waterfalls. The capital has everything you look for in a big city: restaurants, bars, shopping malls, night clubs, and parks. The Blue Penny Museum, a philatelic museum, has two original Mauritius stamps on display, one in red and one in blue. You will find the museum in the Le Caudan Waterfront Mall on the bay of Port Louis.
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