A short spontaneous family Christmas trip to Mauritius, the neighbour island to La Réunion in the Indian Ocean. We spent a week in a small typical Creole house in Chamarel in the southern mountains and then a few nights in a hotel in Le Morne, directly on the southeastern coast of the island.

We made quite a few excursions with a hired small car, visiting waterfalls, view points, botanic gardens, churches, temples, sugar cane, vanilla and tea plantages, rum destilleries, hotels and beaches. We managed also to make two hikes, climbing Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire in the thick rainforest bush and the famous mountain Le Morne Brabant towering over the southwestern coasts.

Our travel back was seriously disturbed by Calvinia, the cyclone, which surprisingly developed itself into a small in size, but serious one and passed just nearby the eastern shores of the island. She caused not only bad weather, but also a formal and oficial cyclone warning followed by a partial disruption of services, exactly at the date our flights were scheduled. Two of us left with one of the very last flights, but one has to remain on the island two nights longer…

A timeline of pictures from the trip: Gallery (184 images) Chamarel :: our stay by St. Anne Church, the backyardChamarel :: by the neighboursGrande Rivière Noire :: La Preneuse :: the old Black River Post Office buildingGrande Rivière Noire :: a banyan tree by the post officeGrande Rivière Noire :: the canon on the top of the Martello TowerBaie de la Grande Rivière NoireOn the road by Flic-en-FlacWest coast Wolmar BeachWolmar Beach :: Baie du Tamarin, Tourelle de TamarinWolmar BeachWolmar Beach :: Baie du Tamarin, Le Morne Brabant behindWolmar Beach :: a storm cloud far in the oceanSugar cane fields by Tamarin :: Mauritian Matterhorn -- Mantagnes du RemparLa Crête by Chamarel :: the view to Baie du Grande et du Petite Rivière Noire, Tourelle de TamarinSouillac :: Gris Gris BeachThe south coast road by Pointe aux Roches in the sunThe south coast Riambel Beach by Pointe aux RochesPointe aux Roches :: on a hotel pierPointe aux Roches :: a seducing pavillon :: take one [iPhone]Pointe aux Roches :: a seducing pavillon :: take two [Nikon]Pointe aux Roches :: an example how not to make a selfiePointe aux Roches :: a hotel passagewayPointe aux Roches :: palmsPointe aux Roches :: treesThe south coast road by Pointe aux Roches :: meanwhile, in the interior, the sugar cane growsBel Ombre :: Anse St. Martin :: Trevessa MonumentMaconde :: the view east to Anse St. MartinMaconde :: the cap rock view :: Baie du CapA beach east of Le Morne VillageA beach east of Le Morne Village :: wading along the coastCascade ChamarelCascade Chamarel :: forest by the waterfallChamarel :: Terres de Sept CouleursChamarel :: Terres de Sept CouleursChamarel :: Terres de Sept CouleursChamarel :: a bored turtleOn the way to MahébourgMahébourg :: National History Museum, ex Chateâu de RobillardMahébourg :: Museum :: Comte de Malartie, the governor who did NOT implement 1796 the decree freeing the slaves of MaritiusMahébourg :: Museum :: A fragment of the wreck of Magicienne, a British frigateMahébourg :: Île Mouchoir Rouge, the red handkerchief island, the sign to call the doctor who lived thereMahébourg :: explanation of the naval battle of Grand Port, 1810, the French(!) wonMahébourg :: a typical chapel nerby the marketMahébourg :: marketBlue Bay by Mahébourg :: Sunday picknickingTookay Temple :: by the entranceTookay Temple :: interiorTookay Temple :: the temple gardenTookay Temple :: the main towerBy Chamarel :: view south into the valley leading to Bel OmbreBy Chamarel :: rainforestBy Chamarel :: rainforestBy Chamarel :: Piton CanotPamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: lotusses by the entrancePamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: Chateau de Mon PlaisirPamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: ferns pavillonPamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: ferns pavillonPamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: snails hidingPamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: the lotus pondPamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: lotuses in all development stadiumsPamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: lotus zoomedPamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: Bassin des NénupharsPamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: Bassin des NénupharsPamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: high palmsPamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: high palmsPamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: high palmsPamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: strange but beautifulPamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: baobabsPamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: baobab take onePamplemousses Botanical Gardens :: baobab take twoTrou aux Biches :: BeachTrou aux Biches -- Triolet :: Maheswarnath TempleCap Malheureux :: Notre Dame AuxiliatriceCap Malheureux :: Notre Dame Auxiliatrice :: interiorPiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: trail start markerPiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: low rain forest on the ridgePiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: a seldom lookout by Piton St. DenisPiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: a seldom lookout by Piton St. DenisPiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: the panoramic view southPiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: top :: the upper gorge of Rivière Noire, Montagne CocottePiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: top :: the ridge along which we came herePiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: top :: the coast by Bel Obre, Chamarel village, Piton du FougePiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: top :: Chamarel village, Piton du Fouge & Canot, Le Morne Brabant, La Gaulette villagePiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: top :: Le Morne Brabant, La Gaulette village, Île aux BénitiersPiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: top :: Le Morne BrabantPiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: the panoramic view northPiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: top :: Tourette du Tamarin by the coast, the further ridgePiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: top :: the further ridgePiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: top :: lower gorge of Rivière NoirePiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: top :: the panoramic view south towards Chamarel and Le MornePiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: it is time to descendPiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: the washed-out steep trail by the topPiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: the washed-out top trail ropesPiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: happy after the descent, back in the bushPiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: thick ridge rain forest bushPiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: a seldom lookout to the Chamarel side, Piton du Fouge and Piton Canot, between them Le Morne BrabantPiton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: continuing in the bush...Piton de La Petite Rivière Noire :: some rocks as the only attractionGorges Viewpoint :: Piton de La Petite Rivière Noire ridgeGorges Viewpoint :: Piton de La Petite Rivière Noire ridgeGorges Viewpoint :: Rivière Noire gorges, Montagnes du Rempart behindGorges Viewpoint :: Rivière Noire gorges, Montagnes du Rempart behind, zoomedGorges Viewpoint :: Rivière Noire FallsGorges Viewpoint :: residing monkeyAlexandra FallsGrand Bassin :: Ganga Talao Temple :: the huge Parvati statueGrand Bassin :: Ganga Talao Temple :: one of the temples by the lakeGrand Bassin :: Ganga Talao Temple :: statues along the lake promenadeGrand Bassin :: Ganga Talao Temple :: statues along the lake promenadeGrand Bassin :: Ganga Talao Temple :: some much older sculptures, Nagas?Grand Bassin :: Ganga Talao Temple :: sculpture detailGrand Bassin :: Ganga Talao Temple :: offerings by the lingam in the templeGrand Bassin :: Ganga Talao Temple :: offeringsGrand Bassin :: Ganga Talao Temple :: a small lingam just by the shoreGrand Bassin :: Ganga Talao Temple :: the lake promedadeGrand Bassin :: Ganga Talao Temple :: humble and simplePointe aux Roches :: the beachPointe aux Roches :: the oceanSt. Aubin Plantage :: the road by St. AubinSt. Aubin Plantage :: arrived at the main houseSt. Aubin Plantage :: the manicured gardenSt. Aubin Plantage :: the vanilla harvesting season is unfortunately overSt. Aubin Plantage :: the vanilla shop signSt. Aubin Plantage :: buying vanillaSt. Aubin Plantage :: the houseBy Bois Chéri :: tea plantages 500m above sea levelRhumerie de Chamarel :: crowds by the frontyardRhumerie de Chamarel :: sugar cane delivery in the backyardRhumerie de Chamarel :: cane processing machineryRhumerie de Chamarel :: the gardensRhumerie de Chamarel :: the poshy poolRhumerie de Chamarel :: destilleryRhumerie de Chamarel :: destilleryRhumerie de Chamarel :: degustation areaRhumerie de Chamarel :: degustationRhumerie de Chamarel :: the product paletteRhumerie de Chamarel :: the proud destillery logoRhumerie de Chamarel :: leaving the rum in the barrels to age in peaceLe Morne :: Riu Le Morne hotel beachLe Morne :: Riu Le Morne hotel beachLe Morne :: Pointe Sud Ouest beachLe Morne :: St. Regis Mauritius Resort beachLe Morne :: LUX Le Morne Resort compoundsLe Morne :: LUX Le Morne Resort compoundsLe Morne :: LUX Le Morne Resort compounds :: Le Morne Brabant aboveLe Morne :: LUX Le Morne Resort compoundsLe Morne :: LUX Le Morne Resort compoundsLe Morne :: St. Regis Mauritius Resort beachLe Morne :: sneaking silently for the dinnerLe Morne Brabant :: the trail starting point, note the Creole languageLe Morne Brabant :: the top at last in sightLe Morne Brabant :: examining the climbing route, the cross is on the pointed rock in the middle of the left sloping ridgeLe Morne Brabant :: first views towards the south coast, Îlot FourneauLe Morne Brabant :: the west side, too :: Île aux Bénitiers in the middleLe Morne Brabant crossLe Morne Brabant cross :: looking towards the unreachable top properLe Morne Brabant cross :: the view of the sothern lagoon withLe Morne Brabant cross :: Le Morne Peninsula, Passe de La Prairie opening in the lagoonLe Morne Brabant cross :: Riu hotels areaLe Morne Brabant cross :: Îlot Fourneau and the Chameau kite surfing siteLe Morne Brabant cross :: Îlot Fourneau in the middle of the southern lagoonslideshow image Le Morne Brabant cross :: the view towards Chamarel :: Piton de La Petite Rivière Noire, Piton Canot, Piton de FougeLe Morne Brabant cross :: the western lagoon in front of La Gaulette, Île aux Bénitiers, Piton de La Petite Rivière Noire, Piton CanotLe Morne Brabant :: climbing down, reached the bushLe Morne Brabant :: looking backLe Morne Brabant :: old tamarind treesLe Morne Brabant :: an old tamarind tree detailLe Morne Brabant :: an old tamarind treeLe Morne Brabant :: leaving the trailLe Morne Peninsula Chameau site, kite surfing in the wind of arriving Calvinia cycloneLe Morne :: the cyclone Calvinia clouds arrivingLe Morne :: the cyclone Calvinia is almost thereLe Morne :: Calvinia has arrivedLe Morne :: facing the cycloneThe south coast road by Pointe aux Roches in the rainThe airport :: the cyclone Calvinia strikes :: is our flight scheduled?The airport :: the cyclone Calvinia strikesThe airport :: the last flight before the airport closure, it poursThe airport :: Starting in the Calvinia cyclone wind
The Calvinia cyclone weather forecasts: Gallery (7 images) Eumetsat Meteo FranceSatellite (1)windy.com forecastWeatherPro forecastyr.no forecastSatellite (2)