The thing I like about flying at night is seeing the cities all lit up below you, sprawling spiderwebs glowing on the ground. Leaving Tana in the dark you don't see anything, despite the huge area it covers; just a few sporadic points here and then. Arriving in Mauritius, on the other hand, is like coming back to the world you know. There are fully paved streets, sleek new shopping malls, even stop lights that work and tap water you can drink.
Mauritius is a funny little island that has taken full advantage of its tropical environment and strategic location. The white sand beaches are lined with trendy resorts and chic boutiques, while the economy is booming from trade between Europe, India, and Australia. Walking along a downtown street you'll see shops selling saris and silk, denim and diamonds. Driving around, the hills are still covered with sugar cane and workers pedal their bikes to and from work in tall rubber boots.
I had the pleasure of exploring this island on my day-long layover with a pair of Spanish lads, firefighters from Barcelona. We rented a car for the day and drove all over the island, which involved us getting lost and the two of them arguing in Catalan like an old married couple. Our convoluted path took us to the center of the island, past peaks that looked like a home for King Kong, then back to the northern coast, where we soaked up some rays on a white sand beach and swam in the crystal clear water. It's no wonder this is such a popular destination. After a walking tour of Port Louis, the capital city, we finally found the well-concealed bus stop that would take me back to Mahebourg, on the southern tip, and my long wait for my flight to India. Who schedules a departure at 2:30 am, anyway?
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