Where are we today? Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles, Africa!

-

 Mahé Day 1

Technically, we are already in Africa, though we are more accurately in an island nation near the continent.  It is fascinating to be in this part of the world. 

Things I love about the Seychelles: 1) gorgeous mountains, beaches, and water 2) lush and varied vegetation 3) giant tortoises, and 4) lovely people who all speak French. (When I was out and about today, it seemed that most people communicated in French with each other, but they also speak English and a local patois.)




Dave was sick today, so I ventured out on my own.  I wanted to walk to a particular art supply store.  The route looked simple on a map, but I gave up when trying to navigate two connected intersections and a roundabout. There were no lights to allow pedestrians to cross through the continual traffic.  Of course, this.was all in steamy equatorial heat. So, I walked back to the cruise terminal and hailed a taxi,

It turned out that the driver was the kindest young man!  
The place I wanted to visit was tucked away in a corner that I never would have been able to find by myself.  The phone number I had was incorrect.  The driver had a few conversations with people, and he figured out where we needed to go. He parked his car, and he walked me back through a long corridor of shops until we found where the store I wanted was supposed to be.  Unfortunately, the place was permanently closed.  But, I was grateful for the driver’s help.  Otherwise, I would have been wandering around lost looking for a place that no longer exists. 

In the late afternoon, I walked to a local supermarket to buy cold medicine for Dave and a few snacks to have later. On this trip, it has been so fun to see what foods people shop for in each country and to learn about all the different brands in the world. The store today was so stuffy that it made the heat outside seem refreshing. 😯.  That didn’t stop me from enjoying my my peek into local life. 

Did you know that these beautiful islands never had an indigenous people? Europeans, along with enslaved Indian and African workers, settled here centuries ago.  The descendants of these 3 populations merged into a Creole culture specific to the Seychelles.  

More tomorrow. Have a great weekend, everyone! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Where are we today? The Salvation Islands, Devil's Island -- French Guiana

-
Image
 What a fascinating place!  Monkeys, huge rodents, peacocks, tropical flowers and jungle, and macabre history -- what more can you ask for.  I wasn't expecting it to be as compelling a place to visit as it is. Although our itinerary says "Devil's Island" (Ile du Diable), we technically explored Île Royale as the Ile du Diable is off limits nowadays.  Royale is one of the three Îles de Salut (Salvation Islands). They were called Salvation because early missionaries sought shelter there when there were plagues on the mainland of French Guiana (Guyane). The prisoners who were sent here when the Îles de Salut were part of a notorious prison colony didn't think this place had anything to do with salvation or health.  French people sentenced to be sent here called Devil's Island the Dry Guillotine; in other words, a certain -- if bloodless -- death sentence. In the Islands' worst years, 75% to 90% of all prisoners perished. Journalist who brought attention to th...
Read more

Where are we today? Nashville!

-
We leave in three weeks and three days! We are getting our first taste of adventure in that we are hanging loose with our itinerary.  As it stands now, we are scheduled to cruise all the way down the Amazon to Manaus and back again.  Of course, there is a massive drought going on there, and the river is at its lowest point in over 100 years.  A ship our cruise vessel's size and make had to turn back from its leg in the Amazon in December. The rainy season is coming soon, but likely won't raise the water level much before we get there.  If we can't do the Amazon, we will go somewhere else, but I feel for the people who make their livelihoods from the river and the rain forests. Also due to low water levels, the Panama Canal authorities are limiting the number of ships that can be on the canal at one time.  So, the line to enter and pass through the locks is longer than normal. The other sketchy stretch includes ports in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, around Yeme...
Read more

Where are we today? The East China Sea, Bejing memories

-
Image
 Yesterday, we awakened at 4:30 to meet for our trip to Beijing at 5:30.  Beijing is about 2 1/2 hours inland from the Tianjin port.  Our first stop was Tiananmen Square, where so much related to Chinese history and government has happened.   I don’t have a picture of the exact building, but one of the modern buildings around the square is Mao’s Mausoleum. Though Chairman Mao wanted to be cremated, his body was embalmed and is kept in a specially cooled room.  Our tour didn’t include a visit, for which I am thankful. All around the Square is modern China.  When we passed through the Tiananmen Gate (The Gate of Heaven Sent Peace), we passed into China of the 1400’s.  Since the Cultural Revolution of 1966 to 1976 destroyed a lot of China’s traditional beauty, this massive complex of buildings from the Middle Ages is a treasure. I didn’t know before going was that The Forbidden City was just part of the old Imperial City, which must have been huge for tha...
Read more