We got all ready to go to Madagascar. We took down the genoa and put up the twin jibs in our 'twizzler' formation so we could go dead downwind to Isle Saint Marie, an island off the east coast of Madagascar, where we planned to clear in. Then we got notice that the marina in Reunion was opening in a few days and decided to wait two more days and arrive in Reunion when the first visiting yachts were allowed.
Down came the twins . We have two dinghies taking up most of the space on the foredeck and the sails need a lot of room to get them to fold up nicely so we can store them in their sail bags.
Anyway, we had a couple more free days in Mauritius, but little money left. We try to spend every last coin just before we go. Luckily, the supermarkets here take credit cards. I hit the market again for meats and a few fresh things and decided to take a few more photos. I wandered around the street markets snapping shots so thought I'd post them here for you to see, too.
We went to dinner at an expensive Chinese restaurant with the man who'd been the Port Captain in Rodrigues, and his wife. Three other cruising couples that had been in Rodrigues with us joined our group. The port captain is now back here in Mauritius, driving the biggest tug boat here in the harbour in Port Louis. His was only a temporary relocation to Rodrigues until they could find a permanent Port Captain that would live and work there, which they have now done.
A view of the market from the second floor. They make such nice displays of their fruits and veges in stacked heaps. I went to grab a few onions from one such display and the guy about had a heart attack. He waved me off and scolded me that the whole heap would fall down if I plucked out the onions from the pile. He had to pick the ones he sold me from behind his elevated position. I like picking my own and won't go back to him again. He got snooty when I wanted just a small piece of fresh ginger; his were all huge hunks of the stuff and I just don't use it enough. He refused to break a big piece in half and after showing me a bunch of different ones. I told him to go back to the first one. He wasn't happy, so I won't give him my business anymore.
Another shot from above. Such colorful offerings. I still don't know all the greens that I see.
The hustle and bustle of the produce market in Port Louis. It is in a huge old stone building and you can see the cobblestone floors.
YOLO is tied up in front of this yacht. The tour buses come along and park on the sidewalk next to us as we are at the far end of the quay. People take pictures and gawk and talk about the boat all day long. So far, we haven't had to shoo them off the boat, but have seen them jumping on unattended yachts to take photos. Sorry about the partial ugly sign on the left of my shot here.
Words have such different meanings in different parts of the world. This is a pedestrian crossing on a speed bump.
The back side of the quay where we are tied up. Not much tourist traffic on this side, as all the shops open to the other side.
An stone building that stands mostly unused now. Nice stone work; a shame to see it sit empty in such a prime spot just outside the quay.
Folks sell just about anything on the streets here. Just lay down an old rice bag or blanket and throw the clothes, shoes, toys or whatever on it and start shouting what it is and/or how much it costs. Locals actually but a lot of things this way.
Even underwear is a big seller on the streets. I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable buying bras and underpants on the street. Hawkers have the street edges and walkways packed until mid-afternoon. If they are illegal ones, they pretend to pack their stuff away as the cops come by but then put it all back out as soon as they leave.
One guy sells these Spiderman window walker toys that stick to the windows and then let go and seem to crawl down the smooth surface. He chants the first few bars of the Spiderman theme song all day, every day as he throws the sticky toys against these glass partitions.
Not much room left for pedestrians on the sidewalks, so folks walk in the streets.
If you can't find it on the streets here, you probably won't find it. If it's clothes or household goods. They all get packed up in cardboard boxes and put into vans at the end of the day.
More street market shots in Port Louis, Mauritius. They seem to go on forever, down little lanes covered in tarps.
Need a pan for cooking large quantities of rice? Metal utensils? Colanders? Anything made of plastic?
Even produce gets sold on the street corners by hawkers. Lettuce, mangoes, eggplant, pineapples, etc. Huge woven reed baskets are just piled with the offerings and when the day is done, they are just put into a truck and driven away til the next day. Packing and display material is one and the same.
The entrance to the casino on the Marina Quay boardwalk in La Caudan Waterfront. The large golden lion is on the bowsprit of a ship front for the entry.
This woman has a removable veil to shield her face. Usually, they are part of the entire burka outfit.
A fresh fruit juice stand on the walkway. Coconuts, pomegranates, bananas, apples, oranges, pineapple, etc. can be custom juiced for your pleasure.
More of the Rasta man's wood carvings. The artist is a grey-haired guy with the red/yellow/green hat on his dreadlocks and chips and carves away here some days to make these faces and fellows.
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