|
Superlatives and euphemisms apropos Mauritius are rather like umbrellas and wet weather gear in a desert: they’re surplus to requirements. If you read that the average hotel on the island is “de luxe” the claim is not the euphemism it might be elsewhere: it means de luxe as in gold plated, to the highest standards known in tourism.
If you read that a resort or a beach or a golf course is beautiful you’d better believe that it’s not an adjectival aberration. Take it as read. Mauritius, quite simply, is a place to impoverish superlatives.
But all beauty is in the eye of the beholder, our more esoteric readers might say. Quite so. In which case you’d be advised to visit this island in the Indian Ocean as quick as maybe and do a spot of beholding, first hand, up close and personal. You won’t believe your eyes.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of Mauritius is the intensity of the colours. From the air the island imitates an emerald set on an unending sheet of gently rippling turquoise velvet. At ground level, under a cloudless sky, the colours are such as to make the eyes wobble.
The second most noticeable aspect is the people. Mauritius is a melting pot of races and religions but they offer a model for peaceful co-existence in all aspects of daily life. Each community makes a contribution in terms of cuisine and culture, which forms a major attraction of the island. And like island folk the world over they’re seldom without a smile. They’re so laid back they could hide under a beach mat!
It wouldn’t take long, either, to become aware of the sheer opulence of the island’s facilities. This is five star territory in every sense of the term. Hence the prices; they are high, although not exorbitant, but such is the quality that they represent remarkably good value. Aside from which, the costs and the remote location give the island a certain exclusivity: the clientele tends to be as sophisticated as it is cosmopolitan.
They say about Mauritius that “once is not enough.” Some people will consider no alternative for their holidays. It becomes quite addictive. You’ll be spoiled something rotten. You have been warned!
Page [1], [2], [3]
|
