Mauritius - "Tears in Heaven"

Mauritius, known officially as the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation located off the coast of the TheAfrican continent in the southwest Indian Ocean. It is a volcanic island of lagoons and palm-fringed beaches with coral reefs surrounding most of the coastline.

Mauritius is situated approximately 2400 kilometers off the South East Coast of Africa. The island covers an area of 1,865 square kilometers or 720 square miles, with 330 kilometers of coastline. Mauritius is 45km in width and 65km in length.

Mauritius is a densely populated island of around 1.2 million people. It has a reputation for stability and racial harmony among its mixed population. Mauritius is known as a plural society where all the ethnic groups present: Hindus, Muslims, Creoles, Chinese and Europeans live in peace and where all the ancestral cultures have been preserved. These features make the island a unique place in the world, and the Mauritians known for their tolerance and kindness towards all people.

Most Mauritians are bilingual being equally fluent in French and English. English is the official language, but French and Creole are widely spoken. Oriental languages also form part of the linguistic mosaic.

Port Louis, the capital of the island, has numerous attractions. The old town theatre, the international mask collection museum, the natural history museum, the post museum and the naval museum are near the harbour in Port Louis, as well as the historical government palace, which are all worthwhile visits. Mauritius is only half as big as Mallorca. There are more than 1 million people living peacefully on this island, although there are many different cultures here. Mauritius is worth a visit for many different reasons: culture, relaxation, sport, exotic, nice people and, of course, the cheap food. All these reasons make Mauritius even more perfect. A wide range of delicious diverse foods complete the picture: As well as the European cuisine there is Chinese food, Indian food and much more. Even vegetarians will love the wide variety of food. The fruit and vegetables taste so delicious that you’ll always want more. And pineapples, bananas and mangos taste better here than anywhere else. You can go on diving trips, go deep sea fishing or you can rent a sailboat, go horseback riding, water-skiing and many more activities.

Why Mauritius? Once again I ask myself this question. Mauritius is unique and welcoming; no visitor can escape its charm. No surprise then that Mark Twain remarked that God created Mauritius first and then heaven and heaven was copied from Mauritius. So what will I do, when I can no longer cope without Mauritius? I can’t imagine living anywhere else. The people are so open and endearing. However, young European women shouldn’t be too naïve and accept every invitation. The people in Mauritius know how to flirt. It’s very different to Germany. Sometimes on the beach someone takes out a guitar and plays “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton. I’ve seen it all and don’t want to miss any of these moments.