Port Louis, Mauritius

April 22, 1008


Sailing into Mauritius and setting out on tour was very simple....no taxi strikes...no problems!

Another volcanic island, Mauritius was founded in 1735 and was used as a resting place for vessels making the arduous journey around the Cape of Good Hope. French in feeling, Mauritius eventually became a British Territory and finally gained its independence in the 1960’s. It is thus very strange to see all the signs written in French...the language spoken is French or Creole....yet they drive on the left-hand side of the road and, apparently English is the “official” language. Very strange.

My day was spent exploring the multicultural side of this tropical island. What a surprise to find some 1.2 million people from four distinct cultures and backgrounds: Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. And what a better way to understand more about these different belief systems than to visit the various structures devoted to worship.

Our first stop was in the small town or village of Pamplemousses where we visited the first Catholic Church, the St. Francois Church, built on the island in 1756. This large structure was completely made of two different volcanic stone...one light gray and the other almost black. I am totally unfamiliar with the architectural style of the façade. Dutch? I am not sure, and look forward to doing some research once I am home. The interior was most severe, especially compared to many Catholic Churches I have visited over the world. The exposed and complicated wood roof trusses contributed to the simplicity of the facility. I am so glad we got to see this most unusual structure.

Next we visited another Catholic Church and shrine to Father Jacques Desire Laval, a famous Roman Catholic missionary who died in the early sixties and this huge building was built in his memory in 1968. Like the earlier structure, this building was relatively simple, but easily identifiable in his architectural style....definitely with Corbusian influence. Apparently Father Laval was instrumental in providing education for the poorest of the poor and was awarded sainthood in 1979.

A very old Tamil Hindu Temple on Nicolay Road was our next stop. The Tamil sect, apparently originated in Sri Lanka. There is some 60% Hindus on the island and as you drive through the neighborhoods it is easy to see many small private temples as well as small red flags that fly outside their homes to ward off the veil spirits. Like most...all!...Hindu temples, the Tamil Temple was multicolored and ornate. I learned that when the temple needs repair that craftsmen are imported from India to ensure that the proper colors are used. Apparently every Hindu Temple all over the world is painted in exactly the same color....each depiction of the various gods is always the same....I never knew that before!

Finally we visited the Nam Soon pagoda, the oldest of its kind and located directly across the street from the very large Champs de mars racetrack. This pagoda was usual, to say the least. It is a “Catholic Chinese” pagoda. Incense abounded. Offerings of rice and food, even soy sauce, stood on tables before the altars. There was no nave or pews for the congregation....it was just a cross of Buddhism and Catholicism. There is apparently a Chinese priest....they are affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church....but if I had not known I would have thought I was in a Buddhist Temple! Go figure! I couldn’t help but being reminded of being in a large cathedral in Guatemala where Catholicism and the ancient Mayan beliefs had been combined. In that facility, all the pews had been removed in the nave of the church to make room for the various animal sacrifices. It is all so interesting.

Overall, Mauritius was not what I had expected. It was definitely a colorful place with all these various cultures blending and mixing throughout the country....but it was less affluent than I expected. I anticipated seeing private yachts berthed in fancy sailing clubs, exotic resort hotels on sandy beaches, and casinos on every corner. That image was just not here. I am so glad to have had a chance to see such a diverse and complicated society.

Now we are off for a couple of days at sea ending in the Seychelles....everyone says these islands are beautiful. I am looking forward to snorkeling and enjoying the sun and sea.....Stay tuned!