Belle Mare Plage

Sad to write the last episode from Mauritius.  As I write this, I surprise myself, as this was a place I never had on my radar to visit.  Had it not been for the wedding, John and I would never have had the privilege and honour of visiting this beautiful Island.  And anyone reading this who hasn't been, put it on your list.  Whether it is a family beach holiday or a golfing destination - DO IT!

We are now on the West Coast, it is another 1 hour transfer from Victoria Beachcomber.  The roads are narrow, the houses seem to be built right up to the roads edge and cars and trucks just stop when they need to.  The speed limit is 60kmph and the roads narrow so you hardly go above 40.  Everyone is very patient and courteous - they would hate driving in Sydney.

We were supposed to be here for 3 nights but Air Mauritius cancelled our outbound flight for "operational reasons" we now hear that a plane got stuck in Dubai and is waiting for an engine.  So with some expert negotiation we manage to get out of the 1750 Euro cancellation fee, instead, we paid for one night's accommodation and got a late checkout to 6 pm tonight when we are due to get our transfer to the airport for the flight to Perth.

This hotel, the staff and golf courses are superb (said in your best french accent).  

As you can see, it is just stunning.  Turquoise seas and white sandy beaches.  

Yesterday we played the Legends course which was tough, yikes I played great and managed 34 points, but lost 3 balls.  We are playing the yellow tees, I am off 2 and John is off 15.  The course isn't that long but it is tight az....  I took a screenshot of the GPS screen from the golf cart - this is not a one-off, most holes were like this.  If you weren't dodging mounds of volcanic rock you had water to contend with. Luckily, I played very well, my playing partner - not so much!!  He had to resort to using me as a coach otherwise he wouldn't have finished with any golf balls.  

It really was millionaires golf with no-one on the course apart from a couple learning to play, who had no idea that if people are behind you and you are holding them up that they need to let you through.  We eventually skipped a hole and came back and played it afterwards, I think they are still out there finishing up!

Dinners here are a little more formal than the other hotels, the ala carte restuarants were full, so buffet it is.   Ooolala, John was in heaven, he had so many options he didn't know what to go for and I found a mountain of poppadoms and every type of pickle you can find.  We were both in gastronomy heaven.

Not sure why, but we are very tired, certainly no clubbing for us.  We literally struggle to stay awaked passed 9:30.

After a great night's sleep in an uber comfortable bed, we are up and out for golf at the Links course.  This course is much easier but has a lot of blind holes.  Very pretty with the black volcanic rock and the green green fairways.  Again off the yellow tees, John is off 15 and I am off 3.  It is a pretty short course and very forgiving, John played very well and had 37 points which was great.  I am claiming half the victory as my coaching must have had something to do with it.

Only 1 golf ball lost and I limped in with 31 points.  It is sad to be leaving the Island and this hotel.  Lunch, shower and then it will be time to leave.  We have an hour transfer to the airport - I think this will be more highway so more distance travelled.  Today it was very windy - not a beach day, but fabulous for keeping the humidity away, so we were happy.

Orevwa, babay, au revoir from Ile Maurice.  Thanks for sharing our journey with us.  Back to Perth for a few days with the family and then back home.  Lots of love.