The meeting, the beaches of the West

I came to the island of Reunion for the first time in the summer of 1998, or more accurately the winter of 1998 because the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere and in July and August are here in the southern winter. Austral, this simple word made me dream. And whenever I'm back on the island, before coming to settle there for two years, I thought "that this island is so poorly sold" ...

Things change little by little it seems, and well. If twelve years ago, repeated the urge the motto "The meeting, the intense island", the words today are better selected. To do less "fear"? ...

Three mountain cirques, which rises to a peak over 3000 meters (the highest in the Indian Ocean region), a volcano among the five busiest in the world, dark and dense forest, steep hiking trails, fog sometimes in the mountains and frost on the volcano one or two days per year, and activities such as paragliding, scuba diving and canyoning! ... this could refer only to frighten the tourists in search of a destination beach, lagoon and coconut.

Then of course there is the "sister island" as it evokes sympathetic but a hint of competitive spirit just the same like the Reunion Island Mauritius, they spend their holiday (for the most affluent ). 170 km away, the beaches and lagoons are legion evoke postcards. Mauritius has built its reputation on its gold blond sand and turquoise waters. In addition, Reunion has a greener image, and more sports. Not without reason.

But if I talk in a few days of treasures known to lovers of Reunion island, if I want to introduce you to some corners and meet colorful characters, I also want to show you what you'll find premium The meeting, which any tourist dream of finding on his arrival on an island in the sun: the beach, the lagoon.

Cape Beach Lobster in the West Island of Reunion

The most popular beaches are those on the coast near the town of Saint-Paul, its extent, is common among the longest in France. St. Paul, the first "capital" of the meeting as the first anchor of the first settlers of Madagascar and beyond, covering the cities of Boucan Canot, Roches-Noires Saint-Gilles and the famous without forgetting the Hermitage, La Saline les Bains. In other words, a tourist bonanza since this coast more sheltered from the wind than the east coast has the largest lagoon on the island, and beaches at your whim.

Do you see and be seen? ... Ask yourself on the beach Boucan-Canoeing samosas to eat some cheese and watch the youth go at the first seduction. Here you can sometimes have the impression that you can find on the Riviera as the wraps are clustered on the sand in the fragrance of suntan lotion and (admittedly not too loudly) the spirals of more or less discrete Zamal, local grass. For children and swimmers just experienced is a unique place with calm waters and translucent, with reef fish that fly around in your swim and the opportunity to link knowledge easily.

Further down the beach of Roches Noires, which stretches for miles to the harbor of Saint-Gilles, where you take a drink after facing waves popular with surfers. These are the blond streaks in sports grass and golden skin of apprentices girls who first attract attention before you require to enjoy their flights and convolutions on the crest of steaming waves that flow to the assault of a shallow beach but sought.

Do not dismiss Grand Fond, calmer, more serene, more suited to family picnics under the casuarina trees on weekends, and less exposed to the eyes. Here, less fun, less noise, but much fun.

Southern tip of the natural beach and wild Cape Lobster in the West Island of Reunion

Yet it is on another track that I chose to take you today, the more discreet Cape Lobster. It must grow after Boucan-Canoe, and stop well before Saint-Gilles to park your car on a side aisle directly below the main road. A sarong, sunscreen, bottled water, here is everything you need to face the tranquility and privacy of this intimate beach and yet more wild. The shade of casuarina trees allows employees to come and eat in the shade of a tray takeaway between noon and two o'clock, the friends would whisper secrets between mouthfuls of rice Creole family distributes beverages and paper towels for young too impatient to get water, even a couple partagele beach towel under a blazing sun, and you find the perfect place to sit on a carpet of needles or casuarina trees on the sand since redesigned millennia by the waves of an ocean sometimes impetuous often appears capricious.

Here you can read quietly, wandering around a bit on the sand along the sails on the horizon, or browse the mile beach covered with coral and broken shells washed up. The beach has reflections of pearl and clear water invites to relax immediately while admiring the cliffs and rocks that form a black scree at the north end. The beach at Cape Lobster is beautiful, but also natural and wild. Nobody picks up stranded coral, although there are still few tourists busy searching for seashells by the seashore, while messages of environmental protection are plastered everywhere, from the airport to the beach. You like the beach, do not deprive its shells! ...

Is it a beautiful beach? ... You decide!

Here for the beaches of the island of La Reunion, and I did not even mention those of the South Island ... Now I think it's time to tell you other secret locations, less crowded, and equally Fine. This will be the subject of my next articles. But he had to show you Reunion in something as "vacation" and that beaches in Mauritius! That's done.