Guess Who's Back

I am back in La Reunion after spending a few days in Paris. It was really nice to be back when it was hot and to experience the extreme temperatures that can be found in the subway, I have to admit that I missed it. As planed I have spent my days riding a bike, sitting on terraces, going to the movies and all that in the company of my friends: life is good.



Now that I am back on the island I will resume my routine: scuba diving on Saturday morning, beach on Saturday afternoon and whatever physical activity I feel like doing on Sunday. Most of all I will spend more time discovering the island because this time we have rented a car that my wife will drive. This week-end we will go see "le piton de la fournaise" up close, we will stay in a guest house on Friday evening and wake early on Saturday to be able to see the sun rise on the volcano. This should make some pretty nice picture. There are so many beautiful places to see on this island that it will be tough to decide between practising a sport and going for a walk, the best way to bring both together will be to go for a hike.



This Sunday we went to "Cap Mechant" in the southern part of the island, it is a peaceful place where the locals come to spend the day during the week-end. The whole area is covered with very smooth grass you can literally walk barefoot on; the vacoa trees will protect you from the sun when it is too strong, they look a little bit like palm trees but are not really of the same species. You come to this place to watch the sea break on the sharp rocks made of molten lava, you come to this place to enjoy a family picnic under the vacoa trees and you come to this place to eat a palm salad and a palm gratin.



The first time we came to "Cap Mechant" two months ago we ate a palm gratin that was bafflingly light and the palm salad was melting in the mouth. This time the restaurant we wanted to go to was closed so we chose another one close thinking that the food would be as good. The palms in the salad were starting to get oxidized (they are supposed to be fresh) and the palm gratin was lukewarm and was probably coming out of the microwave oven. It was no need for me to get pissed of because they seemed so used to taking advantage of the gullible tourists that it wouldn’t make a difference, especially with a palm salad for 2 persons charged 24€.
For those who plan on coming one day to La Reunion, note somewhere to never eat at "L’etoile de mer" in "Cap Mechant" and go have lunch at "Cap Mechant" where the food is amazing.