“Have you noticed that most of the couples around here are holding hands?” a journalist colleague asked me during a recent five-day business trip to Mauritius.
We were part of a conference group that had invaded Flic en Flac, a town on the west coast of Mauritius. Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean; about 1000 kilometers off the coast of Mozambique.
Flic en Flac is an hour’s drive from the airport and about 30 minutes from Port Louis, the country’s capital. Driving from the airport across the island to Flic en Flac, you will pass Quatre Bornes, a well-known market town.
We stayed at La Pirogue, which bills itself as the most authentic and Mauritian of resorts. The chalets are built in a semicircular format and roofed with grass, like the African villages of yesteryear.
A few meters from the chalets is the beach, and an endless expanse of the Indian Ocean. Walking down the long white sand stream in front of the beach, I could see nooks and crannies where a couple wishing to spend some time away from the crowds could retreat. Or a couple could lounge on the sun loungers on the beach.
Every night the hotel has a musical show, where couples can dance until dawn after a sumptuous dinner. Then there is shopping and interesting nightlife in Flic en Flac.
While I was able to appreciate the beautiful setting, excellent accommodations, friendly service and good food, most of my concentration was on attending conference sessions, interviewing speakers, writing and emailing my stories to time to meet deadlines.
My colleague opened my eyes to how other people were experiencing the island paradise. Over the next few minutes, we counted the number of couples holding hands or kissing on street corners. We saw six couples holding hands within a 500 meter radius.
Some of the couples we saw over the next few days were newlyweds, the flower of a new marriage still visible in their eyes. We also ran into some couples still dressed in their wedding attire, including white dresses with trains.
Other couples we saw were clearly part of a family group, children included, or came with friends. La Pirogue is also kid-friendly, offering babysitting services and a host of activities aimed at keeping the kids busy while mom and dad enjoy their vacation.
