It smells of fresh Pains au Chocolat and coffee. Here the Frenchman, buys his Baguette and complains about the government policy in Paris. Everyday life in the Grande Nation. But a glance out of the window of the Boulangerie is enough to determine: With Europe, this look has to do place little. The island of La Réunion is part of France, but on the other side of the world, in the Indian ocean more than 9000 kilometers from Paris.

The sun heats tropical, the water is warm, the food good and the life-affirming Creole culture is contagious. French is considered the official language, will be paid in Euro. Of course, Paris is funding the infrastructure. Just the most expensive motorway in the Republic is created over the sea. Nevertheless, the Overseas Department preserves the authenticity of a dream island.

La Réunion, as the Name suggests, was a collection of ethnicities, which combines living Creole culture pool. The population consists of descendants of former plantation workers and settlers from China, India, the Arab world, the Comoros, Madagascar, the African mainland and Europe. Nowhere is this fascinating Mix that reflected better than in the preparation of the food. The traditional Cari, consisting of meat, fish, a sauce made of turmeric and lots of rice with beans, combines French, African and Indian ingredients.

“We know how to dance to everything.”Claude

When the sun goes down, go to the families of the various ethnic groups in the nearest Park, cook Cari over a camp fire and to share with the neighbors. At the port of St-Pierre in the South of the island, so every night, spontaneously arises a veritable carnival, with dance and game. The variety of sounds, from French Rap to Indian dance, music, sound, bother people a little. “We know how to dance to everything,” says Claude, and cooled his sun-burned brow with a Dodo, the heraldic animal of the island, named local beer. Is initiated here by the way, with an “a zod,” which translates in French as “aux autres” on the other so, to all of them.

magical waterfalls and impressive gorges

for the Réunionaisen jungle and Wilderness are part of everyday life, you realize on a hike through the valley of the island, where fog shreds are playing a game of hide and seek with the green hills. You never know exactly what kind of weather awaits the hikers. While tourists with the latest trekking shoes and walking sticks for, like, Locals cozy with Crocs on the feet, the picnic basket on his Arm, to the next waterfall. The island is free from poisonous animals – which explains, in part, the light-heartedness.

to get into the wild nature, which is largely protected, optimum visibility and to capture the geological uniqueness, we recommend a helicopter flight. The company Helilagon offers a variety of flights through the valley, which has formed the Piton des Neiges volcano, with 3070 meters above sea level the highest mountain in the Indian ocean.

“flying is safer than driving a car in Paris.”Alban Pironneau, helicopter pilot

cases, The trip in the helicopter allows the glimpse into the impressive canyons, in the valleys and on magic water. You all contributed to the fact that almost half of the island was declared a Unesco world heritage site. Helilagons pilots of the dizzying Low-level flying does not impress. “Flying is safer than driving a car in Paris,” announces the in a flowers white shirt-clad helicopter pilot Alban Pironneau.

The rest of the jokes to come during the flight with the passengers – in such a way stunning the landscape is. As a Highlight, the Trou de Fer, a 250-metre-deep, bowl-shaped canyon in the North-East of the island, the Interior of which is not otherwise accessible is.

One of the most active volcanoes in the world

The manageable Size of 2500 square kilometers, makes it possible to get in a morning from one geological feature to another. La Réunion is home to Piton de la Fournaise, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. This is controlled according to the most modern seismological art daily, so that any outbreaks can be reliably predicted.

The Locals of the volcano causes very little to Worry about. Laconic, you say, if the interior of the giant again, what is the point of: “Le volcan pètes” – the volcanic farts. Since 1640, the volcano has erupted about 100 times. And if he changes back to ash and fire-spewing, will gather the members of this rainbow nation in the evening in the Park, with a Dodo toast and say: “No Problem, we make it easy.”

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Created: 08.12.2019, 17:38 PM