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Mauritius Offers Diversity, Seafood, Scenery And Warmth

Mauritius offers a diversity of cultures, languages, cuisines and activities.
Ludovic Lubelgt
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Flickr
Mauritius offers a diversity of cultures, languages, cuisines and activities.

If you go to Africa, and venture out to Madagascar, then keep going east, you’ll find a small island nation called Mauritius. About 1.3 million people live here, and it’s often held up as an example of a peaceful, diverse paradise.

This week on “Going Places,” KNKX travel expert Matthew Brumley speaks with Avi Erish. They met recently while they both were working aboard a river cruise in Europe. Erish grew up in Mauritius and is part of the country’s Hindu majority.

The island draws from a variety of cultural backgrounds, influenced by people with roots in India, south African nations, and east Asia. As a result, there are a variety of cultural traditions and languages on Mauritius.

“We used to be governed by the French, until 1810, when they lost a battle with the British,” Erish said. “It explains why we speak both French and English fluently.”

Erish says seafood is big here, as are a diversity of cuisines drawing from the various cultures that exist on the island.

And he says there’s plenty to see and do.

Credit Avi Erish / Photo provided
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Photo provided
Avi Erish, from Mauritius, at work aboard a river cruise.

“There’s a certain place on the island where you can swim in the open ocean with a dolphin,” he said. “You go scuba diving, you experience a different variety – in the north, it’s different, on the west coast it’s different, on the south coast, it’s different.”

Mauritius also includes 18 uninhabited islands to visit and explore.

Flights to Mauritius will take you through Dubai, including on Emirates Airlines, but some flights are coming straight from Europe, on Lufthansa via Germany.

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"Going Places" is 88.5's weekly exploration of travel. Our travel expert, Matthew Brumley, is co-founder of Earthbound Expeditions on Bainbridge Island, which provides small group travel to clients including KNKX. Never miss an episode again. Subscribe to Going Places with iTunesGoogle Play or Stitcher.

Ed Ronco is a former KNKX producer and reporter and hosted All Things Considered for seven years.