Yesterday Papa took some magic lessons during a sea day from a magician that has been doing shows onthe ship. Hopefully he can practice and show you some new magic tricks during his next visit. 

Today we arrived into Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, it is a city rich in history and cultural diversity. It was founded by the French in 1735 under the leadership of Governor Mahé de Labourdonnais, who developed it into a major port. The city’s strategic location made it a key stopover for ships traveling between Europe, Africa, and Asia. As we left the ship, a Mauritius Band and dancers were there to greet us. 

Before the French took control, the Dutch had briefly settled in Mauritius in the 17th century, but they abandoned the island due to harsh conditions. After the French, the British took over in 1810 during the Napoleonic Wars and ruled until Mauritius gained independence in 1968.

My grandmother’s name was Dode and my sister is named Dodee, both short for Dorothy.  I used to tease my sister about the dodo bird.  Little did I know that I would be visiting the home of the dodo bird.  The dodo bird (Raphus cucullatus) was native to Mauritius, It was an endemic species, meaning it was found nowhere else in the world. It was a flightless bird, weighing around 15–20 kg (30–40 lbs). Since Mauritius had no natural predators before human arrival, the dodo evolved to be fearless and slow-moving. The first recorded sighting was by Portuguese sailors in 1598. The arrival of Dutch settlers in the 1600s led to its extinction by the late 1600s, mainly due to hunting and the introduction of rats, monkeys, and other animals that ate dodo eggs.  The last confirmed dodo sighting was around 1662. The dodo remains a symbol of extinction and conservation awareness today, and it is featured on the coat of arms of Mauritius. Nana brought some Dodo birds back for Noah’s ark.

Our excursion today began with the visit to the Chinese Pagoda, The Kwan Tee Pagoda.  The Chinese came 180 years ago and helped to settle the island.   They had some tortoises there at the Pagoda.  Tortoises became extinct on Mauritius due to the fact that many European sailors took them for meet, oil, and their shell.  Mauritius brought them from Seychelles to help repopulate the island.  See my blog from Seychelles.

Next stop is to the shrine of Father Jacques Désiré Laval.  Father Jacques-Désiré Laval (1803–1864) was a French Catholic missionary priest who became known as the “Apostle of Mauritius” for his dedicated work among the poor and enslaved people of the island. His life was marked by deep compassion, humility, and a commitment to uplifting the marginalized through faith and education. Father Laval’s impact was immense. Through his missionary work, he baptized thousands, strengthened Christian communities, and helped improve living conditions for the poor. He became a beloved figure in Mauritius, known for his kindness, healing abilities, and unwavering faith.  He died on September 9, 1864, but his legacy lived on. His tomb in Port Louis, Mauritius, became a site of pilgrimage, especially on his feast day, September 9. In recognition of his holiness, Pope John Paul II beatified him on April 29, 1979, making him the first Blessed of the Indian Ocean.

As Hinduism is followed by 60% of the population, the island’s oldest Hindu temple was one of our visits.   There was a wedding going on while we were there and we met some of the bridesmaids.

We visited the former fortress known as the Citadelle, which unfortunately was closed as it is Sunday here. Some great views of the island were to be had.

Our last stop was the Marie Reine de la Paix (Mary, Queen of Peace) — an area of greenery that features an open-air church overlooking the city of Port Louis. Situated on the flanks of the Signal Mountain, it also offers a wonderful view of the city’s “high-rise” buildings as well as the mountain that acts as its backdrop. This area was designated a place of worship in 1940 when Priest James Leen went there to pray for Mauritius to be spared from World War II. Since then, it has become a place of great spiritual meaning, as well as a major attraction for visitors. During our visit to all of these sites we saw many boys and girl scouts. Today was a special day where they are help to clean up and pick up trash.

Tomorrow is La Possession, Reunion