5 Things to See & Do in Port Louis

Via tv3xpose

Street food, street art and striking architecture - Mauritius isn't all about palm-tree lined beaches and getting a tan.

Given the number of sumptuous resorts to choose from in Mauritius, it would be tempting never to leave the comfort of a poolside sun lounger. But curious travellers are increasingly venturing beyond the confines of their beach and bed to discover what else the Indian Ocean island has to offer.

Colonial architecture and a whirlpool of different cultures make the capital Port Louis an intriguing place to visit. Wander through its narrow streets to catch glimpses of local life and discover a totally different side to a paradise island.

Here are five things to do in this under-the-radar city.

1. Sample the street food

Port Louis has an impressive street food scene, and one delicacy you have to try is gato pima – crispy, deep-fried balls of ground split peas flavoured with coriander and chilli.

To eat like a local, head to an unassuming street food stall – so unassuming it doesn’t even have a name – on Pasteur Street, where they serve up snacks from a brightly coloured hatch (you can’t miss the green, red and pink striped doors). Eaten by Mauritians for breakfast, lunch or dinner, they’re a bargain at 10 rupees (20p).

2. Admire the Jummah Mosque

Located on Royal Road, this is arguably the city’s most striking monument. Made from hand-cut volcanic stones, the mosque took Tamil workers from southern India 36 years to build. Interestingly, there’s no minaret.

Only a 10-minute walk from the waterfront, it has a peaceful, shady courtyard that’s open to visitors year round – providing a calm retreat from the hot, busy streets.

Visitors are welcome every day, except Fridays and during the month of Ramadan. Open 8am – midday and 2-4pm. Make sure you’re wearing long sleeves and trousers, or a long skirt.

3. Visit an old fashioned printing press

Mauritians are proud of their thriving local industries, and on Remy Ollier Street you’ll find a busy printing press. Run by the Rungen family since the 1940s, City Press is an unusual sight in an increasingly digital world.

Make sure you say hello to typographer Cadress, who has been working there for the past 43 years. There are thousands of lead characters in different sizes, fonts, bold or italic, lower or upper case – all stored in wooden drawers.

Along with doing a tour and chatting to the workers, you can also take something in to print. Once finished, a copy will go into their incredible filing system, so your unique piece of typography will be stored forever. The atmosphere of the workshop will make you want to ditch your laptops and iPads and time travel back to a simpler world.

My Morris visit as part of their Activities From Another Time tour, costing from 1500 Rs (£33) per person.

4. Goggle at the local graffiti

While still a relatively new trend, there are many notable murals in the city, created by local and international artists. One of the most photogenic is on Royal Road in China Town; Chinese artist Wenna produced her intriguing wall-size artwork of Chinese characters entirely with paintbrushes.

Locals love the watercolour-covered wall by Mauritian artist Brian Lamoureux, who chose to contrast the old architecture of Port Louis with a black and white representation of newer buildings.

Meanwhile, another Mauritian artist, Evan Sohun, depicts his country’s daily life with animals in place of humans (find the work on Edith Cavell Street).

5. Take a tour of Chinatown

So much of Mauritian culture has been influenced by the eclectic mix of people who have migrated here over the centuries – and who live peacefully together side-by-side.

One of the most interesting neighbourhoods is Chinatown, where the “marchand boulette” (dumpling sellers) are worth seeking out. Sure, you’ll probably have had Chinese dumplings before – but not ones like these; they’re unique to Mauritius.

Go for the steamed Niouk Yen – made with chayote (similar to a squash or cucmber), accompanied with chilli, soy or garlic sauce and served in a clear soup (10 Rs/20p per boulette). The best ones are made by Mrs Wong, a 60-year-old Chinese woman who moved here after marrying a Mauritian man and whose shop is in a tiny hallway off the main street, Noor E Islam Mosque Street.

Service is simple and the setting is far from glam, but red plastic seating and chatty locals make a nice change to five-star resort restaurants.

© Press Association 2018