Mark and I booked a tour of the island on February 24. It was an early start; we had to meet our driver downstairs at 7 a.m. We had a van and Mark and I took the middle seats behind the driver. Two other people were joining us, a mother and daughter from Paris, and we drove up the steep hills surrounding Saint-Denis to fetch them. They sat in the two seats up front. It was a scenic 45-minute drive which we were glad to have gotten up early for.
Our tour headed west, circumnavigating Réunion counterclockwise. We drove the length of the NRL, which our guide told us was the most expensive road in the EU. I had no idea that we were driving over the water, similar to the drive to the Florida Keys. The NRL had the illusion, from my viewpoint at least, of being constructed snug against the steep cliffs of Réunion’s northern coast. Little did I know that a gap separated the road from the mainland. It was built this way to avoid the rockfalls that often rain down. Now the rocks will fall into the water and not on unsuspecting motorists.
The beach at Grande Anse
The Cascade Grand Galet is popular with zip liners. We saw teams of them pull up, waiting their turn. One group consisted of young people who must have been in their early teens.
The drive to the Cascade Grand Galet required steady hands on narrow roads that were at a 22% grade. We couldn’t see if there was anyone around the corners. On our way back, downhill this time, our driver honked the horn repeatedly yet got into an argument with the van driver who was coming up. The van and car had to back up for us.
Cap méchant on the south coast. The name is appropriate when you watch the video I took.
The southeast of Réunion is in the shadow of an active volcano, Piton de la Fournaise. which has erupted several times this century. Signs along the Route des Laves show how far the lava flowed. The lava often cut off the road and flowed into the ocean.
Anse des cascades
On April 12, 1977 Piton de la Fournaise erupted, spewing lava towards the town of Piton Ste-Rose. It destroyed everything in its path but miraculously spared the church, Notre Dame des Laves.
On our lunch break I was able to take some photos of the Madagascar cardinal. I had seen them in Réunion and this one hung around long enough for me to take out my camera and snap a few shots.
The pandanus, locally known as the pinpin. We saw the hexagonal yellow and green fruits on the ground all over Réunion, yet didn’t see any jams or jellies made from it.
Eglise de Sainte Anne. When we got there a hearse had just pulled up so we didn’t want to crash a funeral.
Our final stop was Cascade Niagara, which, when our guide told us the name, I thought surely must be a joke. I don’t believe that this could be the original name of the falls. You don’t see anybody as you climb a little ridge (bottom photo) and then as you reach the crest you see people at the water’s edge, some of whom were even swimming (first photo).
2 Responses
Great tour and your text and photos added so much to those of us who may never get to see ourselves.
Quite the adventure along those mountains. I’d be so nervous with someone else at the wheel. My foot would have been on the “brake” the entire time! The cardinal is different than ours for sure. We see them at our feeders at home. Love the pictures. Thanks for sharing. Enjoyed your narrative, Craig.