From the pictures we've seen, the granite bolder strewn beaches at La Digue have to be the most beautiful in the world. And, I've heard they are the most photographed in the world... Our destination today was those same beaches, Anse Source d'Argent beach!
The small dock would not accommodate our big vessel so we tendered in. Right at the end of the pier, were our "buses". Actually, they were flat bed trucks with a structure to house 15-16 people. Surprisingly, the seats were nicely padded and far more comfortable than we expected. And, the road was much smoother than we had interpreted from the ship's description. We boarded the "bus"/van from the back.
It was a 10-15 minute drive to our destination, L'Union Estate. The bus quickly emptied and headed back to the pier for the next group. We heard there are only five of these vehicles to transport all the guests. A look at the outside of the vehicle as it headed back.
At one time, the estate was actually a working plantation for coconut and vanilla bean farming. Today, it is more of a sort of museum where guides demonstrate and tell the story of how the various processes were done. First stop was to demonstrate how coconuts were husked. The guide picked up one that was still slightly green thus, a little harder to husk.
Next stop on our walking tour was the coconut oil mill. After the coconut meat is dried, becoming copra, it is milled to produce the coconut oil. This is how it was done in the old days, now, it is probably all mechanized.
The grounds in front of the old plantation house were beautiful green grass leading one's eyes to the magnificent crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean.
A quick peek at the once elegant estate house where many dignitaries once stayed when they visited La Digue. It is currently in the process of restoration. It was a Sunday, a holiday, thus no one was working on it. Well, I think that's the reason!
Next stop on our walk, the, obligatory on every large island in this area, giant tortoises pen. There were quite a few of them here and I must say they looked happier than the ones we saw the day before on Mahé!
Looking up above the pen, we saw what our guide described as the tallest bolder on the island. So beautiful! It looked almost like something out of Disney!
More walking, more walking and about ½ mile away, at last, we see the sign pointing to our destination! Note the plants behind the palm tree with the sign. Those are trees cut to about 6' high, stripped of limbs with vanilla orchids growing on them! It was the wrong season for them to be blooming and the last crop of beans has been collected.
As we turned the curve, we could see the beginning of the path to the beach! Some of the guides were waiting there with fresh lemonade for us! VERY refreshing! There is little way to describe "what to our wondering eyes appeared", (appropriate phrase for this time of year)!
Just can't wait to see the video that Tom got.
And, finally, the end of the road, for us anyway. It did continue on but it wasn't flat or smooth ground. It would have been an easy place to trip or fall. Going around on the ocean side would have been easy if we'd had waders!!
Walking back we saw a couple of folks in a kayak! The water was certainly smooth enough close to shore for a kayak to be comfortable. What an awesome way to see the beach boulders!
Almost back to where the buses would meet us, we looked up at the Australian pines to see a whole bunch of fruit bats. They were fun to watch for a while!
Our buses were waiting for us next to where the lemonade stand was. We were happy to see them there thus sparing us the additional ¾ mile walk back to where we had been dropped off.
AND, fortunately as soon as one filled up, they were sending it back to the pier where our tender was waiting! We didn't have to wait until the designated time to go back… saved us 30-45 minutes waiting in the hot equatorial sun!
Within 15-20 minutes, we were on the tender headed "home"!
Lastly, looking off our balcony, I spied the little island we'd passed on our way to Mahé. Turns out La Digue is northeast of Mahé, thus in our southwest path from Malé (Maldives) to Mahé (Seychelles)!
The small dock would not accommodate our big vessel so we tendered in. Right at the end of the pier, were our "buses". Actually, they were flat bed trucks with a structure to house 15-16 people. Surprisingly, the seats were nicely padded and far more comfortable than we expected. And, the road was much smoother than we had interpreted from the ship's description. We boarded the "bus"/van from the back.
It was a 10-15 minute drive to our destination, L'Union Estate. The bus quickly emptied and headed back to the pier for the next group. We heard there are only five of these vehicles to transport all the guests. A look at the outside of the vehicle as it headed back.
At one time, the estate was actually a working plantation for coconut and vanilla bean farming. Today, it is more of a sort of museum where guides demonstrate and tell the story of how the various processes were done. First stop was to demonstrate how coconuts were husked. The guide picked up one that was still slightly green thus, a little harder to husk.
Next stop on our walking tour was the coconut oil mill. After the coconut meat is dried, becoming copra, it is milled to produce the coconut oil. This is how it was done in the old days, now, it is probably all mechanized. 
The grounds in front of the old plantation house were beautiful green grass leading one's eyes to the magnificent crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean.
A quick peek at the once elegant estate house where many dignitaries once stayed when they visited La Digue. It is currently in the process of restoration. It was a Sunday, a holiday, thus no one was working on it. Well, I think that's the reason!
Next stop on our walk, the, obligatory on every large island in this area, giant tortoises pen. There were quite a few of them here and I must say they looked happier than the ones we saw the day before on Mahé!
Looking up above the pen, we saw what our guide described as the tallest bolder on the island. So beautiful! It looked almost like something out of Disney!
More walking, more walking and about ½ mile away, at last, we see the sign pointing to our destination! Note the plants behind the palm tree with the sign. Those are trees cut to about 6' high, stripped of limbs with vanilla orchids growing on them! It was the wrong season for them to be blooming and the last crop of beans has been collected.
As we turned the curve, we could see the beginning of the path to the beach! Some of the guides were waiting there with fresh lemonade for us! VERY refreshing! There is little way to describe "what to our wondering eyes appeared", (appropriate phrase for this time of year)!
Just can't wait to see the video that Tom got.
A nice shady cool spot to watch the ocean!
Boulders also provided shade!
And, finally, the end of the road, for us anyway. It did continue on but it wasn't flat or smooth ground. It would have been an easy place to trip or fall. Going around on the ocean side would have been easy if we'd had waders!!
Walking back we saw a couple of folks in a kayak! The water was certainly smooth enough close to shore for a kayak to be comfortable. What an awesome way to see the beach boulders!
We decided the small island with the trees would be the perfect place to tie up a hammock and spend a lazy Sunday afternoon just napping, enjoying the breezes and the sound of the ocean!
Almost back to where the buses would meet us, we looked up at the Australian pines to see a whole bunch of fruit bats. They were fun to watch for a while!
Our buses were waiting for us next to where the lemonade stand was. We were happy to see them there thus sparing us the additional ¾ mile walk back to where we had been dropped off.
AND, fortunately as soon as one filled up, they were sending it back to the pier where our tender was waiting! We didn't have to wait until the designated time to go back… saved us 30-45 minutes waiting in the hot equatorial sun!
Within 15-20 minutes, we were on the tender headed "home"!
Back on the boat, it was a little too early for lunch so I headed first to our balcony, then the top deck for a few more photos. First thing I saw was a windsurfer out near the little island I think would make for a nice lazy afternoon.
Next, the tender making its last trip to the island to pick up the stragglers and land side crew.
WOW! what an awesome day! Truly one of the major highlights of our trip! The beaches here truly are spectacular!
That pretty much catches up to where we are. Yes, there are quite a few ports yet to build… those may have to wait until we're home… don't know yet!
rf
