Location: 4° 17.2 S, 55° 44.0 E
Monday 12:00, 11.27.06

We have moved, but not too far. We are now anchored in Baie de la Raie on Curieuse Island at 4° 17.2 S, 55° 44.0 E . The island is named for the French frigate that discovered it. We have been “doing” the islands around Mahe. On Saturday, we had lunch at St. Anne in Victoria Bay and then on Sunday we sailed across the 30 miles to Praslin, and anchored off Anse Volber, just next to Chauve Souris (Bat) Island.

The Coco de Mer

Today we had a lovely outing ashore to the World Heritage site of Vallee de Mai, where they have saved a big area of Coco de Mer palms, which grow up to 50 meters high and produce nuts of up to 17 kilos. They are astounding. Photos will be soon up on the web site.

The nuts, besides being huge, also develop the shape of women’s buttocks, while the male plant appears to have an organ well bigger than an elephant, though, unlike the elephant, the Coco de Mer palm has small yellow flowers on its organ. We spent a marvelous two hours wandering in the park, feeling as if we were on a Hollywood set for a prehistoric movie.

These islands are granite, pinks and greys, rather like the islands of coastal Maine that I know well. It is strange to see familiar weathered granite shapes, but with palms clinging to the little soil instead of pine trees.

We will probably try another cove on Praslin tomorrow or perhaps over to La Digne, before returning to Port Victoria on Wednesday morning to get Willis ready for his plane to Singapore.

Hannah is cooking baked apples for desert tonight, with lots of local fresh vanilla in the stuffing. Yum!

All is well.