We have another deep dive planned this morning. I however went to bed with a terrible hay fever, not helped by the fan which is running because of the heat.  With the aircon being switched off because we are diving the next day and that just makes the allergies worse! It’s a catch 21!
Also a bit of blood in my sinuses so it is a hard decision to cancel the diving. Especially since the weather is fantastic and the sea is calm! In the end we decide to use the last day to take the local bus to Grand Baie to do some sightseeing and some last minute curio shopping.  We walk over to the bus stop and wait for about 20 minutes. Some of the locals help us get on the right bus. It is 62 rupees for the 9km trip and what an experience. We sit right in the back because we discover that our South African shoulders are to broad for these 3 seaters. Big mistake because we also discover that the bus does not have any shocks and we feel it at the back – it was more like a roller coaster ride rather than a bus ride.
The little village before Grand Baie looks likes very interesting spot to get off but Callie is on a mission – yet again. Grand Baie is beautiful with a lot of big boats and touristy shops. Luc buys some expensive berries (and this time he pays for it!). Callie heads straight for the Billabong shop and at this point the tour group splits up. The two of us decide that we can no longer follow Callie into a clothing shop, so we set off on our own. We discover that the large UMark is just around the corner and we pop in there (for more than an hour) to finish all our curio shopping! We are very impressed with our shopping – which includes French chocolate.
We end up with a few large bags which we spilt between us. Now we follow the road back home – the plan to walk a bit until we find a bus stop. Luc immediately stops at the first, but I would like to wonder on a bit. With much protest he walks to the next and the next. After which he becomes as “steeks as ‘n donkie”. I have to bribe him to get him to walk to the next stop. We pass many interesting sites. The local library which looks about 100 years old, the detective services, a stunning Hindu temple and a mafia meeting (check the photo!).
By the third bus stop Luc refuses to go any further. So, we wait and wait and wait. We miss a bus to Port Louis because we do not realise we can take this bus. Eventually we get on a Pamplemouse bus (this is after waiting for nearly 30 minutes – we could have walked another 3 bus stops!). In the end we got dumped at the beginning of Trou Aux Bitches in front of Beachcombers. We discover they have the best bus stop in town – a beautiful stone one with benches which we immediately invade as it is 1 and very hot outside. We then also discover that most of the busses take a left turn here and do not go straight to our villa!
Eventually we decide to cross the road and wait on the other side of the crossing as we will be sure any bus on this route will stop at our place. After another 25 minute wait I am ready to walk, but Luc is complaining bitterly. As I am about to start walking a bus comes around the corner and Luc runs to stop it. “Veranda Hotel?” is all I can get out – just to make sure we are on the right route – no way I am taking another bus or walking another meter! “Wi”  says the bus driver. As we speed pass Scuba Doo we see Callie having a drink with Louis. Too late to get off! We can see our villa and the bus stop right in front of the villa coming up. But as we get up the bus driver tells us to sit down. Oh no- we are on the wrong bus again!  Then I realise what is going on – he ignores the bus stop and stops right in front of the Veranda Hotel – like we asked him! We are in hysterics as we walk back to our villa! More walking!
Callie eventually arrives home – seems that his shopping was much shorter than ours – but much more disastrous! He comes parading out in a bright blue short with white flowers – and his black bulb hat! Oh no! Luc immediately pretends not to know him! We chill out next to the pool for the rest of the afternoon. This is followed by a bit of packing. Not sure how we are going to get all Callie’s clothing shopping home!  As we are busy with late lunch, Louis arrives with a gift of Island Rum and local orange juice – this is his favourite cocktail mix! He is so funny!
Callie goes for a last snorkel. I manage to persuade him not to wear the silly flower shorts, for just in case he is washed out to sea and they have to rescue him in that!  We laugh at him trying to get to deeper water. Our beach is not so great – lots of rocks and shallow reef. Turns out he had a great snorkel in the end – saw another snake eel.  There is also another late afternoon wedding on the beach in front of the Veranda Hotel and we end the day off with a glorious sunset. Cannot believe that our stay here is nearly at an end!