Earl’s World—10
Where in the world is Maruritius? is what many of you may be asking. It is a group of volcanic islands just west of Madagascar, near the east coast of Africa. Long ago is was a stopping port for shipping across the Indian Ocean from Africa to India and Asia, settled first by the Dutch, then the French and lastly the British. It become an exporting country when sugar plantations were established. The British transported 5000
Indians (Asian) to the island to work the fields so they make up a high percentage of the population. The next highest are the Creole people, mix of Black and French.

This was the last home of the Dodo bird which went extinct in late 1700’s when the Dutch killed and ate the last Dodo on the planet. Mauritius has an Olympic Gold Metal for boxing in the last Olympics. Then it is famous for the world’s most beautiful beaches and a mild temperature. There is no indigenous population as it was uninhabited when first settled by the Dutch. The island caters to the tourist trade today so markets, hotels, beaches, villas are many. Plus and airport.

The Explorer, our ship, stops here for three days of R and R so it should be a fun time. We are at about the half way point of our travels and more serious class time, and visits to other cultures lie ahead in India, Viet Nam, China and Japan.