La Digue - a seriously hot, but seriously beautiful island

I thought the island of Mahe was beautiful. But I hadn't seen La Digue yet!! I'm honestly not sure I've ever seen a more beautiful place. The water is blue, the sand is white and the island itself offers a laid back vibe while the locals are busy catering to the tourist industry. Most everyone on the island either walks or rides a bicycle. Unlike Mackinac Island, motorized vehicles are allowed but the only ones you see are trucks hauling things or open air shuttle-like vehicles (similar to a golf cart but with several rows).

 

morning view from our veranda

The island has a population of 2,800 people. Plus lots of vacationers. There is no airport, so one must fly to Victoria (capital of yesterday's island, Mahe) and continue to La Digue by ferry. The photo below was taken on our short tender ride over to the island.

likely the cause of shipwrecks - can you see cross on top? (L)

 

welcome to Le Digue, Seychelles

 

There is one main road through the island. There are restaurants, souvenir shops (of course), a police station, businesses, a library and a hospital/clinic. Locals no doubt ride their own bikes, but there are plenty of bikes available for short term rental.

 

rent me!

 

coconut or plain waters for sale

Ronnie's shopping takes all of 30 seconds

 

buy me!

 

The island gets its name from a ship in the fleet of French explorer Marc-Joseph Marion deu Fresne who visited the Seychelles in 1768. The first people who settled on the island were French colonists who arrived with their African slaves. Many of today's inhabitants still carry their names. 

 

fishermen unloading their catch

 

it doesn't get much fresher than this

 

fresh fish for sale

 

the branch is for shooing away flies, but it doesn't seem to be working very well

 

still, he is a busy fishmonger

 

no idea what type of palm this is

fish trap customers only

According to our "Currents", more French deportees arrived later, followed by a large number of liberated slaves and Asian immigrants. In 1854, the first Catholic chapel was build and most current day inhabitants (called Diguois) remain in the Catholic faith.

 

out running errands

 

are we done yet?

 

main street is nicely paved and clean

how's your day goin?

this is La Digue - bicycles, sand, blue water and palm trees

To the outsider anyway, La Digue seems to enjoy a pretty laid back lifestyle. In spite of its beauty, it is HOT here!! Even though we were off the ship by 10 a.m. and back by noon, our clothes were completely wet by the time we returned to the ship. But La Digue was a feast for the eyes and none of these photos would have been taken had we stayed in the comfort of our air conditioned state room.

 

different types of palms

view from island

and another...

so much beauty - it was impossible to control my shutter finger!