Getting spoilt in Mahe at the Hilton

We left Praslin early Monday morning on the Cat Cocos catamaran. The seas were rough, breaking over the starboard and drenching some of the passengers. We had been kindly told by the crew before we left harbour to move to the port side.

Mahe is the biggest of the Seychelles islands, and we arrived in the world's supposedly smallest capital, Victoria, in glorious weather. Our cab took us from the port to Glasis and the Hilton Northolme Resort. This was Janet's birthday present, so we were staying in an Oceanview Villa. What a great resort and what a stunning room.

We set off to walk to Mare Anglaise, the nearest village, 3km away, where we had lunch at a small restaurant called Al Mare, then off to the supermarket for beer and wine.

The next day we set off after a divine Hilton breakfast to catch the local bus and explore Victoria, but while waiting at the bus stop, a Hilton van pulled over and gave us a list to town. Jules, the driver, dropped us right outside the market. We spent the day exploring the market and Victoria and finally wending our way back to the hotel on the bus just in time for afternoon tea and dessert.

The following morning, the tide was low, and we waded through the sea from the Hilton to Beau Vallon Beach. The water is crystal clear, and swarms of small fish form black scuttling clouds in the shallow depths. From Beau Vallon we followed the beach around the bay as far as Le Meridian Fisherman's Cove, where we cut inland and continued on the road for a while. Coming back on the road we had a look at the Berjaya before once again climbing the steep road up to the supermarket for supplies and finally taking the bus back to the hotel. All told a round walk of 12kms.
We left for dinner at 6, catching the bus from outside the hotel into Victoria, and then walking back up the granite mountain that dominates the island to the Marie Antoinette restaurant. This restaurant is set in a beautiful old colonial home, and serves a set menu. The ambiance was relaxed, the staff friendly and accommodating, the food excellent and the chilly vicious. What more could you ask for?

On our last day walked north, towards north point. The walk took us through Glasis and Vista Bay, past the amazing Bliss Hotel, which we toured with it's really hospitable owner. We caught the bus back, and then found a supermarket 100m north of the hotel - after we had been walking 3km's south every day to what we thought was the nearest shop!

And so, for our final dinner on this beautiful island, we made our way back to Mare Anglaise, and to the most surreal pizza restaurant you could imagine. The pizza restaurant is on the sand, has concrete tables and chairs, is hectically busy. and serves good pizza. It may be the cheapest restaurant in the Seychelles. After dinner we stood waiting at the bus stop when a Hilton van pulled over, and the driver, who recognized us as Hilton guests, took us back to the Hilton. How many places in the world could that happen?

The Seychelles are laid back, expensive and truly beautiful. This was absolutely a trip without regrests.

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Part of trip: Seychelles

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