Curpipe, Port Louis and Home - All in One Day

So on Saturday I had to be at the George V Football stadium by 8:30 am to meet with the Sports Minister (and his minions) to discuss progress with the stadium turf.  To get there by 8:30 am we had to be at the ShopRite bus stop by 7:00 am.  We got to the Curpipe market at 8:10 am, and you know a place is close when you ask the cab driver to drive you to the stadium, and he points and says:  'it is right there - you can walk to it'.  He was correct, and so we did.  After an hour spent discussing the stadium, we caught a bus to Port Louis because Will wanted to see Fort Adelaide.  So we did.

Sam posing outside the national football stadium at Curpipe.

The Assistant Minister of Sports (L), his Assistant (hidden), Jesse (center) and the field manager (right) at the National Football Stadium.

The shoe repair facility at Port Louis.  These guys are here every time we go by.  

The Catholic cathedral in Port Louis.  It's a classic - incredibly gory wooden carvings for the Stations of the Cross.  Many saints dying in all their grisly glory.  The crucfix outside is full color.  The boys loved it.

Once you get away from the touristy waterfront much of Port Louis is old and worn.  This was a local bar as we walked to the fort.  Since we went to the fort on a racing (horse) Saturday this bar was full of guys reading their racing forms.  The fort overlooks the race track.

Racetrack visible below the fort.

Fort Adelaide.  The whole palce is this grim grey stone, and there (no OSHA, remember!) are no barriers, protection or anything else to keep you climbing anywhere you want.  We went up and down 180 year old spiral staircases and steps - it was great.  Not too may tourists - it is a haul to get up there, and in classic Mauritian fashion there is not much in the way of historical information. 

View from the Fort Adelaide.  The cannons and fortress that is Fort Adelaide were started in 1830, and finished in early 1840.  The fort was never used, nor ever occupied except by small garrisons every once in a while.  The rationale for its' construction is a bit varied, but most think it was built as a deterrant to an anticipated slave uprising (the slaves were given freedom in this period, but no revolt ever occurred), or to be there for protection for the 1200 English in Port Louis, as they were outnumbered by French (~3500) at the time.  That was never a problem either, so the fort never saw any type of strife or combat.

Street scence in Port Louis on a Saturday.  This is the street, so add cars to this mess.  When we were waiting for our bus (which also comes down this street) the police came through in a truck.  Apparently, the street peddlers (the guys who just lay their stuff out on a cardboard box or towel, blocking the sidewalk) are not supposed to be in the bus lane areas.  The first guy saw the police truck, he hollered, and everyone just picked up their stuff and disappeared.  Melted right into the crowd.  Gone in like 15 seconds.  The minute the police passed by they returned and set up shop again.