Dialog - Seite 56

In the first of the cirques (collapsed former calderas) we visited, Salazie, we hiked up a very steep path to some waterfalls which didn't turn out as spectacular as we thought, and then took route 52 west towards a mountain pass where one can look down into the cirque de Mafate

At the "Pointe des Trois-Bassins" beach, a surfing location, with some shady places underneath trees, relaxing from our exhausting six hours hike the day before.

One of the most exciting trips was our day's excursion to the Piton de la Fournaise (or just: "le Volcan":-)). Having gotten up early in the morning, we arrived at the parking space at the end of the "Rue de Volcan" at 10 o'clock and hiked through fog until we reached the "Cratère Dolomieu" and the sun started breaking through. If you look at satellite imagery, it all looks black and gray, but in real it's a bit more colorful.

Spending a day at the beach in La Saline-les-Bains, relaxing, reading and preparing for our big trip to the "Piton de la Fournaise" volcano the next day.

Hiking from Entre-Deux down towards the "Bras de la Plaine" river, where our travel guide advertised a natural arch made of lava stone we never saw. On the way back, we learned the meaning of rain in "rain forest", but also that most showers don't take long.

Driving down south to the Cap Méchant ("the malicious cape") in cloudy and windy (but nonetheless warm) weather. On the way back, we thought of visiting Entre-Deux but turned around after landing in a rain shower (and decided to come back later).

In Saint-Gilles-les Bains, the next bigger town, for souvenir shopping.

A small trip to a series of three basins near St. Gilles les Bains. The hiking paths go alongside aqueducts, one of them leading throught tunnels! On our way back we caught a glimpse of the paille en queue bird.