The first few days in Mauritius and wow… 😮🌴
We started our journey in Trou Aux Biches and honestly, the bar has been set incredibly high already. The soft sandy beaches, pools everywhere you turn, restaurants serving the most divine cuisine, and a reception area unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.
Over the last few days we’ve experienced live cooking shows, unforgettable dining experiences, and a bedroom that genuinely felt like something out of a dream… complete with an outdoor tropical shower 😍
Oh and am classroom sessions with NJT
What’s stood out the most so far is the people. The staff here have been beyond hospitable. It doesn’t feel like “staff and guests” at all. There’s such a warm family atmosphere and a real sense of pride across the island that you can feel in every interaction.
We were also lucky enough to enjoy an evening at Beachcomber Victoria after a hotel and room inspection that honestly just made me want to stay even longer 😂 The dinner was incredible and the evening entertainment was something really special.
Today we’re back on the road for another hotel inspection, followed by breakfast (yes… more amazing food 🤭) and then somewhere I’m SO excited to see and can’t wait to share with you all soon.
Mauritius, you’ve completely captured our hearts already 💛
If we were sat having a catch up over a glass of wine, I’d probably start by saying… Porto was spectacular 🍷
Honestly, it surprised us in the best way.
First things first… the food. We definitely didn’t go hungry.
We tried francesinha’s (which are basically the most indulgent sandwich you’ll ever eat), grabbed grilled hot dogs from little street spots, ate more pastel de nata than I’m willing to admit, and wandered through the local markets just picking at whatever looked good 😋
Drinks were just as good. Lots of port wine… and I mean lots. Who knew I’d end up loving port so much? Coffee of course ☕ And then, naturally… more wine 🍷
We managed to see some of the iconic spots too. The beautiful Church of Souls, the incredible tiled walls inside São Bento train station, and of course Livraria Lello, which honestly feels like stepping into a storybook 📚
But what really made the trip was just wandering.
Cable cars over the river, walking across the railway bridge, stopping constantly to take in the most beautiful views along the water 🌉
In three days we somehow managed over 52,000 steps… which probably explains why the food and wine tasted so good 😂
And we even got one glorious day where I could wear a t-shirt… which felt like a small miracle after the winter we’ve had ☀️
Porto really was special in every way. Relaxed, beautiful and full of character.
Already thinking about when we can go back. 💙