Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
small family-run operation where you can buy vanilla pods at reasonable prices (€11 for
25g). You can also find out about the technique of 'marrying' the vanilla, a delicate opera-
tion in which the flowers are fertilised by hand.
DISTILLERY
Sucrerie de Bois-Rouge
( 0262 58 59 74;
www.bois-rouge.fr
;
2 Chemin du Bois Rouge; guided tour adult/child €10/5, distillery €5/2.50;
by reservation Mon-Sat)
The Sucrerie de Bois-Rouge is on the coast 3km north of St-André.
During the cane harvest (July to December) visitors are shown around the huge, high-tech
plant, following the process from the delivery of the cut cane to the final glittering crys-
tals. The two-hour tour includes the neighbouring distillery, where the by-products (cane
juice and molasses) are made into rum. From January to June, you can only visit the distil-
lery. Children under seven years aren't allowed into the refinery. There's a shop,
Tafia et
Galabé
(
www.distilleriesavanna.com
; 2 Chemin du Bois Rouge;
9am-6pm Mon-Sat)
, where you can sip
(and buy) the good stuff.
Festivals & Events
Cavadee
Tamil procession held in February.
RELIGIOUS
Divali
(Dipavali)
Tamil festival of light in late October or early November; celebrations take place
in St-André and other locations.
RELIGIOUS
Sleeping
Chez Véronique Savriama
( 0692 60 23 91, 0262 46 69 84; auberge-savriama@wanadoo.fr; 1084 Chemin Quatre-Vingt, Rivière du Mât les
Bas; d incl breakfast €50; )
This place is efficiently run but the four upstairs rooms are a
tad sombre and smallish, though they come with air-con and have their own entrance. Best
asset are the tasty
table d'hôte
meals, with an Indian emphasis. Pity about the very ordin-
ary dining room. Prices drop to €45 for longer stays. It's in the district of Rivière du Mât
les Bas on the coast east of St-André.
B&B
€€
