Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Réunion being French territory, wine is unsurprisingly taken seriously. Along with
French wines, you'll find a good choice of South African reds and whites. The island also
has a small but blossoming viniculture in Cilaos, where you can do a tasting.
The local brand of beer, Bourbon (known as Dodo), is sold everywhere. It is a fairly
light, very drinkable beer. Foreign beers are also available. For a refresher, nothing beats a
fresh fruit juice or a glass of Cilaos, a high-quality sparkling water from Cirque de Cilaos.
The French take their coffee seriously and it's a passion that hasn't disappeared just be-
cause they're now in the Indian Ocean. A cup of coffee can take various forms but the
most common is a small, black espresso called simply
un café
.
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
There is a wondrous array of eateries in Réunion, from snack-bar-cum-cafes to high-class restaurants serving fine
French cuisine, to
tables d'hôtes
(home-cooked meals served at
chambres d'hôtes
) and beach restaurants. For
self-caterers, there's no shortage of very well-stocked supermarkets, not to mention numerous markets, where you
can stock up on delicious, fresh ingredients. On Sunday, most Réunionnais opt for a picnic on the beach or in the
Hauts.
On top of
la carte
(the menu), most restaurants have
menus
(set courses) and daily specials. You'll also find
numerous roadside stalls selling fruits, especially during the lychee season from December to February.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Environment
Réunion lies about 220km southwest of Mauritius, at the southernmost end of the great
Mascarene volcanic chain. Réunion's volcano, Piton de la Fournaise, erupts with great
regularity, spewing lava down its southern and eastern flanks.
The Land
There are two major mountainous areas on Réunion. The older of the two covers most of
the western half of the island. The highest mountain is Piton des Neiges (3070m), an
alpine-class peak. Surrounding it are three immense and splendid amphitheatres: the
Cirques of Cilaos, Mafate and Salazie. These long, wide, deep hollows are sheer-walled
canyons filled with convoluted peaks and valleys, the eroded remnants of the ancient vol-
canic shield that surrounded Piton des Neiges.
