DanishWorldVentures

Reunion Island 1 - Departure and the first day

07. - 08. marts 2020 - Reunion First day

En tur vi havde vente på i lang tid og set frem til, men som desværre blev noget helt andet end vi havde regnet med pga. Corona virussen.
Her er beretningen om vores tur til Reunion.

Da vi vågnede lidt før 04:00 lørdag morgen d. 7. marts 2020, var vi mere end klar til dette nye eventyr.
Vi var klar over at Reunion Øen nok skulle blive en helt unik oplevelse, bare ud fra de billder og videoer vi allerede havde set derfra.
Huset blev låst af og afsted det gik til Billund Airport. En af vores personale goder på lufthavnen, er at vi har gratis adgang til loungen og hver gang vi starter en rejse fra Billund, er det en af de ting vi ser frem til.
Når bagagen er afleveret og vi er kommet igennem alle tjek, så er ferien startet og helt specielt når vi sidder og nyder en kop kaffe og rundstykker i ro og mag i loungen, så falder roen over os.
Vi skulle flyve med Air France. Først til Charles De Gaulle og så med bus til Orly lufthavnen, for at flyve til St. Denis på Reunion. En tur der ialt tager mere end 24 timer. Transittiden i Paris var 8 timer, så vi havde god tid.
At skulle fra den ene lufthavn til den anden med bus, er en lidt spejet sag.
Efter ankomst til Terminal G2, skal man tage en shuttlebus til Terminal 2F. Her står man af ved departures. I midten af terminalen tager man en elevator ned til arrival for at gå ud foran og dreje til venstre for at gå 2-300 meter hen til busterminalen for Bus Direct. Her køre bussen til Orly hvert 25 - 40 minut fra standlads no. 3
Alt efter hvor meget trafik der tager det mellem 45 - 60 minutter med bussen.
Når man så ankommer til Orly, er et sin sag at finde ud af hvor man skal tjekke ind. Ruten til Reunion, tjekker ikke altid ind det samme sted. Så vi skulle tjekke ind et sted ret langt fra den terminal vi skulle flyve fra og derefter gå til et helt andet sted. For at gå igennem sec. tjek.
Vi kunne hurtigt blive enige om at det var en god ting at vi er rejsevante. Tror ikke nogen der ikke har rejst før, ville kunne finde vej rundt i Paris lufthavnene. 
Men vi fandt frem og fik afleveret bagagen. Så var der stadig 4 1/2 time til vi skulle flyve. De gik med at få lidt at spise og gå rundt på gangene i terminalen. Vi havde jo en flyvetur på mere end 11 timer foran os, så det var vist godt nok vi bevægede os inden afgang.
Vi kom afsted til tiden og kunne sætte os til rette på Premium Economy Class. Dagen før afgang havde vi bestemt os for at upgradere os fra Economy Class til Premium Economy, for at få nogele sæder med mere plads og for at prøve dette koncept, som Air Fance har.
Sæderne var noget bedre en på Economy, men efterfølgende syntes vi faktisk ikke at det var pengene værd.
For det første var maden ikke noget at råbe hurra for og personalet var ikke  ret opmærksomme på passagerne. Da vi ville se film, virkede skærmen ikke optimalt. Vi skulle trykke flere gange inden skærmen reagerede på vores komandoer og skærmen i sig selv hang til til den ene side. Det virkede faktisk somom det var en noget outdated flyver.
Vi landede lidt før tid og havde fået sovet nok til at vi følte os klar til at udforske øen med det samme. Først skulle vi have fat i den bil vi havde lejet hjemmefra.
Det var super let, billeje firmaerne lå lige overfor ankomsten og med det samme vi kom udenfor, kunne vi føle den fugtige varme og en temperatur på 26-28 grader.
Udsigten udenfor lufthavnen var imponerende. Vi kunne kigge op til en kæmpe kløft klædt i smukke grønne farver og skråningerne som gik helt ned til det Indiske Ocean var belagt med hvide huse, som lyste op imod solen.
Nu kunne det ikke gå hurtigt nok med at få bilen udleveret, så vi kunne komme på opdaglese.
Lejebilen blev en hvid Skoda Fabia og med det samme smed vi bagagen ind bag i bilen og hurtigt skiftede vi til shorts og sandaler alt imens vi stod bag ved bilen.
Først kørte vi sydpå af N1 mod Saint Paul. Vi havde ikke lagt nogen planer for første dag, så vi ville bare se hvad der bød sig undervejs.
Første stop blev ved en lille strand med et picnic område. Det var først på søndagen og området var næsten helt tomt. Kun et par børn løb lystigt igennem et stort springvand.
Efter en lille halv time kørte vi videre. Vi kom forbi et udsigtspunkt der hed Cap de la Houssaye. Stedet blev brugt af folk der skulle ud og dykke. Fra P pladsen kunne man gå ned til vandet via nogle skarpe klipper og derfra springe i vandet for at svømme eller dykke. Vi kiggede bare og nød den flotte udsigt.
Formålet med vores ti dage på Reunion, var mest at vi ville vandre og opleve den spektakulære natur. Når vi så kom til Mauritius skulle hovedformålet være afslapning og snorkling.
Det er sådan at farvandet omkring Reunion er kendt for at være det farvand der har utrolig mange haj angreb på mennesker og flere steder står der skilte herom.
Næste sted vi kørte til var Plage de Boucan Canot. Her var en rigtig badestrand, med en lang hvid sandstrand og badeområdet var hegnet ind og sikret mod hajer. Her satte vi os og nød en kop espresso og noget dejlig køligt vand. Så blev vi enige om at vi egentlig godt kunne nå at køre op til Maidö. 
Maïdo er en vulkansk top som ligger i mere end 2000 m højde, den ligger over byen Saint Paul og med udsigt over "Cirque de Mafate". Vej stigningen fra Saint Paul til Maïdo går gennem en skov af highland tamarin, som er et populært område for familiepicnic. Hvilket vi også fik at se på vejen derop.
Søndag må være den store picnic dag, alle steder hvor der var picnic områder var der folk, som nød deres medbragte mad og naturen.
Det tog en god time at køre op til parkeringpladsen, som ligger få hunderede meter fra plateuaet med udsigt ud over den gigantisk kløft og smukke bjerge. Turen i bilen gik af små vejen med hårnålesving og bilen blev testet godt i første og anden gear. Træer stod med mos hængende ned fra grenene og virkede som en form for hobitlandskab.
Her var grønt og frodigt.
Jo længere vi kom op, jo mere tåget blev det. Hvilket vi godt var klar over kunne ske. Men måske vi ville være heldige at skyerne ville lette og vi kunne se lidt når vi nåede til toppen.
Det sket ikke, men vi oplevede hvordan skyerne blev presset opad nede fra kløften hvilket i sig slev var et vildt syn.
Hele landskabet deroppe var også helt specielt, så helt omsonst havde turen ikke været.
Efter en god times tid deroppe, begav vi os ned imod Plateu Caillou. Her skulle vi finde det først Bed and Breakfast vi skulle bo på.
Heidi havde hjemmefra pinnet alle vores overnatningssteder ud på maps.me, så det var utroligt let at finde frem til stedet. Første dag på Reunion var ved at være slut og vi var trætte. Så da vi havde tjekket ind og fået os et tiltrængt bad, gik der ikke længe inden damerne snork sov. Aftenmaden blev meget simpel. Vi spiste en proteinbar og drak noget vand, da vi simpelthan ikke gad gå ud og spise.
Vi have dog en ting vi skulle have styr på inden vi gik i seng.
Da vi sad i Billund inden afrejse, havde vi fået en besked fra et af stederne vi skulle bo. De bad os om at afbestille vores ophold pga. Corona virusen, hvilket var virkelig ærgeligt. Stedet vi havde fundet var en lille hytte oppe i bjergene, men let adgang til vandreruterne og det sted havde vi glædet os så meget til at skulle bo. 
Afbestille måtte vi og fandt efter en del søgen på nette et nyt sted og så var det: god nat.

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English

07. - 08. march 2020 Reunion - First day
 

A trip we had been waiting for a long time and looked forward to, but which unfortunately became something completely different than we had expected due to the corona virus.
Here is the story of our trip to Reunion Island.

When we woke up just before 4am on Saturday morning, March 7, 2020, we were more than ready for this new adventure.
We were aware that Reunion Island was going to be a truly unique experience, just from the pictures and videos we had already seen from there.
The house was locked and then we left for Billund Airport. One of our staff benefits at the airport is that we have free access to the lounge and every time we start a journey from Billund, it is one of the things we look forward to.
When the luggage is handed over and we have passed through all the checks, then the holiday has started and especially when we sit and enjoy a cup of coffee and rolls in the lounge, then twe get totally calm.
We had to fly with Air France. First to Charles De Gaulle and then by bus to Orly airport, from there fly to St. Denis at Reunion. A trip that takes more than 24 hours in total. The transit time in Paris was 8 hours, so we had plenty of time.
Having to go from one airport to the other by bus is a somewhat spotty case.
After arriving at Terminal G2, we had to take a shuttle bus to Terminal 2F. Here we got off at  the departures. In the middle of the terminal, take an elevator down to the arrival from here exit to the front of the terminal and turn left to walk 2-300 meters to the Bus Direct bus terminal. Here the bus to Orly runs every 25 - 40 minutes from stand no. 3
Depending on how much traffic it takes between 45 - 60 minutes by bus.
When you arrive at Orly, it's a matter of figuring out where to check in. The route to Reunion, does not always check in at the same place. So we had to check in somewhere quite far from the terminal we were going to fly from and then go to a completely different place. To go through sec. check.
We could quickly agree that it is a good thing that we are used to travel. Don't think anyone who hasn't traveled before would be able to find their way around Paris airports.
But we found our way and got our luggage checked in. Then there was still 4 1/2 hours to departure. This time we  used to get some food and walk around the corridors in the terminal. After all, we had a flight of more than 11 hours ahead of us, so it was good to walk around before departure.
We flew on time and were able to settle on Premium Economy Class. The day before departure we had decided to upgrade from Economy Class to Premium Economy, to get some seats with more space and to try this concept that Air Fance has.
The seats were a bit better than on Economy, but afterwards we didn't actually think it was worth the money.
Firstly, the food was good and the staff were not paying close attention to the passengers. When we wanted to watch movies, the screen did not work optimally. We had to press several times before the screen responded to our commands and the screen itself hung to one side. It actually seemed like it was a somewhat outdated fly.
We landed a little ahead of time and had gotten enough sleep so we felt ready to explore the island right away. First we had to get hold of the car we had rented from home.
It was super easy, the car rental companies were right upersite arrival and as soon as we got outside we could feel the humid air and a temperature of 26-28 degrees.
The view outside the airport was impressive. We could look up to a huge gorge dressed in beautiful green colors and the slopes that went all the way down to the Indian Ocean were covered with white houses that lit up against the sun.
We quickly got the car handed over and now we could go on to discover.
The rental car was a white Skoda Fabia and immediately we threw the luggage in the back of the car and quickly changed to shorts and sandals while we stod behind the car.
First we drove south on N1 towards Saint Paul. We had no plans for the first day, so we just wanted to see what happened along the way.
First stop was at a small beach with a picnic area. It was early Sunday and the area was almost empty. Only a few children ran merrily through a large fountain enjoying the cool water.
After half an hour we drove on. We passed a view point called Cap de la Houssaye. The place was used by people to go diving. From the parking lot you could go down to the water via some sharp rocks and then jump into the water to swim or dive. We just looked and enjoyed the great view.
The purpose of our trip to Reunion was mostly that we would hike and experience the spectacular scenery. Then going to Mauritius in ten days, the main purpose was to relax and snorkel.
It is true that the waters around Reunion are known to be the waters that have an large number of shark attacks and several places signs had warnings about this.
The next place we drove to was Plage de Boucan Canot. Here was a beach, with a long white sandy shore and the bathing area was fenced and protected from sharks. We sat down and enjoyed a cup of espresso and some nice cool water. Then we deceided that we could actually drive up to Maidö.
Maïdo is a volcanic peak located at more than 2000 m altitude, it lays far above the town of Saint Paul and overlooks the "Cirque de Mafate". The road climb from Saint Paul to Maïdo and passes through a forest of highland tamarin, which is a popular area for family picnics. Which we got to see on the way up there.
Sunday must be the big picnic day, all the places where there were picnic areas there were people who enjoyed their food and nature.
It took a good hour to drive up to the parking lot, which is a few hundred meters from the plateau overlooking the gigantic gorge and beautiful mountains. The ride in the car were on small roads with very sharp turns and the car  got well tested in first and second gear. Trees stood with moss hanging down from the branches and looked like a hobbit landscape.
Here was green and lush.
The longer we got up, the more foggy it became. Which we were well aware could happen. But maybe we would be lucky that the clouds would lighten and we could see a little.
It did not happen, but we saw how the clouds were pushed upwards from the ravine which in itself was a great sight.
The whole landscape here was also very special, so the trip had not been invain.
After an hour's there, we set off for Plateu Caillou. Here we had to find the first Bed and Breakfast we should stay at.
Heidi had pinned all of our accommodations from home on maps.me, so finding the place was incredibly easy. The first day at Reunion was over and we were tired. So when we checked in and got a much needed bath, it wasn't long before the ladies went to sleep. For dinner we only ate a proteinbar as we were to lazy to go out for dinner.
However, we did have one thing we needed to do before going to bed.
When we sat in Billund before departure, we had received a message from one of the places we were going to stay. They asked us to cancel our stay because of the Corona virus, which was really annoying. The place we had found was a small hut up in the mountains, with easy access to the hiking trails and a place we really had been looking forward to stay at.
We had to cancel and found a new place and then it was: good night.

Reunion Island 2 - Road N5 and La Roche Merveilleuse and La Capelle

09. marts - 10. marts 2020

Vi havde sovet dejligt på vores lille hyggelige værelse ved Caillou Blanc. Vi havde aftalt med Alexandra fra stedet, at spise morgenmad klokken 8:30.
Morgenmaden blev serveret ved et højbord på verandaen foran huset i skygge for solen og udsigt til den frodige have med blomster og fugleliv.
Vi fik frugtsalat og forskelligt brød samt hjemmelavet marmelade bl.a en banan marmalade, juice og kaffe. Altsammen smagte dejligt og gav os en god start på dagen.
Nu var vi klar på nye oplevelser og sagde farvel og tak til Alexandra.
Første stop blev ved Cap la Houssaye stedet vi havde været dagen før. Vi ville helt ned til vandet og mærke vandtemperaturen. Igen idag var der en del der var ved stedet for at dykke. Vi fandt vej ned til vandet og tog vores sandaler af for at dyppe fødderne i vandet. En skøn følelse, i det hele taget at gå i shorts og bare fødder i sandaler var himmelsk.
Efter turen ned til vandet kørte vi videre af N1 og drejede ind på nogle mindre veje, som førte os ned til den lille strandby Saint-Gilles Les Bains. Vi parkerede bilen i nærheden af den lille havn og gik en tur rundt på havne området. Her var masse af restauranter, et akvarium og mulighed for at komme på bådstur. En tur ned på den lange sandstrand blev det også til. Igen bare for at kigge ikke bade endnu.
Fra Saint-Gilles Les Bains tog vi en vej som skulle føre os op i bjergene igen. Vi havde set et skilt hvorpå der stod Trois Bassins og Marianne mente at det var et sted med 3 vandfald. Så nu gik jagten ind efter dette sted.
Vejen snoede sig igennem det grønne landskab og vi bevægede os hurtigt op i højden. På små stensøjler langs med vejen er kilometer og højde angivet. Undervejs stoppede vi for at nyde udsigeten ned over vandet og her kunne vi virklig se hvordan revet lå som et skjold omkrig øen. Et utroligt syn.
Efter en god halv time kom vi op til Trois Bassins. Det skulle vise sig at være en lille by og ikke 3 vandfald. Nå men sådan var det nu engang. Så det blev til en lille gåtur rundt i landsbyen og frokostpause på en legeplads efter et besøg ved den lokale bager.
Nede ved havet havde vi omkring 28-30 grader og lige så snart vi kom op i bjergene kunne temperaturen falde en del grader. Så temperaturen blev mere behagelig. Ikke koldt bare behagelig.
Marts måned er den 3. mest regnfyldte måned om året på Reunion. Hvilket vi godt vidste på forhånd. Men det betød også at om eftermiddagen og natten kommer der tit regn. Men det ændre sig hele tiden. Så selvom det så ud til at det skulle regne hele dagen, ja så lige inden for kort tid kunne solen pludselig finde vej igennem skyerne igen.
Fra Trois Bassins kørte vi ned og kiggede på stranden ved Saint-Leu. Denne strand var noget anderledes end de andre vi havde set. Inden man når ned til vandet den hvid sandstrand, går man igennem en skyggefyldt skov af fyrretræer. Træerne står helt ud til stranden med 50 meter til vandkanten. Meget specielt og et populært sted for picnic og strandbesøg kunne vi se, da der var en del mennesker som nød skyggen under træerne, enten i en hængekøje eller med deres medbragte stole og borde.
Nå men dagens mål var den lille bjerglandsby - Palmiste Rouge og da det tager tid at køre rundt af de snørklede veje på Reunion, måtte vi hellere sætte kursen mod dagens mål.
Vi havde bestilt 3 nætter ved et sted er hed Auberge du Cap. Her skulle vi bo i en lejlighed med udsigt ud over den lille landsby og bjergene. Men inden vi begyndte turen op til stedet, skulle vi have handlet ind, så vi havde mad til de næste dage.
Vi brugte google maps til at finde et supermarked, hvilket betød vi kom ud på en 11 kilometers tur igennem små gader og byer. Faktisk var det ikke til at tro at der skulle ligge et stort supermarked i det område vi kom ind i. Men det gjorde der og nu skulle vi virkelig handle ind. Der skulle jo både være til hygge, morgenmad, aftensmad og det vi kalder PDD - Pre dinner drink. 
At rejse i et land er jo også at smage på deres mad. Vi elsker at gå på opdagelse i et supermarked og her blev ikke nogen undtagelse. Vi fik købt crossainter og deres lokale øl Bourbon. Øllet fåes i flere forskellige varianter og med forskellige frugtsmag. Den traditionelle øl er på 5 %, hvor dem med frugtsmag ikke havde så meget alkohol.
Vores favorit øl blev den traditionelle. 
Det tog os nok en times tid at handle ind, men så var der også nok til de næste dage.
Fra supermarkedet satte vi kursen mod Palmiste Rouge og for at komme derop skulle vi køre ad vej N5. Jeg kørte og Heidi fulgte nøje med på maps.me og fik os på rette spor af de ret så vilde og snørklede veje.
Inden vi begyndte opstigningen af N5, skulle vi over en flod. Af en snoet vej blev vi ledt helt ned i bunden af en kløft. Hernede var vejen anlagt mere eller mindre direkte i flodsengen, da den oprindelig vej var vasket væk. En ting var sikkert.  Vejen ville blive oversvømmet hvis det begyndte at regne meget.  Floden var kun holdt tilbage af nogle 1 meter høje stendiger. Vi stoppede kort for at tage et par billeder og forsatte op på den anden side og ind på vej N5.
N5 er en 30 kilometer lang vej der strækker sig fra havniveau i byen Saint-Louis og op til bjergbyen Cilaos, som ligger i mere end 1200 m højde. Vejen i sig selv er noget af det mest spektakulære vi nogen siden har set og det kræver sin kvinde eller mand at køre af de snoede og til tider stejle veje.
Tror ikke jeg overdriver hvis jeg siger der er 100 hårnåle sving fra start til slut.
Undervejs stoppede vi når det var muligt. Det ene vilde udsyn afløste det næste og bjergsiderne strakte sig med grønne sider op imod himlen lige meget hvor vi kiggede hen. Takker, spidser og bjergtoppe lige meget hvor vi kiggede hen. Vi kørte langs brusende floder og overalt voksede der smukke blomster, som stod flot i kontrast til alt det grønne. Jeg fik sagt: hold nu op hvor flot !!! og se lige der Heidi!!! utrolig mange gange.
Et nyt udtryk vi ogs brugte meget undervejs var: O la laaaaa. Vi befandt os jo i et fransktalende land.
Efter en helt fantastiek køretur op til Palmiste Rouge, kom nu det sidste lille stykke op til stedet vi skulle bo.
Det er skægt hvordan vi forstiller os et sted ser ud. Man sidder hjemme og er igang med at planlægge og 
tjekker kort og ser billeder. Her tænker man ikke over at vejene kan være smalle og en labyrint at finde rundt i også selv når man har GPS og alt muligt nymoderne tiltag, som skal hjælpe en med at finde vej.
Da vi drejde fra N5, skulle vi ned af bjergsiden igennem 10 til 15 sving og med meget lidt plads. Herfra nåede vi ned i den lille hyggelige by. Her var vejen så smalle at er kun lige kunne køre en bil. Vi kom lidt på afveje og måtte vende bilen inden vi fandt den rette vej op til Auberge du Cap.
Stedet lå for enden af vejen, ja vejen endet ved husets indkørsel. Atter blev ens køreteknik afprøvet, da indkørslen var så smal at der kun var 20 centimeter på hver side af bilen. Med tungen lige i munden kom vi igennem og ned til en lille holdeplads foran garagen. Så godt så langt, vi skulle jo ud dagen efter. Men det måtte vitage til den tid. Nu var vi ved dette lille hyggelig sted og blev taget imod af den sødste dame.
Parles-vu francais var det første spørgsmål fra damen. Oh no kun meget pertit peu fik vi svaret. Men vi fandt ud af alle ting, med fagter og smil og pege på ting, sige oui og no. 
Lejligheden havde to store værelser, et køkken alrum og badeværelse, samt en skøn overdækket terasse hvor indgang også var. Her manglede ingenting.
Udsigten var magisk. Kiggede vi den ene vej var det ned igennem en kæmpe dal og den imod den lille landsby og så kunne vi kigge op imod de stejle skrænter beklædt med endnu flere smukke grønne farver, der ændrede sig hele tiden i takt med at solen forsvandt bag en sky og kom frem igen og sendet lys ned over skråningerne.
Her var så smukt og en dejlig ro, lige hvad vi havde håbet på.
Efter vi havde pakket ud og fundet os tilrette, lavede  vi en kop kaffe og nød en crossaint. Vi havde jo masse af tid. Senere lavede vi lidt aftensmad og skålede for en god ferie med en kold Bourbon øl. Resten af aftenen gik med at planlægge de næste par dage. Vi var jo kommet for at vandre nogle af de mange ture som findes her.
Natten havde budt på et vildt stormvejr og da vi stod op havde vinden ikke lagt sig endnu. Til tider kom der nogle vilde vindstød, så vi var noget bekymret for om møblerne på terassen ville blive stående. Det var ret voldsomt.
Efter morgenmaden gjore vi klar til at køre op til Cialos, hvorfra vi ville vandre ruten der hedder: La Roche Merveilleuse. Dette skulle være en god begynder rute på 2 1/2 times vandring retur.
Først skulle vi køre af den snoede vej op nedefra Palmiste Rouge og så nyde de sidste 10 kilometer af N5, som slutte når man kommer til Cilaos.  
Her fik vi parkeret bilen og gik en tur igennem den lille hyggelige by. Desværre var byen under ombygning, så der var maskiner og afspæringer i gaderne, som tog lidt af hyggen. Men når alt står færdig, bliver det hlet sikkert flot og pænt.
Næste stop blev turistinformationen. Vi havde brug for at vide hvor vandreruterne startede. Både den vi ville gå den dag og den rute der hed La Capelle, som vi ville vandre dagen efter.
Ikke mange taler engelsk på Reunion og så vi var lidt spændte på om nogen kunne hjælpe på turistinformationen. Men vi fandt en kvinde som talte lidt engelsk og hun forklarede os hvor vi skulle gå hen. Det var super let, for ruterne starter ud fra byen og er godt afmærket. Altså når lige man får at vide i hvilken retning starten ligger.
Vi snakkede om at det havde været smart, hvis der var skilte der viste vej lige udenfor turistinformationen. Men det var der ikke og vi klarede os også uden.
Starten af turen førte os igennem en skov, hvor rødderne lå som flotte mønstre hen over stien. Vi gik i læ af skoven, så den kraftige vind kunne vi ikke mærke. Alt var grønt, frodigt og smukt. Blomster var at se flere steder og vi kunne høre fuglene synge. Skønt, nu var vi igang og det var vi glade for.
Flere steder var der lavet områder med borde og bænke. Så man kunne sidde og nyde sin medbragte mad.
Vi nåede op til udsigtspunktet efter 1 time og 15 minutter. Heroppe var en flot udsigt ned over Cialos og hvis ikke skyerne hang lidt ned over bjergene, så havde vi kunnet se toppen af Piton des Neiges med sine 3.069 m, som er det højeste bjerg på Reunion.
Men her var virkelig flot. Formationerne af skråningerne og bjergene var helt specielt. Lige meget hvor vi kiggede hen var det bjergtagende og storslået.
Efter udsigten var vi sultne og vi fandt et sted med et bord og bænke som lå i ly af nogle høje grantræer. Her satte vi os for at spise vores medbragte baguette og holde en lille pause. 
Efter pausen gik vi ned imod byen af samme sti vi var kommet op, for at gå til stedet der hed Bleu Bassin. Vi have set et skilt på vej op som viste hen til stedet.
Undervejs til Bleu Bassin kom vi forbi en smal passage. Her stod en lille jomfru maria og kiggede ud over landskabet og på et skilt kunne vi se at en ung dreng var omkommet få år for inden. Sådan et mindes mærke gør altid indtryk. Ruten vi gik var beskrevet som let og velegnet til alle. Men derfor skal man altid vandre med respekt for naturen. Et forkert skridt kan betyde alt også på en rute der virker let.
Bleu Bassin var et sted hvor store klipper var blotlagte og vandet løb stille og roligt ned over. Nedenfor klipperne havde landskabet skabt en naturlig lille pool og hvis man ville kunne man tage en svømmetur og blive afkølet.
Vi var tilfredse med at tage billeder og dyppe hænder og hoved i det kølige vand og nyde solens varme.
Da vi kom tilbage til byen havde vi brugt 3 - 4 timer på turen, nu ville vi finde et sted hvor vi kunne få kaffe inden vi kørte tilbage til Palmiste Rouge.
Vi fandt en cafe´ meget tæt på kirken og med udsigt op imod området vi lige havde vandret i. Hvad var mere nærliggenede end at bestille kaffe og creps, bedre afslutning på en dejlig vandretur kunne vi ikke tænke os, samtidig med at det smagte himmelsk.
Køreturen tilbage til Palmiste Rouge var lige så smuk og spektakulær som turen op til Cilaos. Vi havde nydt dagen og vandreruten vi havde valgt var en perfekt start, for at tune benene ind på de næste ture vi skulle på.
Næste morgen startede som altid med dejlig morgenmad. En til to kopper kaffe og så pakke vores dags rygsække. En ting der er nødvendtigt, er at få sig smurt ind i solfaktor. Man tænker ikke over at i mere ned 1000 meters højde er du tættere på solen og Reunion ligger tæt på Equator, så solens stråler er utrolig stærke her.
Vi havde allerede set en del mennesker, som lignede røde krebs og sådan ville vi kke ende, så vi brugte faktor 50.
Nu var vi klar til at køre tilbage til Cilaos, for idag ville vi vandre ruten: La Capelle.
La Capelle er beskrevet som et hårdt trek. Ruten startede i den modsatte ende af hvor turistinformationen lå.
Fra byen går man af vejen La Capelle og de første 20 minutter er på stejl nedad gående asfaltvej. Herefter så vi første skilt, hvorpå der stod 1 1/2 time til La Capelle.
Den stejle sti vi vandrede på første os igennm smuk skov og flere steder skulle vi krydse små vandløb. Vi tog store skridt ned over sten og træstubbe. Så det krævede stor koncentration og gode benmuskler.
Temperatuen var perfekt, omkring 24-28 grader og vi gik i skygge af træerne, hvilket gjorde det behageligt.
På turistinformationen hvade de fortalt os at det tog 1 1/2 time for at nå ned til floden og derfra ville det tage yderlig 30 minutter at komme hen til La Capelle.
Selvom vi ser os selv værede i god form, kunne vi godt mærke hårdheden af turen. Bestemt ikke en tur alle kan begive sig ud på.
Men smukt var det og godt 20 minutter inden vi nåede ned til floden, fik vi første flotte blik af La Capelle. Det er en kæmpe klippeformation som er splittet i to, hvor sollyset til tider lyser ned igennem. På klippevæggene er der sorte og brune aflejringer, der laver et smukt mønster der minder om skinnet på en zebra.
Fra udsigtspunktet snyder det lidt, for man tænker: åh vi skal bare lige derned og så er vi der. Men når man har nået floden, skal den krydses to gange. Første gang er det ret dybt og man kan ikke se bunden, så man skal gå med yderst forsigtighed og føle sig frem med fødderne på bunden, for ikke at falde over store sten og ligeledes er der strømmen at tage hensyn til. Når så man er på den anden side, skal flere store sten forceres. Op over, hen over og igennem floden en gang til.
Da vi var kommet rundt om den kæmpe stenformation, som egenlig liger i vejen for at man kan se La Capelle, så skulle vi over floden anden gang. Det gik også. Men det allersidste stykke ind i capellet, gjorde vi ikke. Det havde krævet endnu mere klatren over store sten, for så til sidst at stå helt inden i capellet.
Istedet nød vi udsigten fra hvor vi var nået til. Dyppede fødderne i floden og samlede krafter til turen tilbage. For vi var jo kun halvvejs og vi var klar over at turen op dernede fra ville mindst blive lige så hård som turen derned.
Det var utroligt smukt dernede og det var hele turen værd.
Vi havde igen lavet os en bagutte og havde hver 2 liter vand med, hvilket ihvertfald er et must. Denne tur skal ikke undervurderes. Specielt ikke hvis det er bagenede varmt.
På vejen tilbage mødte vi en ældre mand, han så noget medtaget ud, så vi tjekkede om han havde det godt og om han havde vand. Han sagde alt OK og vi skulle bare fortsætte. Så det gjorde vi.
Vi havde læst om nogen der havde vandret ruten og en kommentar vi kunne nikke kendkendedene til var: Når i er færdige med denne tur vil balderne skrige af ømhed eller skulle vi sige: balder af stål.
Det tog os godt 2 timer at komme tilbage til Cilaos igen. Vi var færdige, ømme og gennemblødt af sved, men det afholdt os ikke fra at gå på samme cafe´ som dagen før. Kaffe og creps var det eneste der kunne få enrgien på højkant igen efter denne hårde men unikke vandretur.
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English

March 09 - March 10, 2020

We had slept lovely in our little cozy room at Caillou Blanc. We had agreed with Alexandra from the place to have breakfast at 8:30.
Breakfast was served at a high table on the front porch in the shade of the sun and views of the lush garden with flowers and bird life.
We had fruit salad and assorted bread. Homemade marmalade including a banana marmalade, juice and coffee. All in all, it tasted great and gave us a good start to the day.
Now we were ready for new experiences and said goodbye and thanks to Alexandra.
The first stop was at Cap la Houssaye the place we had been the day before. We wanted to go all the way down to the water and feel the water temperature. Again today, there was a couple of people that was diving. We found our way down to the water and took off our sandals to dip our feet in the water. A lovely feeling. Just walking in shorts and bare feet in sandals is always a heavenly feeling.
After the trip down to the water, we continued on the N1 and turned onto some smaller roads which led us down to the small beach town of Saint-Gilles Les Bains. We parked the car near the small harbor and took a walk around the harbor area. Here were lots of restaurants, an aquarium and the opportunity to get on a boat trip. WE also went on a walk down the long sandy beach, just looking not bathing yet.
From Saint-Gilles Les Bains we took a road that would lead us into the mountains again. We had seen a sign that said Trois Bassins and Marianne thought it was a place with 3 waterfalls. So now the hunt went in for this place.
The road meandered through the green landscape and we quickly moved up the hill. On small stone columns along the road, kilometers and elevation are indicated. On the way we stopped to enjoy the view over the water and here we could really see how the reef lay as a shield around the island. An incredible sight.
After a good half hour we came up to Trois Bassins. It should turn out to be a small town and not 3 waterfalls. Well that's how it is sometimes. You think it is one thing and the it turns out to be something totally else. So we did a little walk around town and had a lunch break at a playground after a visit to the local bakery.
At the beach we had about 28-30 degrees and as soon as we got up into the mountains the temperature could drop 5 - 10 degrees. So the temperature became more comfortable. Not cold just comfortable.
March is the 3rd most rainy month of the year on Reunion. Which we knew in advance. But it also meant that in the afternoon and night there was often rain. But that is constantly changing. So, even though it looked like it was going to rain all day, then just in a short time the sun could suddenly find its way through the clouds again.
From Trois Bassins we drove down to the beach at Saint-Leu. This beach was somewhat different from the others we had seen. Before reaching the water with the white sandy beach, you walk through a shady forest of pine trees. The trees stopped 50 meters before water's edge. Very special and a popular place for picnics and beach visits we could see, as there were some people who enjoyed the shade under the trees, either in a hammock or with their brought chairs and tables.
Well, today's goal was the small mountain village - Palmiste Rouge and since it takes time to drive around the winding roads at Reunion, we had to rather head for today's goal.
We had booked 3 nights at a place called Auberge du Cap. Here we were to stay in an apartment overlooking the small village and the mountains. But before we started the trip up road N5, we had to do some shopping so we had food for the next few days.
We used google maps to find a supermarket, which meant we came out on an 11 kilometer drive through small streets and towns. In fact, it didn't seem like there was a big supermarket in the area we came to. But it did and now we really had to shop. After all, there should be food for hygge, breakfast, dinner and what we call PDD - Pre dinner drink.
Traveling in a country is also about tasting their food. We love to explore a supermarket and here was no exception. We bought crossaints and their local beer bourbon. The beer is available in several different varieties and with different fruit flavors. The traditional beer is at 5%, where those with fruit flavor did not have as much alcohol.
Our favorite beer became the traditional one.
It probably took us an hour to shop, but then there was also had enough food and drinks for a while.
From the supermarket we headed for Palmiste Rouge and to get there we had to drive on road N5. I drove and Heidi followed closely on maps.me and got us on the right track of the rather wild and winding roads.
Before we started the ascent of N5, we had to cross a river. From a winding road we were led all the way to the bottom of a ravine. Down here, the road was more or less directly in the river bed as the original road had been washed away. One thing was for sure. The road would be flooded if it started to rain a lot. The river was only held back by some 1 meter high stonepiles. We stopped briefly to take a few pictures and continued up the other side and onto the N5.
The N5 is a 30 kilometer long road that extends from sea level in the city of Saint-Louis and up to the mountain tvillage of Cilaos, which is 1200 m  above sealevel. The road itself is one of the most spectacular we have ever seen and you have to have good driving skills to drive the winding and sometimes steep roads.
Don't think I'm exaggerating if I say there are 100 sharp turns from start to finish.
Along the way, we stopped whenever possible. One amazing view replaced the next and the mountainsides stretched up to the sky no matter where we looked. Big hill and mountaion tops in different shaps, no matter where we looked. We drove along roaring rivers and everywhere beautiful flowers grew, which stood in contrast to all the green colors. I keept saying: Wow look there and there !!! Crazy and amazing don´t you think Heidi !!! an incredible number of times.
A new term we also used a lot along the way was: O la laaaaa. After all, we were in a French-speaking country.
After a fantastic drive up to Palmiste Rouge, the last bit of road to the place we were supposed to stay got a bit challenging for us.
It's funny how we imagine what a place looks like. You sit at home and start planning and
check cards and see pictures. Here you do not think that the roads can be narrow and a maze to find around even when you have GPS and all sorts of new modern things to help you find your way.
As we turned off the N5, we had to descend from the hillside through 10 to 15 turns and with very little space. From here we reached the small cozy town. Here the road was so narrow that only one car. can drive at the time. We got a bit off track and had to turn the car at one piont before we found the right road up to Auberge du Cap.
The place was at the end of the road, yes the road ended at the driveway of the house. Again, one's driving technique was tested as the driveway was so narrow that there were only 20 centimeters on each side of the car. With the tongue straight in our mouth we managed and drove down to a small stop in front of the garage. So far so good, we also had to get out the day after. But that we would deal with the day after. Now we were at this small cozy place and were welcomed by the sweetest lady.
Parles-vu francais was the first question from the lady. Oh no only very pertit peu we could answer. But we found out all things, with gestures and smiles and pointing things out, saying oui and no.
The apartment had two large beedrooms, a kitchen/family room and bathroom, as well as a lovely covered terrace where the entrance was also. Nothing was missing here.
The view was magical. If we looked one way it was down a huge valley and the one towards the small village and then we could look up the steep slopes lined with even more beautiful green colors that changed all the time as the sun disappeared behind a cloud and came out again, sending light down the slope.
Here was so beautiful and a lovely tranquility, just what we had hoped for.
We made a cup of coffee and enjoyed a crossaint after unpacking. After all, we had plenty of time. Later we made some dinner and said SKÅL for a good holiday with a cold Bourbon beer. The rest of the evening we planned the next few days. We had come her to hike some of the many routes that can be found here.
The night had offered a wild storm and when we got up the wind had not settled yet. At times, some wild gusts came, so we were somewhat worried about whether the furniture on the terrace would remain standing. It was quite violent.
After breakfast we got ready to drive up to Cialos, from where we would hike the route called: La Roche Merveilleuse. This should be a good beginner route - 2 1/2 hours of hiking return.
First we had to drive the winding road up from below Palmiste Rouge and then enjoy the last 10 kilometers of the N5, which ends when you reach Cilaos.
Here we parked the car and took a walk through the small cozy town. Unfortunately, the city was undergoing redevelopment, so there were machines and fences in the streets that took some of the cozyness out. But when everything is done, it will surely look nice and neat.
The next stop was the tourist information. We needed to know where the hiking routes started. Both the one we would walk that day and the route called La Capelle that we would hike the day after.
Not many speak English on Reunion and so we were a little excited if anyone could help at the tourist information. But we found a woman who spoke a little English and she explained to us where to go. It was super easy, because the routes start from the city and are well marked. As long as you are told exactly in which direction the start is ofcourse.
We talked about that it would have been smart if there were signs showing the way just outside the tourist information. But there was not and we also managed without.
The start of the tour led us through a forest where the roots lay like beautiful patterns across the path. We were sheltered in the forest, so we could not feel the strong wind. Everything was green, lush and beautiful. Flowers were to see many places and we could hear the birds singing. Great, now we were on our way and we were exited about that.
Several places had picnic areas with tables and benches. So you could sit and enjoy your food.
We reached the vantage point after 1 hour and 15 minutes. Here was a beautiful view over Cialos and if the clouds did not hang low over the mountains, we would have been able to see the peak of Piton des Neiges with its 3,069 m, which is the highest mountain on Reunion.
But here was really nice. The formations of the slopes and mountains were very special. No matter where we looked, it was magnificent and beautifull.
After some time at the view point we were hungry and we found a place with a table and benches which were sheltered by some tall fir trees. Here we sat down to eat our homemede baguette and had a little break.
After the break we went down towards the town by the same path we had come up, to go to the place called Bleu Bassin. We saw a sign on the way up which pointed to the place.
On the way to Bleu Bassin we passed a narrow passage. Here stood a little virgin Mary, looking out over the slopes and on a sign we could see that a young boy had died a few years ago. Such a commemorative mark always makes an impression. The route we walked was described as easy and suitable for everyone. But that is why you always have to walk with respect for nature. A wrong move can mean everything on a route that seems easy.
The Bleu Basin was a place with large rocks exposed and the water flowed calmly over the rocks. Below the cliffs, the landscape had created a natural small pool and if you wanted you could take a swim to cool off.
We did not go for a swim but took pictures and dip our hands and heads in the cool water and enjoy the warmth of the sun.
When we got back to town we had spent 3-4 hours on the trip, now we wanted to find a place where we could get coffee before heading back to Palmiste Rouge.
We found a cafe very close to the church that was overlooking the area we just had wandered in. Now as Reunion is french, ordering coffee and creps would be the right thing to do and also a great way to celebrate a lovely hike and we have to admid: it tasted heavenly!!!
The drive back to Palmiste Rouge was as beautiful and spectacular as the trip up to Cilaos. We had enjoyed the day and the hiking route we had chosen was a perfect start to tune our legs into the next trips we were going to do.
The next morning, as always, started with a nice breakfast. One to two cups of coffee and then packing our daypacks. One thing that is necessary is to use sun factor. You have to be aware of that at more than 1000 meters altitude you are closer to the sun and Reunion is close to Equator, so the sun's rays are incredibly strong here.
We had already seen quite a few people who looked like red lobster and we did not like to end like that, so we used factor 50.
Now we were ready to drive back to Cilaos to hike the route: La Capelle.
La Capelle is described as a tough trek. The route started at the opposite end of where the tourist information was located.
From the town you go by the road called La Capelle and the first 20 minutes are on steep downhill asphalt road. After that we saw the first sign that said 1 1/2 hours to La Capelle.
On The steep path we first walked through beautiful woods and in several places we had to cross small streams. We took big steps down over rocks and stumps. So it required great concentration and good leg muscles.
The temperature was perfect, around 24-28 degrees and we walked in the shade of the trees, which made it comfortable.
On the tourist information they told us that it took 1 1/2 hour to reach the river and from there it would take another 30 minutes to get to La Capelle.
Although we see ourselves in good shape, we could feel the hardness of the trip. Certainly not a trip everyone can do.
But it was beautiful and just 20 minutes before we reached the river, we got a first look at La Capelle. It is a huge rock formation that is split in two, with the sunlight sometimes shining down through. On the cliff walls there are black and brown deposits that make a beautiful pattern reminiscent of the skin of a zebra.
From the vantage point it cheats a little, because you think: oh we just have to go there and then we are there. But once you reach the river, it has to be crossed twice. The first time it is quite deep and you can not see the bottom, so you have to go with extreme care and feel with your feet on the bottom,to be sure not to fall over large stones and there is also the force of the river to be aware of. When one is on the other side, several large stones must be forced. Up over, across and through the river one more time.
When we had come around the huge rock formation, which is actually in the way of seeing La Capelle, we had to cross the river a second time. We managed. But we didn't do the last bit into the chapel. It had required even more climbing over large stones, to eventually stand completely inside the chapel.
Instead, we enjoyed the view from where we had arrived. Dipped our feet in the river and saved energy for the rtough walk back. Because we were only halfway and we realized that the trip up there would at least be as tough as the trip down there.
It was incredibly beautiful here and well worth the trip.
We had again made ourselves a sandwich and each had 2 liters of water, which is a minimum. This trip should not be underestimated. Especially not if it's baking hot.
On the way back we met an older man, he looked somewhat tiered, so we checked if he was allright and if he had water. He said everything OK and we should just keep going. So we did.
We had read about someone who had walked the route and one comment they mentioned was: When you finish this tour, our buttocks will scream or should we say: buttocks of steel.
It took us about 2 hours to get back to Cilaos. We were done, sore and soaked with sweat, but that didn't stop us from going to the same cafe´ as the day before. Coffee and creps were the only thing that could get the energy back on track after this tough but unique hike.

Reunion Island 3 - Coulée de Lave 2007 and Grand Bassin

11. - 13. marts 2020

Inden vi tog afsted på turen, havde vi bestemt os for at vi skulle nå hele vejen rundt på Reunion. I det mindste af kystvejen. Vi vidste godt vi kke kunne se alt på ti dage, men det kunne været dejligt hvis vi havde set hvad forskelle der ville være når vi havde nået hele vejen rundt. Den plan havde vi skrottet og lavet en ny. Vi havde set at når vi skulle bo i byen La Plaine de Cafres de næste dage, så kunne vi ligeså godt forsætte ned til den anden side af øen på vej N3 , som var den vej vi skulle køre op til byen ad. 
Så da vi forlod vores lille perle i Palmiste Rouge var planen, at vi ville nyde turen tilbage af N5, indtil vi nåede ned til kysten. Så ville vi køre så langt sydpå som muligt for derefter at bevæge os lidt op af østkysten til området der hedder Coulée de Lave 2007.
Området er et kæmpestort område, hvor lavaen fra vulkenen Piton de Founaise blev presset nedover bjergskråningen i 2007, hvorefter den forsvandt ud i det Indiske Ocean. 
Vi var meget spændte på hvor stor område var og om hvor meget vi egentlig kunne se?
På kortet så det ud somom vi skulle køre af motorvej hele vejen derned, men det var faktisk kun de første 15 kilometer. Herefter kørte vi på en meget snoet hovedvej, hvilket gjorde at turen tog længere tid end vi havde regnet med. Ydermer begyndte det at regne, så vi skulle køre med forsigtighed. 
Undervejs ned af kysten stoppede vi af og til. Et af stederne vi stoppede hed Cap Méchant, det var et udflugtssted, hvor der var bygget en svimmingpool. Hvilket var forståeligt, når vi så hvor oprørt havet var og kyststrækning var store størknet lava klipper, hvro kæmpe store bølger slog indover. Det var en ting der gjorde at man ikke skulle bade der, den anden var Hajer. Der var sat store skilte op der advarede om hajer.
Vi brugte en god times tid med at tage billeder og se krafterne fra havet slå indover klipperne, så vandet skød flere meter op i luften. Vi havde aldrig set så store bølger og vi må tilstå det virkede ret frygtindgydende, men samtidig også facinerende.
Træerne der grode på området, var meget specielle. Det var somom at røddene voskede ovenfor jorden igen noget vi aldring havde set før. Vores hjemmelavede sandwich blev spist i bilen, hvor vi sad i ly for regnen.
Området vi kørte igennem havde mange små butikker, der solgte vanillje. Vaniljen der dyrkes her hedder Bourbon og dyrkes med omhu og betragtes som verdens bedste. Om året bliver der produceret 6 ton af denne luksuvanilje.
De bliver enten solgt til lokale gourmter på øen eller eksporteret til det franske fastland, hvor de bliver solgt i eksklusive delikatessebutikker.
Vi fortsatte efter vores frokost i bilen og kørte godt og vel en halv time mere inden vi nåede til lava feltet. Undervejs blev der færre huse og vejen snoede sig igennen en frodig skov.
Fra at have kørt i den tætte skov, åbnede landskabet sig op til et kæmpe område fuldstændigt bart. Lige fra den ene øjeblik til det andet. Sikke en kontrast. Dengang tilbage i 2007, har man nok kunnet stå på afstand og se hvordan den ultra varme lavaflod flød ned over bjergskråningen. Nu er hele området størknet og to steder er det muligt at parkerer og gå op på området. Det ene sted var der lavet et lille udsigtsplatform, hvorfra man kunne kigge ned mod havet og op imod bjergene. Virkelig få indtrykket af hvor stort området er.
Naturen er ved at reetabilere sig. Små grønne planter og enkelte træer voksede op flere steder og bevidnede om at livet går videre også efter et vulkanudbrud.
Det var begyndt at regne og selvom det ikke føltes somom det regnede kraftigt, kom der meget mere vand end vi bemærkede. 
Vi kørte et par kilometer mere efter lavafeltet, inden vi bestemte os for at vende bilen og køre tilbage imod La Plaine des Cafres. Nu kom der så meget vand at vejene nogen steder havde en til to centimeter vand. Så vi kørte varsomt.
Undervejs mod vores nye sted, skulle vi have handlet lidt ind, så vi holdt ind ved et Super U supermarked. Det var sjovt hvordan facaden af butikken ikke passede sammen med hvordan butikken så ud indvendig.
Den måde jeg kan beskrive det på, er en mellemting imellem en lavprisbutik i sin spæde start. Hvor alt var kørt ind i butikken på paller. Det var sporaisk med vare og nogle hylder var tomme. Men sådan var det nu engang, men sjovt at se.
Vi ville handle ind til burger. Så vi fandt boller og burgerkød på frost og lidt grøntsager. I brødafdeling var der ikke meget at vælge imellem, men vi kunne dufte friskbagt brød. Hvor kom den duft fra???? Og hvor var brødet.
Vi fulgte duften og fandt ud af at der var et lille brødudsalg lige efter kassen. Så da vi havde fundet hvad vi havde brug for og fået betalt. Købte vi 3 friskbagte baguettes i brødudsalget.
Det blev ved med at regne helt indtil vi fandt vores næste sted. Vejen op til stedet virkede mere eller mindre om en lille flod, så meget vand flød der ned af vejen.
Så vi var spændte på om det ville blive tørvejr til næste dag. Vi fandt vores sted og blev taget imod af Filip, som viste os tilrette på Relais du Vulcan, som stedet hed.
Stedet var virkelig hyggeligt og vi var de eneste der skulle bo der. Vi havde vores eget værelse med privat badeværelse lige overfor. Der var et fælles opholdsrum og et fuldt etableret køkken.
Det eneste minus var at her lugtede utrolig meget af mug og fugt. Så efter vi havde fået vores værelse, blev døre og vinduerne åbnet.
Filip havde forklaret os om hvordan vi kom til Grand Bassin, som vi jo gerne ville vandre til næste dag og vi havde fået aftalt hvornår vi ville have morgenmad.
Nu var det holdt med at regne og solen kom igennem. Så vi gik ud for at nyde udsigten og se solen gå ned over bjergene.
Solen spredte sit skær over himmelen i de mest utrolige nuancer og fra hvor vi stod kunne vi se at vi befandt os over skyerne. Så utroligt smukt og facinerende at kigge på.
Vi fik lavet vores burger og imens vi spiste, snakkede vi spændte om næste dags tur til Grand Bassin.
Normalt ville vi havde sovet til 8 eller endda efter 8, nu når vi havde ferie, men Filip fra stedet havde sagt: at hvis vi skulle være sikker på at se Grand Bassin i sol, skulle vi starte tidligt. Så vi havde sat vores ur til 6:30.
Morgenmaden var klar til os og allerede før 8 kørte vi afsted mod Grand Bassin. Ruten er beskrevet som hård og meget stejl hele vejen ned til den lille landsby som ligger yderlig 20-30 minutter vandring fra det store vandfald og bassin som Grand Bassin er.
Det tog os 20 minutter at køre hen til parkeringspladsen og picnic området som ligger få hundrede meter fra udsigtspunktet og starten til vandreruten.
Vi var meget spændte på hvor hård en tur det ville blive og om vi kunne nå det inden der måske kom regn.
Vi var 100 % klar og først ville vi gå hen og nyde udsigten fra platformen.
På vej derhen, kom to piger os imøde. Først sagde de noget på fransk vi ikke forstod. Men så sagde de det vi ikke håbede på at høre på engelsk: the trail is closed!!! WHAT!!!! Tro mig skuffelsen stod skrevet i vores ansigter.
Denne rute var en af dem vi virkelig havde set frem til og nu var den lukket. Hvad skulle vi så???
I det mindste kunne vi nyde den gigantiske udsigt der var fra platformen. Et kæmpe krater stod lodret ned for vores øjne og helt ned i bunden kunne vi skimte vandfaldet . Det var faktisk ret umuligt at forestille sig at man kunne gå derned, men et eller andet sted ned af de stejle skråninger og gemt skoven var der altså en sti.
Lige ved siden af platformen, var der lavet et hejseværk som mindede om en skilift, bare uden vinduer og iform af en stor firkantet metalkasse. På den måde kunne mad, redskaber og andet de skulle have brug for i landsbyen kunne blive transportet op og ned. Kassen kunne læsses med 500 kg. Så hvis man var en daredevil, kunne man jo altid tage den lette løsning.
Vi måtte lave en ny plan for dagen, men inden vi gik tilbage til bilen, ville Marianne lige gå hen for at se hvad der stod på skiltet ved begyndelsen af stien.
På vej hen mod stien mødte vi en anden pige og inden vi havde set os om var hun forsvundet, vel om mærke hen af stien. Vi kiggede på hinanden og sagde: hvor forsvandt hun hen???
Ydermer mødte vi nogle arbejder der var ved at udbedre starten af stien og her så det rigtig nok ud som om ruten var lukket.....men ingen skilte. Så vi spurgte dem om det var sandt. De sagde nej rute er åben.
Nu var vi praktisk talt ret så forvirret. Hvorfor havde pigerne sagt til os at ruten var lukket og hvorfor havde vi set en gå af ruten og så arbejderne som sagde at ruten var åben??? Forvirringen var total. Men samtidig havde vi igen et håb om at kunne se Grand Bassin tæt på. Så vi begyndte at gå med raske skridt.
Efter godt 500 meter kom vi til en bom og et advardsels skilt. OK hvad skulle vi tro og gøre?? Skiltet stod kun på fransk og det var ikke vores stærke side. Et ord vi forstod var Ferme, som betyder lukket. Skiltet var dateret 7 dage tidligere.
Vi diskuterede lidt frem og tilbage. Heidi er den mest fornuftige af os to og hun sagde at vi skulle vende om og gå tilbage. Jeg deri mod søger altid løsninger også selvom de ikke altid er de mest brugbare.
Vores sidste lille håb, blev en kvinder der kom forbi. Hun var også på vej mod landsbyen og Grand Bassin. 
Hende spurgte vi hvad der egentlig stod på skiltet og om ruten var lukket. Hun forklarede: Nej ruten er ikke lukket, man kan gå den så længe det ikke begynder at regne kraftigt og så var hun væk.
For mig var det nok information, hvor Heidi var mere skeptisk. Men aftalen blev: Vi forsøger os og skulle det begynde at regne, så vender vi om.
Efter få hundrede meter kunne vi allerede forstå, hvorfor ruten var beskredet som hård. Det gik nedaf og hvert skridt vi skulle tage var ned over store sten i alle mulige størrelser og der var gladt. Jorden var lerjord og med regne fra dagen før, var underlaget ticky at gå på. Men vi bevægede os med yderst forsigtighed og trin for trin kom vi længere og længere ned.
Undervejs var der flere steder hvor det blev gjort opmærksom på, at sten kunne flade ned oppe fra skråningerne. De steder forsøgte vi at passere så hurtigt som muligt og gå så tæt på bjergsiden som muligt.
Turen var hård med samtidig også smuk. Nogen gange gik vi inde i en skov andre gange helt åbent med udsigt ud over krateret.
En halv time inden vi nåede ned til landsbyen, kunne vi se vandfaldet ret tæt på og her tænkte vi nok. Okay når vi er der nede så der vi der. Men vi måtte tro om igen. God nok blev ruten mere flad da vi nåede ned til landsbyen, men herfra skulle vi stadig gå 30 minutter om undervejs krydse floden som munder ud i vandfaldet.
Vi kom godt nok over floden og forbi ovenfor vandfaldet inden det sidste stykke hen til vandfaldet skulle forceres.
Her skulle vi kravle igennem nogle høje siv og samtidig passe på ikke at flalde over nogle store sten som sivene skjulte. Heidi var forest og på et tidspunkt mistede jeg hende af syne. Hvor blev hun af??
Hun kunne ikke høre mig pga. vandmasserne fra vandfaldet lavede så meget larm. Jeg fandt tilbage på rette spor og nu stod vi foran det kæmpe store brusende vandfald. Vi nåede det og endda i tørvejr.
Her var flot og sikke et vandfald. For os som kommer fra et land, hvor vi ikke har store vandfald er det specielt at stå og kigge på vandmasserne der flader lodret ned i kæmpe mængder. Vi ville nok ønske at vi havde haft mere tid, men havde bemærket at skyerne var ved at trække ned i krateret, hvilket nok betød at der var regn på vej. Så efter 10 minutter og en lille snack, begav vi os på vejen tilbage. Vi skulle nok regne med at turen tilbage ville tage mindst lige så lang tid som derned, altså 2 til 2 1/2 time.
Vi var opmærksom på, om vi kunne nå at komme tilbage inden det begyndte at regne. Måske for opmærksom, for på det første stykke igennem den lille landsby, gik vi forkert og pludselig stod vi ved liften vi havde set oppefra. Her var et lille skur med en bænk, hvilket kom belejliget, da det begyndte at regne.
Vi havde brug for noget mere mad, nu hvor vi var i læ, kunne vi lige så godt spise vores madpakker. Der var bare et mindre problem. Da Marianne havde taget madpakkerne fra kølesskabet, var hun kommet til at tage den pose hvor der lå tre stykker flutes i og ikke de smurte madpakker, med ost og grønt.
Men mad er mad, så vi spiste hvert et stykke flutes og gjore klar til turen op af kløften.
Regnen var stoppet, så den første halve time var i tørvejr, men derefter kom regne. Meget regn. Stille og roligt forvanlede stierne sig til små vandløb og vi blev gennemblødte. Tror vi begge to tænkte på, det smalle sted vi havde set på vej ned, hvor der havde været et jordskred. Det sted skulle vi forbi så hurtigt som muligt.
Heidi havde sat en højt tempo, jeg var ikke helt så hurtig, men gjorde mit bedste. Det var ihvertfald godt vi skulle gå opad og ikke ned af. Opad havde vi meget i det meindste bedre fodfædste end nedaf.
Jeg holdt øje med tiden, for at få et indtryk af hvor langt der var endnu. Mere og mere vand løb ned over stierne.
Turen ned havde taget os 2 timer og 30 minutter og selvom jeg godt kunne mærke at tempoet var betydelig højere, havde jeg ikke regnet med at vi gik tilbage på 1 time og 30 minutter. Men det gjorde vi.
Vi var meget glade og fuldstænding gennemblødt da vi nåede op til de små overdækkede picnic skure. Nu skulle vi bare finde ud af, hvordan vi kunne køre tilbage i udlejningsbilen uden den blev sølet ind i vand og mudder.
Vi havde hver en tør trøje i vores rygsæk. Så den fik vi skiftet til og så kunne vi tage vores regnjakke på. Den havde vi ikke brugt, da det stadig var 25 grader.
Vi havde faktisk også tager et håndklæde med, så det kunne vi sidde på imens vi kørte tilbage.
Det kan godt være vi siger det regner i Danmark, men i sammenligning med hvilke vandmasser der falder her på Reuinon, vil jeg næste sige vi ikke får regn.
Det havde kun regnet lidt over en time da vi kørte tilbage og et af stederne vi skulle passere var der mindste 30 centimeter vand over hele vejen. Vandmasserne væltede ned og vinduesviskene kørte på højtryk.
Der er ikke noget at sige til at alt vokser og er frodigt her.
Da vi var kommet tilbage, skulle vi finde en måde vi kunne tørre vores tøj og specielt sko. De skulle gerne blive tørre til næste dag, hvor vi så frem til vandreturen til Piton de Forunaise, vulkan turen.
Der var et varmeapperet på badeværelset og den blev sat på fuld blus. Hvorefter vi forsøgte at få plads til alt det våde tøj og sko. Vi behøves nok ikke forklare hvilken "dejlig" duft der bredte sig på badeværelset.
Inden vi rejste hjemmefra, var der begyndt at ske flere og flere ting rundt omkring i Verden pga. COVID-19 virussen. 
Vi havde tjekket om Reunion havde haft nogle tilfælde inden vi tog afsted og det havde de ikke. Specielt Heidi havde fulgt en del med i nyhederne. Jeg selv er ikke den store nyhedslæser, så jeg var mere tilbageholden med de nyheder Heidi fortalte mig om.
Senere på eftermiddagen, efter vi var kommet tilbage fra Grand Bassin, kunne Heidi læse at noget var ved at ske i Danmark. Vi havde tre timers tidsforskel. Vi var tre timer foran Danmark.
En af vores venner havde skrevet til os at vores folketingsminister, havde indkaldt til pressemøde klokken 15:00 dansk tid pga. COVID-19.
Dagen var fredag d. 13. marts og den fik en helt ny betydning. For alle os inklusiv.
Eftermiddagen var også gået med at finde ud af hvor vi ville spiseaftensmad og vi havde bestemt os for at prøve restaurant Lánnabella, da de havde fået gode anmeldelser.
De åbnede klokken 19. Da tiden nærmede sig, var vi klar til at tage på restaurant. Burgeren og tilbehør var virkelig lækkert og smagte dejligt. Efter en lille times tid var vi tilbage og begyndet at snakke om turen til Piton de Fournase næste dag, men inden længe begyndte det at gå tikke ind med beskeder via FB og messenger og vi blev klar over at det der var meldt ud i Danmark ville for indflydelse på vores rejse.
Statsministeren havde sagt: de dansker der befandt sig på rejser rundt om i verden, skulle komme hjem hurtigst muligt. 
Det virkede fuldstændig uvirkeligt. Fra at vi lige havde siddet og snakket om næste dags vandretur, sad vi nu og skulle tage en beslutning om at rejse hjem, faktisk inden at vores ferie egentlig rigtigt var startet.
Det var jo meningen at vi skulle have været på Reunion i 10 dage og derefter flyve til Mauritius for at nyde 10 dage med sol, strand og snorkling. Vi fik også meldinger om at Mauritius var ved at lukke ned.
Vi må tilstå altsammen skulle lige fordøjes, men samtidig var vi godt klar over at hvis vi skulle gøre os forventninger om at komme hjem, så skulle vi handle med det samme. Ingen vidste jo hvordan alting ville se ud om få dage.
Lige nu kunne vi komme hjem, vel om mærke hvis vi kunne komme i kontakt med Air France. Hvordan ville flytrafikken se ud om nogle dage. For det virkede somom at Verden var ved at lukke ned,
Vi må sige at i dette tilfælde, var vi heldige med at være ansatte på Billund Airport. Vi fik hurtigt kontakt til en kollega og senere kontakt til Sanne, som er Marianne´s chef, så næste morgen blev vores billetter ændret til en fly afgang klokken 18:15 fra Reunion. Nu skulle vi bare have afbestilt resten af vores hotelophold og sidenhen finde tilbage til St. Denis og lufthavnen.
Vi fulgte nyhederne omkring Danmark via FB og kunne se at folk var gået i panik efter udmeldelsen fra vores statsminister og mere eller mindre alle var begyndt at hamstre mad, gær og toiletpapir.
Så vi må tilstå, vi var meget spændte på hvad der ventede os når vi kom hjem.
 

___________________________________________________________________________________________English

March 11 to 13, 2020

Before we set off on our trip, we had decided that we would like to drive the whole the way around the Reunion. At least on the coastal road. We knew we couldn't see everything in ten days, but it would have been nice if we had seen what differences there would be when we had reached all the way around. We scrapped that plan and made a new one. We had seen that when we were going to stay in the town of La Plaine de Cafres the next few days, we might as well continue down to the other side of the island on road N3, which was the road we were going to drive up to La Plaine de Cafres.
So when we left our little gem in Palmiste Rouge the plan was that we would enjoy the trip down the N5 until we reached the coast. Then we would drive as far south as possible and then move a little up the east coast to the area called Coulée de Lave 2007.
The area is a huge area where the lava from the Piton de Founaise volcano was pushed down the hillside in 2007, after which it disappeared into the Indian Ocean.
We were really excited about how big the area would be and how much we could actually see?
On the map it looked like we had to drive there on the freeway, but it was actually only the first 15 kilometers. After that we drove on a very winding main road, which made the trip take longer than we had expected. Outside, it started to rain, so we also had to drive with caution.
On the way down the coast we stopped occasionally. One of the places we stopped was called Cap Méchant, it was a picnic site where a swimming pool was built. Which was understandable when we saw how upset the sea was and the coastline was huge solidified lava rocks where huge waves crashed in over. That was one thing that made you not want to go for swim there, the other was sharks. Big signs were posted warning of sharks.
We spent a good hour taking pictures and watching the forces of the wawes breaking against the rocks with huge powers and the water was pushed up several meters into the air. We had never seen such big waves and we have to admit it seemed rather frightening to watch. But at the same time also fascinating.
The trees that grew in the area were very special. It was as if the roots were growing above the ground, something we had not seen before. Our homemade sandwich was eaten in the car, where we sat in shelter for the rain.
The area we drove through had many small shops selling vanilla. The vanilla grown here is called Bourbon and carefully grown and considered the best in the world. Each year, 6 tonnes of this luxury vanilla is produced.
They are either sold to local gourmets on the island or exported to the French mainland, where they are sold in exclusive deli stores.
We continued after lunch in the car and drove well over half an hour before reaching the lava field. Along the way there were fewer houses and the road winding through a lush forest.
From driving in the dense forest, the landscape opened up to a vast area completely bare. From one moment to the next. What a contrast. Back then in 2007, you could probably stand at a distance and see how the ultra-warm lava flow was pushed down the hillside. Now the whole area is solidified and at two places it is possible to park and walk up the area. One place was a small viewing platform from which one can to look down to the sea and up to the mountains. Really get the impression of how big the area is.
Nature is re-establishing itself. Small green plants and single trees grew up in several places and witnessed life go on even after a volcanic eruption.
It had started to rain and although it did not feel like it was raining heavily, much more water came than we noticed.
We drove a few kilometers more form the lava field before deciding to turn the car around and drive back towards La Plaine des Cafres. Now there was so much water that the roads had one to two inches of water. So we drove cautiously.
On the way to our new place, we wanted to shop some stuff, so we stopped at a Super U supermarket. It was funny how the facade of the store did not fit in with how the store looked inside.
The way I can describe it is an intermediate thing between a low-price store in its early beginnings. Where everything was brourght into the store on pallets. It was sporadic with merchandise and some shelves were empty. But that's how it was, but fun to watch.
We looked for stuff to make burgers. So we found buns and burger meat on frost and some vegetables. In the bread department there was not much to choose from, but we could smell fresh baked bread. Where did that nice smell come from ???? And where was the bread.
We followed the smell and found that there was a small bread sale right after checkout. So when we had found what we needed and paid. We bought 3 freshly baked baguettes at the bread sale.
It kept raining until we found our next place. The road up to the place seemed more or less as a small river, so much water flowed down the road.
So we were excited about whether it would be dry weather for the next day. We found our place and were welcomed by Philip, who showed us the Relais du Vulcan, as the place was called.
The place was really cozy and we were the only ones to stay there. We had our own room with private bathroom right opposite. There was a common living area and a fully established kitchen.
The only minus was that a it smelled a lot of mildew and moisture. So after we got our room, doors and windows were opened.
Filip had explained to us how to get to the Grand Basin, which we would like to hike the next day and we had agreed when we would have breakfast.
The rain had stopped and the sun came through. So we went outside to enjoy the view and watch the sun go down over the mountains.
The sun was shining across the sky in the most incredible shades and from where we stood we could see that we were above the clouds. So incredibly beautiful and fascinating to look at.
For dinner we made our burger and while we ate, we talked excitedly about the next day's trip to Grand Bassin.
Normally we would have slept until 8 or even after 8, now we were on vacationing, but Philip from the place had said: that if we were to be sure to see the Grand Bassin in dry weather and sun, we would have to start early. So we had set our alarm for 6:30AM.
Breakfast was ready for us and we left before 8 for Grand Bassin. The route is described as hard and very steep all the way down to the small village which is a further 20-30 minutes walk from the large waterfall and basin where the Grand Bassin is.
It took us 20 minutes to drive to the car park and picnic area which is a few hundred meters from the vantage point and the start of the trekking route.
We were very excited about how tough a walk it would be and whether we could reach it before there might be rain.
We were 100% ready and first we wanted to go and enjoy the view from the platform.
On the way there, two girls came up to us. At first they said something in French we didn't understand. But then they said what we did not hope to hear in English: the trail is closed !!! WHAT !!!! Believe me the disappointment was written in our faces.
This route was one of the ones we had really looked forward to do and now it was closed. What could we do ???
At least we could enjoy the gigantic view that was from the platform. A huge crater stood vertically in front of our eyes and down at the bottom we could see the waterfall. It was actually quite impossible to imagine that you could go down there, but somewhere down the steep slopes and hidden in the forest there was a path.
Right next to the platform, a hoist was made reminiscent of a ski lift, just without windows and in the shape of a large square metal box. That way, food, utensils and anything else they needed in the village could be transported up and down. The box could be loaded with 500 kg. So if you were a daredevil, you could always take the easy solution. ;-)
We had to make a new plan for the day, but before going back to the car, Marianne would like go to see what was written on the sign at the beginning of the trail.
On the way to the trail we met another girl and before noticed she had disappeared along the trail. We looked at each other and said: where did she go ???
In addition, we met some workers that was about to fix the start of the trail and here it really looked as if the route was closed ..... but no signs. So we asked them if that was true. They said no the route is open.
Now we were practically quite confused. Why had the girls told us that the route was closed and why had we seen the girl walk of on the route and now the workers saying that the route was open ??? The confusion was total. But at the same time, we had a hope of being able to see the Grand Basin up close. So we started to walk quick ahead.
After about 500 meters we came to a boom and a warning sign. OK what should we believe?? The sign was only in French and we did not understand. One word we understood was Ferme, which means closed. The sign was dated 7 days earlier.
We discussed a little back and forth. Heidi is the most sensible of us two and she said we should turn around and go back. I always endeavor to find solutions even if they are not always the most useful.
Our last little hope, a women came by. She was also heading towards the village and Grand Bassin.
We asked her what the sign actually said  and whether the route was closed or not. She explained: No the route is not closed, you can walk it as long as it does not start to rain heavily and then she was gone.
For me, it was enough information where Heidi was more skeptical. But the deal was: We try and should it start to rain, then we turn around.
After a few hundred meters we could already understand why the route was described as hard. It went downhill and every step we had to take was down over large stones of all sizes and it was slippery The ground was clay soil and with rain from the day before, the substrate was ticky to walk on. But we moved with extreme caution and step by step we got further and further down.
Along the way, there were several places where it was pointed out that stones could fall from the slopes. In those places we tried to pass as fast as possible and go as close to the mountain side as possible.
The trip was tough but also beautiful. Sometimes we went inside a forest other times completely open with a view of the crater.
Half an hour before we reached the village, we could see the waterfall quite close and here we thought. Okay when we are down there we are there. But we have to think again. Sure enough, the route became more flat as we reached the village, but from here we still had to walk 30 minutes and on the way cross the river that flows into the waterfall.
We crossed the river well enough and past uppon the waterfall before the final stretch to the waterfall was to be forced.
Here we were to crawl through some high reeds and at the same time be careful not to fall over some large stones that the reeds hid. Heidi was in fromt and at one point I lost sight of her. Where did she go??
She couldn't hear me because the water masses from the waterfall made so much noise. I found back on the right track and now we were standing in front of the giant big rushing waterfall. We reached it and even in dry weather.
The waterfall was beautifull and large. For those of us who come from a country where we do not have large waterfalls, it is special to look at the water masses that falls vertically into the pond below with natures power. We wished we had more time, but we noticed that the clouds were drawing down into the crater, which probably meant that there was rain on the way. So after 10 minutes and a little snack, we set off on our way back. We should probably expect the trip back to take at least as long as there, like 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
We were aware of whether we could return before it started to rain. Maybe too aware, because on the first stretch through the small village, we made a wrong turn and suddenly we stood at the lift we had seen from above. Here was a small shed with a bench, which came in handy when it started to rain.
We needed some more food, now that we were sheltered, we might as well eat our lunches. There was just one minor problem. When Marianne had taken the lunches from the fridge, she had taken the bag containing three pieces of flutes and not the package, with cheese and vegetables.
But food is food, so we ate one flutes each and got ready for the trip up the canyon.
The rain had stopped, so the first half hour was in dry weather, but then the rain came. Much rain. Quietly, the trails turned into small streams and we were soaked. Think we both thought of the narrow passage we had seen on our way down, where there had been a landslide. We should pass that place as quick as possible.
Heidi had set a high tempo, I was not quite so fast but did my best. At least it was good that we had to go upwards and not down. Upward, we had much better fodhold than down.
I kept an eye on the time, to get an impression of how far it still was. More and more water ran down the paths.
The trip down had taken us 2 hours and 30 minutes and although I could sense that the pace was considerably higher, I had not expected to go back in 1 hour and 30 minutes. But we did.
We were very happy and completely soaked as we reached the small covered picnic sheds. Now we just had to figure out how to drive back in the rental car without it being covered in water and mud.
We each had a dry jersey in our backpack. So we changed shirts and we could put on our rain jacket. We had not used it as it still  was 25 degrees.
We actually had a towel too, so we could sit on it while we drove back.
We may say it is raining in Denmark, but in comparison with the water masses that fall here at Reuinon, I wouldsay that we do not get rain in Denmark.
It had been raining for just over an hour when we drove back and one of the places we had to pass was at least 30 centimeters of water all over the road. The masses of water tumbled down and the windshield wipers were running at high pressure.
It is understandable everything is growing and lush here with this amount af water.
When we got back, we had to find a way to dry our clothes and especially shoes. They were supposed to get dry until the next day, where we looked forward to the hike to Piton de Forunaise, the volcano tour.
There was a heater in the bathroom and it was put on full power.. After which we tried to make room for all the wet clothes and shoes. We probably do not need to explain what "lovely" scent spread in the bathroom.
Before we left home, more and more things were happening around the world due to the COVID-19 virus.
We had checked if Reunion had had some cases before we left and they had not. Heidi in particular had been a part of the news. I myself am not the big news reader so I was more reluctant with the news Heidi told me.
Later in the afternoon, after we returned from the Grand Bassin, Heidi could read that something was happening in Denmark. We had a three hour time difference. We were three hours ahead of Denmark.
One of our friends had written to us that our parliamentary minister had called for a press conference at 15:00 Danish time due to COVID-19.
The day was Friday the 13th of March and it took on a whole new meaning. For all, including us.
The afternoon had also been used to find out where we would have dinner and we had decided to try the restaurant Lánnabella as they had received good reviews.
They opened at 7pm. As time approached, we were ready to go to the restaurant. The burger and fries were really delicious and tasted great. After an hour we were back and started talking about the trip to Piton de Fournase the was to happen next day, but before long messages started to tick in via FB and messenger and we became aware that what was announced in Denmark would get influence on our journey and the time to come.
The prime minister had said: the Danes who were traveling around the world should return home as soon as possible.
It seemed completely unreal. Moments ago we had just been talking about the next day's hike and now wehad to make a decision to go home, actually before our holiday had really started.
After all, we were supposed to have been 10 days on Reunion and then fly to Mauritius to enjoy 10 days of sun, beach and snorkelling. We also received reports that Mauritius was closing down.
We have to admit that everything had to be digested, but at the same time we were well aware that if we had to make expectations of coming home, we should act immediately. Nobody knew how tings would look like in a few days.
Right now we could get home, well if we could get in touch with Air France. What would air traffic look like in a few days? Because it seemed like the world was closing down,
We must say that in this case, we were lucky to be employees of Billund Airport. We quickly got in touch with a colleague and later contacted Sanne, who is Marianne's boss, so the next morning our tickets were changed to a flight departure at 18:15 from Reunion. Now we had to jucanceled the rest of our hotel stays and then find our way back to St. John's. Denis and the airport.
We followed the news about Denmark via FB and could see that people had panicked following the announcement of our prime minister and more or less everyone had started hoarding food, yeast and toilet paper.
So we have to admit, we were very excited about what awaited us when we got home.