Eagle's Nest

You may not have noticed, or I haven't really mentioned it yet - we have actually extended our stay on La Digue by one day. We were able to easily change the ferry and flights (ferry to Praslin and flight back to Mahe from there), and we were also able to extend our accommodation. We just have to move from our apartment to a smaller room for the last night! So another day in paradise - we have both chosen La Digue as our absolute favorite island! Even though we have been traveling for a long time, the holiday feeling here on La Digue is the strongest, and mentally I am far away from Germany, studying, and Corona like never before...
So today is our last day here, one last breakfast buffet, where a nice staff member recommends us to definitely climb the Nid'Aigle - the highest mountain on La Digue - because from here you have the best view of all the surrounding islands. Actually, we wanted to use the additional day here to relax a bit, but this hike sounds very tempting. And when Harald and Stefanie (our friends, with whom we went on a boat tour the day before yesterday) report that they had a fantastic, albeit exhausting, time hiking yesterday, all doubts are cleared and we pack our things for the hike.
So up on the bikes and look for the starting point of the hike - easier said than done, but with some help from the locals we find it quite quickly. First, we go up a steep road, after a few meters we give up cycling, park the bikes (in Germany you would now worry about the bike in the middle of nowhere, here you don't even need a bike lock and the belongings that stay in the luggage rack during the hike stay where they are. From now on, we continue on foot, uphill. Luckily, it's a bit cloudy, but we're still sweating after a few meters.
So first about 30 minutes steep road, and then we come across a sign on the side of the road marking the beginning of the official hike. Already from here, you have a great view, but we still want to hike the designated circular route, which quickly becomes adventurous. At this point, it should also be mentioned briefly that I am only wearing flip-flops because my sneakers were already packed in the locked suitcase in the morning for the apartment move. But who needs sneakers - after all, the locals here mainly walk distances barefoot :P

At the beginning of the hike, there are still recognizable steps, some of them with such high steps that it was difficult to climb up. These "stairs" were then replaced by intertwining roots, followed by sand, stones & co. We even had to climb a ladder, and all of this in the midst of thousands of cinnamon trees, which make up 80% of the vegetation on the island. So we collect some bark with our hands and the scent that our fingers carry from this harvest is unique. There are vanilla plants on the ground, and we are also in the middle of a small spice garden!
After a while, we happily arrive at the summit, and I have to say, the adventure was definitely worth it! The 360-degree panoramic view is phenomenal, and we recognize all the islands that we have already traveled and snorkelled to: Coco Island, Grand & Petit Soeur, Praslin & Curieuse, and even the more distant Mahe. We would hike here again at any time and are excited about the view.
Then we go back down, the path is not always signposted, and on the way to another viewpoint, we are not sure for a while whether we are still on the descent route, but in the end, we somehow find our way back to our starting point, after a 2-hour hike, sweaty but super happy. At the starting point of our hike, there is a restaurant that is very well known among tourists. It offers a daily sunset dinner (of course, with the view, the sunset in this setting must be an absolute highlight) including transfer from the hotel and back. It's necessary for tourists at this location if they want to dine perfectly styled.
For us, however, at the restaurant called Belle Vue, we at least have coffee and freshly squeezed fruit juice, which we have truly earned now. From here, we 'only' have to go back up the steep road to the bikes, which is almost a piece of cake. From a local resident whose garden we pass, we receive small bananas fresh from the tree (which once again proves Seychellois friendliness), and then we go straight home.
But here, only a short break is planned before I say goodbye to the swimming pool and then take another little snorkeling session at Anse Patates. From here, it's off to the last sunset on La Digue! This is beautiful again, and it's a bit sad that another vacation period is coming to an end! We would definitely visit La Digue again, and I can recommend it to anyone who wants to 'slow down' from everyday German life!

In the evening, we go out to dinner with Stefanie and Harald for the farewell, there is fish fillet with passion fruit sauce, once again super delicious. By the way, both of them work in Mainz, what a coincidence, and it just goes to show - what a small world we live in. They also enjoy swimming - sometimes even after work at the Taubertsbergbad in Mainz - well, there might be a reunion there someday.

Back home, the two of us toast our last evening on our terrace, pack our last belongings, and fall into bed tired before the alarm clock rings at 5:30 the next morning for the onward journey...