Exotic is in the air

Our first breakfast in the hotel was even better than the one in the last two hotels. The sun is burning down from the sky and today is the market in Saint Paul. After we finally found a parking space (because it feels like the whole of Reunion is here), we mingle with the crowd

and absorb the impressions within us.

In the middle of the hustle and bustle, a woman speaks to us who is happy to be able to hear and speak German again. Apparently not many German tourists come here. We start talking and find out that she is from Réunion, went to France to study at the age of 20, then worked in Switzerland, where she learned German and has now been back here for a few years. This is the second time that someone has spoken to us. We had a similar encounter with a young man in Cilaos. He did his A-levels in Berlin and he also spoke to us immediately when he heard that we spoke German. Both were happy to hear that we really liked Reunion and wished us a nice holiday.

The market was supposed to last until 5 p.m., but the first stalls were already dismantled at 3:30 p.m.

We are heading back to the hotel and want to enjoy some more sun on the beach.

When we arrive at the beach, a stiff breeze blows in our faces. The boys head off to the big bathtub.

The water is pleasantly warm, but the current is strong.

While snorkeling, Micha sees lots of fish swimming around in the corals.

You just can't leave the water now, then it's really cold.

Dinner, yes, where are we going now? We unanimously decide on Thai. When we arrive at the "Thai Run" there is already a line outside the door - well, let's hope we get a table. Oh, everything is free and suddenly we have occupied the only table for 5 in the empty seating area. The line is forming for food to go. While we are still pondering whether we can order at the table here or whether we have to order the food up front, a man comes up to us and asks if we have a reservation. We truthfully say no and leave the restaurant again, because without a reservation nothing will happen today🫣.

Too bad. It would have tasted delicious. But what now? On our way we see an Italian restaurant, a stand with pizza to go and a sign for the Copacabana Bar. That sounds good. We turn into a dark alley and after 10 minutes we are back in front of our hotel. No Copacabana Bar. Hmm, OK, then the restaurant we passed earlier. So we head back towards the main road. This time there was a table available, but I didn't like the selection or the price (I didn't find anything and that's saying something). So that's not it either. We try the Copacabana Bar again and thanks to Google we find it.

Of course, you only study the menu once you have already been assigned a table, only to realise that a salad bowl costs €30.

OK, the food here is too expensive for all of us. And now... we'll just eat in our hotel restaurant. It's now 8pm. Maybe we should call ahead to see if there's a table available - which the lady on the phone says isn't the case.

We finish our cocktail in the Copacabana Bar, get something to eat to go at Thai Run (there are still no tables available) and, to accompany our really delicious Thai dinner, drink two bottles of wine on our balcony.