Walk along La Digue. Seychelles
This is our third time in the Seychelles. We visited the Seychelles for the first time in 2012, then our route was: La Digue Island 7 days and Praslin Island 5 days, from La Digue we visited Sisters Island, from Praslin Curieuse Island. In 2019, we returned to the Seychelles and spent two weeks only on the island of Mahe, we traveled almost all of it. And so, in September 2023, after 11 years, we decided to visit La Digue island again. This time we stayed in La Digue for 7 days and Mahe for 7 days.
Of course, during this time La Digue has changed a lot, I can’t say for good or bad. It can be seen that investment has come to the island, because there are many more vacationers, there is construction everywhere, road repairs, a lot of large guest houses, cars have appeared, which was not the case on the island before, hence many related services: gas station, police, fire and ambulance help, etc. Now, the construction of a modern hospital named after His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, worth US$4 million, has almost been completed on the island. The ferry pier is being improved, many restaurants and fast food outlets have opened, many shops have appeared, the assortment has become much better than in 2012. Yes, all this is good, but the island has lost its former primitiveness, privacy and peace. In terms of infrastructure, La Digue is already approaching the island of Mahe. Previously, the central streets were lined with concrete, smooth slabs, but now they are lined with paving stones. It’s a terrible sight, there are uneven surfaces everywhere, sand, dirt, and after the rain there are only puddles. It is impossible for tourists to walk with their suitcases to nearby guest houses; they must definitely order a transfer 2-3 km away for money. The first line of the ocean is almost completely built up with guest houses and hotels; it is impossible to get close to the ocean. And in 2012 - clean, wild beaches and space. There are a lot of tourists on the island, La Digue already reminds me of Gelendzhik or Anapa, only for Europeans. Considering that a huge number of two-story guest houses are still under construction, in 5 years there will probably already be a city there. If we had not seen in 2012 the primitive state of the island untouched by civilization, that peace and exotic comfort, we would probably have had different impressions, but, unfortunately, everything is heading to the point that soon there will be no quiet corners left on earth. Sadly!
20 окт 2024