MARKET - BAZAR

Opened in 1828, on the site of the former Bassin des Chaloupes, it's the island's oldest market and a must-see for its picturesque atmosphere, perpetual bustle, intoxicating colors and scents. Adorned with inscriptions and floral motifs, the wrought-iron main door, dated 1839, opens onto a 2-storey covered building, orderly at its center but spilling happily into the adjacent lanes to the point of blurring boundaries. Past the peripheral stalls, you enter the chiaroscuro of fruit and vegetable stalls, your nostrils on the lookout for a spicy array of exotic scents. Foodstuffs are ordered and placed with precise care, offering an almost pictorial vision of heaps of vermeil and green, brown and straw yellow: the subtle balance of the glossy red of the tomato against the soft green of the pipengaille, the touch-touch lalo with a mound of cinnamon sticks... For the bazaar is one of the best places to discover the diversity of local market produce, including staples not found in Europe such as pâtisson, jackfruit, certain varieties of mango and so on. It's also the place to sample local culinary specialties such as alouda (a refreshing drink made from milk and basil seeds), dholl puri, grated ice cubes and chilli cakes. In a corner, at one of the entrances, the herbal tea maker has his photo taken amidst his magical remedies. For years, he's been haunting travelers' souvenir albums with his miracle concoctions that make a mockery of all taboo diseases.

Known throughout the island, the Port Louis bazaar resonates with uninterrupted babble and welcomes 30,000 people every day from dawn to dusk. As with all touristy places, it's a little too busy, and the shoppers, who are used to dealing with tourists, inflate their prices a little. As a result, some Mauritians go elsewhere to buy their wares, as the bazaar has become too expensive for their pockets. Nevertheless, the bazaar remains one of the capital's must-visits, and you should take your time: from the first floor to the meat and fish stalls on the other side of the street, via the quieter second floor, devoted to handicrafts. The wide range of products on offer (basketry, traditional musical instruments, hats, wood carvings...) reflects the island's ethnic diversity (objects from Africa or India) rather than genuine local know-how.