Mahé Things to Do

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Said to be the smallest Capital in the world and Capital of the largest island in the Seychelles Group, it is named after Queen Victoria.
There are echoes of colonial architecture to be seen here - on a small scale.
You will hear English, French and Seychellois spoken reflecting both the original French colonisers of the Islands and the British who seized possession during the Napoleonic wars. An independent colony since 1903, an independent Republic since 1976 Victoria is the seat of givernment and administration.
A short walk of less than 10 minutes or so took us from our ship to the centre of the Capital where the clock tower can be seen. Often described as a mini-Big Ben the tower was in fact a replica of the clock erected in London in 1897 at the junction of Victoria Street and Vauxhall Bridge Road.
Though I must say, it looked remarkably like a miniature Big Ben!

We had not realised that we were visiting on World Aids Day so were suprised to see the Clock Tower, when we passed by the second time, decorated with the universal symbolic red ribbons of the Aids campaign. A theme that was repeated through the shopping centre.

It is an attractively laid out little city and had an air of relaxed bustle. Nobody seemed in too much of a hurry but were getting on with the shopping, stopping to chat or just watch the traffic and people passing by.
There seemed to be a good selection of shops and cafes -but we were heading for the Market!

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The Duniye Spa at the Hilton Northolme Resort is a must do. The spa is locate right above the crashing water in it's own hut like building. The massage room is large with big doors that open out to a terrace above the water. Massages here are insanely good (definitely book the couples massage); especially with the relaxing sound of the waves outside. After the massage was incredible. They seat you in these wonderful chaise lounges and give you Citronelle tea to drink as you relax....absolute heaven.

As a Diamond with Hilton we were given two certificates for free twenty minutes massages upon arrival. I can't think of a better way to unwind after many long flights to get here.

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Swimming was one of our favorite activities at this resort especially in the ocean. The water here is crystal clear and many shades of blue and green that changes throughout the day. Water temperatures are a little colder than the water in the Caribbean but much warmer than the beaches back home. Depending on the tide and the wind; surf can be very calm with tiny swells or quite rough with huge crashing waves.

We chose to swim during calm ocean currents when the waves were minimal. This was one of my favorite times swimming with my wife, riding a wave in and just holding her in my arms. It's amazing how the water has such a calming and tranquil effect on the body....the stresses of life just melt away.

**Be careful in the water. There are many sharp rocks and hidden reefs that can cut your feet and legs. Water shoes are an excellent choice if you plan on walking beachside or swimming.**

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The Aldabra Giant Tortoise can be found on many of the islands of the Seychelles. While visiting the Botanical Gardens we were able to view some of these large creatures. My wife and I were fortunate enough to see these giants during our tour of the Botanical Gardens. Over a dozen of these Tortoises are in their own habitat right behind the Coco de Mer trees.

The tortoises were oblivious to our intrusion into their domain and continued to sleep, eat and well let nature take it's course.... It's not a place to linger long since the smell is quite overpowering in the heat.

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Victoria is the capital city of the Seychelles and is the smallest African capital. Victoria was first established when the island was a British colony. Some of this colonial influence can be seen with the Little Ben monument and Queen Victoria statue in the center of Victoria.

Although this is the capital city it feels like a town with its small downtown area and only one traffic light. The city is quite walkable and had many attractions such as the Botanical Gardens and the Markets.

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Beau Vallon Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island. The pristine sand, clear water and coral reefs make it an excellent spot for sunbathing, snorkeling, swimming and fishing. The beach was just a short walk from our hotel on the North West side of the island. During our time at the beach we saw first hand its popularity. The Coral Strand Hotel and several popular restaurants are located along the beach which makes for a nice beachside meal or cocktail.

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Beau Vallon Market is right along the beach. Vendors selling prepared food and local crafts line the road. Liz and I decided to check out the night market and see what there was to offer before heading over to the Coral Strand for drinks. The market had some interesting prepared foods; Indian, fresh fish kebobs, lamb stews, fried fish, fruit juices and fruit slices. The market was full of people and this seemed to be a big neighborhood meet up for locals.

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Victoria Market is the local food market. Local vendors sell fruit, vegetables, fish, spices and local foods. The market is a bustling place and there is so much to see. We were lucky to visit the market on a "non-busy" day; not Saturday (which we were told is a mad house). My wife and I had a local guide Frank who explained some of the interesting produce to us. It amazed me how unique some of the items were especially the dragon fruit and endless varieties of mangos, bananas and pumpkins. This is a definite must see and taste. We sampled some delicious varieties of mango and banana.

Arrive early before noon when they tend to have fewer products available.