Port Louis Port Louis was used only during summer (due to prevailing winds) by
the Dutch and the French since the 1600's, and early 1700's. However, it took all
its importance when, in 1735 Labourdonnais decided to make Port Louis the main harbour
and the administration headquarters of Mauritius. Labourdonnais had the city plan
made, ordered the erection of buildings hosting services that were essential to
the colony… and to the good profits of the "Compagnie des Indes." Among these infrastructures
were the government and military headquarters, aqueducts, hospitals, schools, granaries,
boat repairs, a printing office, a foundry, and… a powder mill. Some of these works,
especially the canals for wastewaters that run across the streets, can still be
seen today. Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius and received in 1964, the status
of city. Port Louis has a residential population of above 150,000 but receives as
much visitors during daytime as it is first of all the city of businesses. Most
medium to large organisations have their head offices or at least a department or
agency in Port Louis. Consequently, on week days and in day time Port-Louis is very
busy with heavy road traffic but gets very quiet and empty as from 7.00 p.m.; at
least in the centre. Climate Generally dry and sunny, the climate can be either
hot or very hot.   Topography Situated on the northwest coast, it lies
at the feet of the Moka range of mountains, which almost surrounds it. Being small
in area, the topography is regular: flat with a gentle slope to the sea. Peculiarity:
Traffic jams. During rush hours (and now all day long some days,) one must count
20 to 40 minutes to drive across Port Louis. In the morning, the South part of the
motorway is so jammed that it can take more than 1 hour to drive the last 25 kilometres.
From the North it is hardly better.   To See Port-Louis itself and as
a whole is a place of interest, but more precisely, we would recommend the "Place
d'Armes" and Chinatown. Place D'Armes The place d'Armes is unavoidable as it is
the converging point of the North / South traffic and the main entrance and exit
points of Port Louis. It is the most ancient part of Port Louis although many of
the very old buildings have now been replaced by roads and tall modern buildings.
It is especially a good starting point for visiting the other parts of the town
and the few monuments such as the original government house, the most ancient theatre
of the Indian Ocean, the few paved roads (rue du vieux conseil, Georges Guibert
street,) the St Louis (Roman catholic) and St James (Church of England) cathedrals,
the central market, the national and postal museums just to name a few. Access to
the waterfront is easy too.   The China Town The Chinatown of Port-Louis
is also in the old Port Louis and is fascinating as the atmosphere is really different
from the neighbourhood. The eldest inhabitants of the Port-Louis Chinatown dress
the Chinese way and have kept a deep Chinese accent making their speeches incomprehensible.
Tiny shops, side-by-side all sell the same products obviously, as they all sell
all products. Second hand spare parts, plastic toys, Chinese paintings, clothes,
books and medicines may be found in the same shop. The heat, dust and the strong
smell spread by the ingredients and spices, proper to Chinese cuisine, will give
you a real impression of China. For the moment, this very animated region of Port
Louis is quite deadly at night. There is an effort to encourage the small restaurants
and shops to remain open in the evening but with not much success yet.  
To Do By day it is enough to stroll down the small streets and observe the happenings.
The shopping centres are interesting as the boutiques are pretty well set and there
are some good bargains to make, especially since the Mauritius decided to become
a duty-free country. However, it is far more amusing to shop in the more typical
areas and even at the central market. The Port Louis Central Market has been renovated
in 2004 and is now a far better organised place, but it has of course lost some
of its peculiarity. Visiting the bazaar is surely quite fun but is no more a “must”
as the same type of goods and more typical atmospheres can be found in the other
towns’ markets, namely in Mahebourg. The National History Museum and the other private
museums remain interesting, especially when they carry out specific exhibitions.
Signal Mountain is accessible again; it offers a nice view on the Capital. By night,
there is really not much; a few movies, a theatre play sometimes and that’s it.
Let’s hope that the municipal efforts to wake up Port Louis at night will pay as
when there is a special event (concert or play,) Port Louis suddenly becomes as
glorious as it used to be.   Restaurants The restaurants in Port Louis
are as varied as numerous. It is difficult to keep track of their evolution and
to give advice as most of them are small, open only at midday, accessible easily
only by foot, to the every day repeating customers. We would nonetheless mention
La Flore Mauricienne, the oldest restaurant of the Indian Ocean, with its terrace
on the city centre. L’Imprevu, in the region of the Caudan Waterfront; fair food
at very affordable prices. Ah Niong is no doubt the best of the small Chinese restaurants
(but specialised in Creole food from Reunion island.) Ah Niong is found off Labourdonnais
street, the one that leads to Signal Mountain. For the undecided, we would suggest
a stroll around the waterfront where the choice is wide.   Accommodation
There is no proper accommodation facilities in Port Louis other than the three business
hotels that are the St Georges, The Labourdonnais and the Suffren