France – The Land of Art, Culture, and Culinary Delights
France, one of Europe’s most prominent countries, is renowned for its diverse landscapes, from the Alps in the east to the stunning Mediterranean coastline in the south. Paris, the capital, is famous as the "City of Love," with its museums, iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame, and its role as a center for art and fashion. France has a deeply rooted culinary tradition, known worldwide for its exquisite cuisine and fine wines. From the romantic Provence to the picturesque wine regions, France is a dream destination for travelers.
Early in the morning we left La Nouvelle for Marla (1629 m). We wanted to spend the second night in the Mafate in the secluded mountain village. Again, the path was fantastic. It went up and down, along streams and partly through forests. Seeing the massive caldera under a blue sky was impressive, especially as we had had few distant views as we made our way through the cloud forests off La Nouvelle.
A hike through the gorges and over the ridges of the "Cirque de Mafate" is overwhelming. We started in the morning on the north side of the huge caldera of the Piton des Neiges, crossed the Col de Fourche (1,946 m) and finally reached the small mountain town of La Nouvelle (1,450 m) before nightfall, although it was hidden in thick fog. Our surprise was all the greater in the morning when we were able to continue the hike to the next mountain town called Marla under a blue sky and bright sunshine. The road to La Nouvell was beautiful.
Reunion is located in the Indian Ocean and belongs to the Overseas Department of France. Until 1794 and after 1848 the island was called Île Bourbon - in between it was called Île Bonaparte under Naples. The black and white photo shows impressions of the Creole population on the beach of St. Gilles les Bains. Creoles denote colonial groups formed by colonialism.
