Over the Christmas week, the Area Office completely shuts down. Mom and I decided to do a little legal work in Mauritius and also spend Christmas there.

The Republic of Mauritius is an island (where better to spend Christmas?) located 1,200 miles off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. It is also, literally, half-way around the world from Oceanside, California.

The shops of Mauritius are like all the shops of Africa. They sell everything.

While driving around the island, we thought of our future granddaughter Beaux. French is the official language, but all legal documents are written in English. The island population speaks a language which they call Creole. 

There was no indigenous population on Mauritius when Arab traders first stopped here. The Dutch East Indian Company started a colony on the island in 1638. They abandoned it and the French then took over. Subsequently, the English defeated the French and the island was surrendered to the British. They agreed that the population could keep speaking French and govern themselves using the Napoleonic Code. Notice the small mosque in center of photograph.

Leaving the airport, you'll notice they do drive on the British side of the street.  Mauritius gained its independence from England in 1968.  They are part of the Commonwealth and Queen Elizabeth is their Queen. It is the only known home of the now extinct Dodo bird.