Luxury Indian Ocean No2 Édition 2015 | Page 97

les filaos. Un massage peut-être en fin de journée… Un cocktail pour apprécier le coucher du soleil sur l’océan Indien et apercevoir avec un peu de chance le rayon vert. La nuit tombe vite sous les tropiques. Il est temps de dîner : curry légèrement épicé, poisson au lait de coco dans une feuille de banane, gourmandises délicates… Un orchestre joue quelques standards de jazz, les conversations se font plus intimes, demain sera un autre jour… Constance se vit mais ne se raconte pas. Et quand on en a fait une fois l’expérience, comment y renoncer ? C’est cela le bonheur selon Constance. Prince Maurice, Belle-Mare Plage, Lémuria, Ephélia, Halaveli, Moofushi, Tsarabanjina: these names carry within them the promise of an unforgettable experience. When you enter the lobby of one of these 5-star hotels, you leave behind the hectic everyday life and enter another world, a multisensory realm – one could almost say - a whole new dimension. Time seems suspended between earth and eternity. This is not the present time, nor the time of former days. It’s the Constance time, the time of a return to serenity, a soft and peaceful cocoon suspended above the whirlwind of the world, amid crystal-clear lagoons. Every hotel of the group has its own individual signature, its unique atmosphere. Nevertheless, whether in Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives or Madagascar, you will find consistency in their approach to elegance. This is the Constance spirit difficult to define so much it is subtle. It is a special “art de vivre”. Attention to detail, harmony of colours, quality of services, an innate sense of good taste, refined lighting, great architecture and noble materials local stones, thatch, exotic woods – all these elements create an atmosphere of complete harmony with the surrounding nature. Exuberant, of course, fragrant, even captivating, but skilfully tamed to show only the smiling face which so much makes us dream. At the whim of the trade winds, these are the Constance tropics. 97 Imagine... now. Cape canaries, cardinals and condés happily chirping. Tiaré and jasmine flowers’ scent is in the air. The day promises to be nice and warm. It is already 6am. We get up early in the tropics. After a hearty breakfast, the choice is not easy: will it be a game of golf, the discovery of colourful fish that populate the clear waters of the lagoon, or a visit to some of the island’s marvels? The afternoon, now that’s for sure, it will be relaxing time on the beach or a nap under the filaos trees. A massage later during the day perhaps... A cocktail to enjoy the sunset over the Indian Ocean and who knows, maybe even catch the green flash with a bit of luck. Night falls fast in the tropics. It’s dinner time: a slightly spiced curry, fish in coconut milk served in a banana leaf, delicate treats... A band plays some jazz, conversations become more intimate, tomorrow is another day ... Constance can be lived, but cannot be told. And when you experience it once, how to give up? This is happiness according Constance. LUXURY MAURITIUS