Mauritius – greiner.mu

Operation Fahrausweis

sysadmin — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 16:03:37 +0000

When we arrived, we did some research to find out what we needed to do. On this list was also the rewriting of the driving licence.
The project will start in mid-2024, after we have received our residence permit. If you no longer live in Switzerland, you have to apply for a driving licence from your country of residence. If you return to Switzerland, you can exchange it again without any problems.
So off we went to Port Louis with the documents required on the Trafic Branch website. Once there, we were handed a piece of paper with further required documents and sent back home.
Ok, I get the documents and go back. The official checks and realises that the canton of Schwyz does not print the whole number on the confirmation (because there is no expiry date on the ticket, it needs a confirmation that the ticket is valid): no leading zeros and the last three digits (number of tickets you have already had) are not printed either. Three officials looked at this and all shook their heads. You have to know that they also stamped our ID cards in Pfäffikon. It didn't help either, the number wasn't the same. So during our stay in 24/25 we went back to the road traffic office in Pfäffikon. They were kind enough to "correct" something and gave it to us.
So then back to Port Louis, the official checks everything is ok and takes the documents. We are told to call in a week to see if we can come back. With the passport photos and the fees. Of course we called. They said we would call back... after the third call without a call back we wrote an email... no reply.
Well, today we went again. After a long wait...sorry we can't find the documents we'll definitely call you back, let's stomp off again. Oha the phone rings we're only 10 minutes away. Lo and behold documents found They told us they had called twice, well, there was no missed call in the call history.
Fortunately, they found the documents again. Markus gave them the original confirmation. We would have had to do it again in Switzerland. We continue. Now Sylvia has to pay 1500 mur after waiting about 20 minutes, and about 15 minutes later Markus has to pay as well So I went back to the counter and got a handwritten receipt.
Now we just have to fill in two forms (with the details that are already on all the documents), sign them and then sign the blank paper from the driving licence. It's bigger than the old blue one we had in Switzerland.
We can now go and collect the ticket in just three weeks.
The old hands here told us to just keep driving with the CH licence, it's fine until 75, then you'll be wanted in Switzerland because you would have had to take a driving test. Well, we'll save ourselves that. By the way, here you have to see a doctor from 60.

Update 15/09/2025

We have now actually received the Mauritian ticket, but there was still a brief moment of shock. Markus' new ticket was found straight away, Sylvia's took a while to be found. The tickets weren't sorted from A to Z, but it was found after all.

Chocolate Beef

sysadmin — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 16:49:58 +0000

It had been planned for a long time that we would make a chocolate menu. Uwe and Emilia have a running joke about chocolate beef and Markus couldn't resist. Many years ago, we were served a chocolate menu at the Waldstätterhof in Brunnen. As Emilia, Manav and Lou are so busy at the moment, we're going to do it at the Rustic Appartments in Point au Cannonier.
But what exactly should we serve? The main course was clearly beef, so a menu had to be planned.

So ordering wine, making a shopping list, picking out recipes and preparing a lot.

Then pack everything up and off you go

Luckily our car is that big. Once we arrive, we set everything up and then we're ready to go.

It was a lovely evening, we all enjoyed it very much and Markus was glad that everything went well.

Rodrigues… Eine Reise mit Freunden, mit einer Überraschung und eine Blitzhochzeit.

sysadmin — Sun, 25 May 2025 12:38:09 +0000

Now the time had finally come, we had wanted to visit Mauritius' little sister for a long time. Now with Birgit's 60th birthday (sorry, I forgot 49.5) there was also an occasion to do so. So we planned something and we set off on Sunday. But as is so often the case in Mauritius, something came up at short notice. This time it was a very last-minute invitation to Emilia & Manav's wedding. So we travelled to Birgit and Uwe's house on Saturday and were then allowed to attend the wedding. First we charged the batteries of the camera and off we went. Here are some more pictures.

It was a lovely evening, there was wonderful food from Lou and we had a good chat with the guests. Sharty had her baby with her, she was still quite pregnant at Divali. We soon retired as we wanted to go to Rodrigues the next day.

The travel planning was already complete, so we were ready to go.

After breakfast we head to the airport, of course we are there early enough and soon we are ready to board.

Uwe has created a great video of our trip. Enjoy it and many thanks to Uwe for your work.

Well, the hire car arrived later, the previous tenant missed the flight and didn't return the car, so they had to reschedule. The drive along the coast was lovely and we were able to move into our villa, the shared terrace is a great place to spend time, it's sheltered from the wind because there's a stiff breeze, which kitesurfers love.

A few more pictures from the excursions: Turtle Park with a stalactite cave, Port Mathurin, a small botanical garden and Anse Ali beach.

The birthday surprise

Warren and his family are at the hotel at the same time as us. In the afternoon, we have traditional snacks and champagne on the terrace. Of course, a ride on the swings is also a must. The birthday cake was delivered with lots of singing. Once again, congratulations on your milestone birthday.

So a wonderful trip to Rodrigues comes to an end, it was lovely.

Constance Festival Culinare

sysadmin — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 08:20:19 +0000

So first of all, the scribbler must be reprimanded for inactivity. He vows to do better and will now roll up the field from behind and collect the contributions bit by bit. Of course, a lot has happened and there is also a lot to do. Yesterday there was a special event on the programme, in the hotel right next to our house, they have been advertising the Culinare Festival for weeks.

Yesterday was the day, we registered for the 12 Hand Dinner. There are three chefs and three patissiers at the start. The menu is accompanied by 5 different wines. We set off with great expectations, the event is in the Deer Hunter restaurant, the restaurant of the golf club, which is right next door to us.

The ambience is pleasant, open and very cosy thanks to the light breeze. The tables are arranged with a good distance between them. A great two-man band creates a pleasant atmosphere.

As an aperitif, we had small snacks, salmon tartare, foie gras and lobster, accompanied by a rosé from the Côte de Provence. What we got there gives us hope that it will continue like this.
After the presentation of the actors, all of whom are decorated with a Michelin star, the show begins.

Bread roll and butter with a little fridge flavour was not convincing, at least the bread roll was warm.

The first course, an oyster with some salad, a wafer-thin slice of smoked bacon, in a separate bowl, iced with a horseradish cream and fish roe, was the best course for me. It was accompanied by a Poully Fumé Elisa from Jonathan Didier, which went very well with it.
The course was prepared by Chef Joshua Cutress, Harwood Arms restaurant, London, UK.

The second course by Chef Louis Gachet, Restaurant Le Feuillée, Mane, France (MOF 2023) a classic salmon cooked to perfection, with curry and a mini carrot.
Another Pully Fumé in the Léon version, which didn't really differ from the Elisa version.

The main course from the Östreicher Chef Lukas Kapeller, Lukas Kapeller restaurant*, Steyer Austria, a Wagyu Beef perfectly cooked with a Bernaise and a very intense onion puree and a strong jus. You can really do that. The Bordeaux from Pomerol went very well.

We continue with a pre-dessert, a refreshing strawberry and grapefruit sorbet on a crunchy chocolate crisp. The dessert wine Sauternes Le 5 Sigalas went well with it.

Then came a huge baba, we would say to the savarin, with a cream, well not quite our dessert, but expertly made by Arnaud Larher (MOF 2007).

The finale is made up of three variations, milk, amber and dark chocolate pralines on a dark base filled with a very fluffy mousse, very well realised by Alexandere Gely.

After a brief chat with Lukas Kappeler at the exit, we make our way home after a successful evening.

Morgästraich

sysadmin — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 03:00:00 +0000

Mörgästraich forward march... Today is Morgästraich in Basel. The lights go out at 4 o'clock in the morning, but here it's already 7 o'clock and we can watch the Morgästraich on TV for coffee. It's always a goosebump moment.

On Sunday, the flour soup was already being prepared, and of course a sip of red wine was a must.

For the Morgästraich we invited Sheila and Ruedi Koller from the Swiss Club, Ruedi is from Basel and grew up in the Hirzbrunnen neighbourhood. They were joined by Thomas, who grew up just a stone's throw from Markus in Kleinbasel and is looking around the island, maybe he'll emigrate too.

There were lots of Basel specialities, with Faschtewaie for an aperitif, then flour soup, Käswaie and of course onions with bacon. So we had a lovely Morgästraich in good company.

Of course, there were fresh Fasnachtschüechli and Schenkeli for dessert.

A wonderful gift to the passive members of de Schränzgritte has also found a place in Mauritius.