さまざまな人種が行き交うエキゾチックムード溢れるレユニオンの中心都市サン・ドニ（Saint-Denis）

2010/12/28 - 2010/12/28

マダガスカルから東へ約700km、飛行機で1時間ちょっとの距離に、海底火山で形成された小さな火山島レユニオンがある。
人口80万人ほど。
フランス領ギアナ、グアドループ、マルティニーク、マイヨットとともにフランス海外県(DOM:Departement d'Outre-Mer)の一つであり、国籍はもちろんフランス、通貨もユーロで公用語もフランス語だ（日常的には仏語クレオールが一般に話されているようだ）。

レユニオンはインド洋の美しい海のみならず、小さな島ながらも雄大な山々や活火山、圏谷を有しており、フランス人には人気の高いバカンス目的地として知られているが、2010年ブラジリアで開催されたユネスコ世界遺産委員会において、「レユニオン島の尖峰群、圏谷群および絶壁群」（Pitons, cirques et remparts de l'ile de La Reunion）として見事自然遺産の登録を果たしたのである。
このうち、今回の旅ではシラオス圏谷、最高峰ピトン・デ・ネージュ(le Piton des Neiges)、活火山ピトン・ドゥ・ラ・フルネーズ(le Piton de la Fournaise)を回り、その偉大な自然美を大満喫。
最後に登山とトレッキングで疲れた体をサリーヌ・レ・バン（Saline-les-Bains）の海で癒しながら、トロピカルな年末年始（2010年〜2011年）をまったりと過ごし、帰路に着いた。

その前にレユニオンの首都でもあるサン・ドニの街をしばし散策。
まず空港ターミナルに着いた時にその豊かな人種の数々にわくわくしたが、サン・ドニの街中も混血（クレオール系）、白人、インド系、中国系、アフリカ系、マダガスカル系などいろんな人たちが行き交い、建築様式もフランス本土とは違った独特な造りで（クレオール式とでも言うのだろうか？）、美しいインド洋の海が眺められたりと、実にエキゾチックな雰囲気に浸りながら気持ちよく街歩きのできる空間であった。

エリア サン・ドニ(レユニオン)

• 同行者: 一人旅
• 航空会社: マダガスカル航空
• 旅行の手配内容: 個別手配

Interior of Air Madagascar
(MD6174:From Antananarivo to Saint-Denis)
There were only 15 passengers on this flight.

Interior of Air Madagascar
Two of 15 passengers, little children though.

About to land on the Saint-Denis Airport, seeing the Indian Ocean.
Only about 1h15m flight from Antananarivo to Saint-Denis.

Landed on the Saint-Denis Airport(Roland Garros Airport).
The fleets of Air Austral, which is Reunion's main airline, can be seen.
According to the website, Air Austral(UU) has a network of 20 destinations as follows ;
France
Paris, Bordeaux, Nantes, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse

Indian ocean
Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre, Johannesburg, Mauritius Island,
Moroni(Comoros), Antananarivo, Tamatave, Nosy Be, Majunga,
Dzaoudzi(Mayotte), Seychelles Islands

Oceania
Sydney and Noumea(New Caledonia)

Asia
Bangkok

Saint-Denis Airport(Roland Garros Airport), La Reunion, France
The hangar of Air Austral

Saint-Denis Airport (Roland-Garros Airport), La Reunion, France
Air Madagascar (MD6174)

Saint-Denis Airport (Roland-Garros Airport), La Reunion, France
Air Madagascar (MD6174)

Saint-Denis Airport (Roland-Garros Airport), La Reunion, France
The main hall
Chack-in counters, depature and arrival gates are all situated on the same floor (ground level)

Saint-Denis Airport (Roland-Garros Airport), La Reunion, France

TV monitor showing the timetable of the departure flights;
9:00 MD191 Antananarivo
11:00 UU104 Maurice
11:10 MK219 Maurice
11:15 UU255 Moroni(Comoros)
11:20 UU274 Dzaoudzi(Mayotto)
11:20 UU525 Tamatave(Madagasacar)
11:30 UU421 Seychelles
12:00 UU611 Antananarivo
12:30 MD179 Nosy Be(Madagascar)
13:40 MD106 Maurice

Saint-Denis Airport (Roland-Garros Airport), La Reunion, France
Outward appearance of the airport terminal
Roland Garros, who is an early French aviator and a fighter pilot during World War I, was born in here in La Reunion.
So the airport is also named after his name.

Saint-Denis Airport (Roland-Garros Airport), La Reunion, France
One scene just outside the airport

Saint-Denis Airport (Roland-Garros Airport), La Reunion, France
One scene just outside the airport

Saint-Denis Airport (Roland-Garros Airport), La Reunion, France

A Navette(airport bus) serving between the airport and the city of Saint-Denis(Gare de Saint-Denis) for 4 euros one way.


[Timetable from Airport to Gare de Saint-Denis (15min.)]
7:30 9:00 10:00 10:45 11:35 12:30 13:30 14:30 15:30 17:00 18:15 19:15

[Timetable from Gare de Saint-Deni to Airport (15min.)]
7:00 8:15 9:30 10:20 11:05 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:15 17:45 18:45 19:45

Probably it would cost about 20 euros by taxi otherwise.

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
Car jaune(yellow bus) and the bus terminal(Ocean)
Car jaune has a wide network on the island.

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
Bus terminal(Ocean)

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an oveseas department of France
The time table of car jaune(Route A1)

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an oveseas department of France
Car jaune

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an oveseas department of France
Car jaune

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an oveseas department of France
The coast line near Gare de Saint-Denis(Ocean)

Saint-Deni, La Reunion, an oveseas department of France
The coast line near Gare de Saint-Denis(Ocean)

Saint-Deni, La Reunion, an oveseas department of France
La Palace du Barachois

Saint-Deni, La Reunion, an oveseas department of France
La Palace du Barachois

Saint-Deni, La Reunion, an oveseas department of France
A view from la Palace du Barachois

Saint-Deni, La Reunion, an oveseas department of France
The Indian Ocean

Saint-Deni, La Reunion, an oveseas department of France
The promenade and cycling road between la Palace du Barachois and la Gare de Saint-Denis

Saint-Deni, La Reunion, an oveseas department of France
The promenade and cycling road between la Palace du Barachois and la Gare de Saint-Denis

Saint-Deni, La Reunion, an oveseas department of France
The promenade and cycling road between la Palace du Barachois and la Gare de Saint-Denis

Saint-Deni, La Reunion, an oveseas department of France
A sign on the coast line

Saint-Deni, La Reunion, an oveseas department of France
Signs on the coast line

Saint-Deni, La Reunion, an oveseas department of France
A sign and a light on the coast line

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
Just near la Gare de Saint-Denis

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A muslim woman on the street

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A sign showing the direction to the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A road leading to the ocean

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A road leading to the ocean
(Avenue de la Victoire)

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A window of a house

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A window of a house

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A window of a house with two Santa Clauses

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A window of the house in front of the ancient city hall

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A door of a house

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A window of a building

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A mailbox of a house

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A house decorated by a lot of flowers

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Flowers and a street light

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Shop facade and its lights

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A street light and colorful flowers

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Street lights

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Street lights

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Street lights with some flowers

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A street light and a vivid yellow Chinese restaurant

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A street light

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A golden sign

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A Creole-style restaurant

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Wall advertisement for one of Reunion-product beers,‘BOURBON’with the image of an extinct bird of dodo.

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Road signs

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A traffic light

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A traffic light

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A traffic light

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A traffic light

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A traffic light

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A traffic light and a blue house

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Traffic lights

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A wall graffiti

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A wall graffiti

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A mail post

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A public phone

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A restaurant entrance covered with the plates of [Guide en Routard]

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A ban painted with Japanese cartoons

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A fruit seller

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A street market

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A mosque

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A mosque

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A shopping arcade underbeneath the mosque

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A shop near the mosque

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Saint-Denis's former city hall and the Column of Victory

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Saint-Denis's former city hall

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Saint-Denis's former city hall and the Column of Victory

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Saint-Denis's former city hall and the Column of Victory

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Saint-Denis's former city hall and the Column of Victory

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A small object on the Avenue de la Victoire

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Avenue de la Victoire

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Avenue de la Victoire

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A building on Avenue de la Victoire

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A building on Avenue de la Victoire in front of the Saint-Denis Cathedral

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
The Saint-Denis Cathedral

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
The Saint-Denis Cathedral

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
The Saint-Denis Cathedral and flowers

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A fountain in the Cathedral place

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A house with flowers

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A building of a local bank

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
An old architecure

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A hair salon

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A shop

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
The office of Air Madagascar

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Cafe de Roland Garros

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A chocolate house

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A Thai restaurant‘BANGKOK’

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A vivid colorful house

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Very colorful houses with bright green and yellow

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Flowers against a bright green house

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A charming house

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A Creole-style house

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A corner shop

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A boutique

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A corner shop

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A wedding shop

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A road leading to the ocean

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A contemporary building

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Designer cafe & restaurant

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A photo shop

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
A couple passing through a pedestrian cossing

Saint-Denis, La Reunion, an overseas department of France
A scene of the city center
Various signs

この旅行記へのコメント （4）

• Yattokame!さん 2011/01/16 05:55:59

  カリブの島のよう

  旅〜kimamaさん
  
  はじめまして
  
  レユニオンの旅行記を拝見いたしました。写真を拝見してますと、レユニオンの街は、眩しい太陽のもとカラフルな家並みが続き、人々の人種も様々ということで、カリブの島のようだなと思いました。きっと明るくて陽気な人々の住む島なんでしょうねえ。
  
  他の旅行記も拝見したところ、雄大な自然もあるようで、リゾート地として楽しめそうなところですね。なかなかお目にかかれない珍しい土地の旅行記、どうもありがとうございました。
  
  Yattokame!

  旅〜kimamaさん からの返信 2011/01/16 07:59:11

  RE: カリブの島のよう

  Yattokame!さま
  
  はじめまして。
  書き込みありがとうございます。
  
  自分も最初はレユニオンなんて小さな島で、インド洋の海以外なにもないんだろうなぁ…と思っていたのですが、多様な人種とクレオール文化と壮大な大自然（特に山・火山）など魅力あふれる島でした。
  カリブ諸国へ行ったことがないのであくまでイメージですが、フランス・イギリス・オランダなどの旧宗主国とアフリカの文化とが混ざり合った影響が見られる点では共通していると思いますが、インド（ヒンドゥー）文化の影響が強い点もレユニオンの特長の一つと言えるかもしれません。
  
  位置的にマダガスカルとモーリシャスと言う2つの有名な観光立国にはさまれているため、どうしても陰に隠れてしまうレユニオンですが、大自然が世界遺産にも登録されたこともあり、訪れる価値は十分にあるように思います（まぁ、フランス人バカンス客は多いですが…）。
  
  近々、レユニオン最高峰ピトン・デ・ネージュ登頂や活火山ピトン・ドゥ・ラ・フルネーズ訪問の写真もアップ予定ですので併せてよろしくお願いします。Merci！
  
  旅〜kimama
  

• kumさん 2011/01/12 04:06:03

  はじめまして

  旅〜kimamaさん、はじめまして！
  足跡を辿ってお邪魔させていただいております。
  
  レユニオンという地名を初めて聞きました。フランス領なのですね。
  エリアとしてはアフリカに入るようですが、
  街並みが清潔感があり美しく、フランス人に人気のリゾート地なだけありますね。
  
  他の旅行記も拝見しましたが、海はもちろんきれいですが
  山も緑豊かで美しいですね。
  なかなか行くのは大変そうですが、マダガスカルに行くついでにでも
  いつか行ってみたいと思ってしまいました^^
  
  kum

  旅〜kimamaさん からの返信 2011/01/12 04:49:32

  RE: はじめまして

  kumさん　へ
  
  書き込みありがとうございます。
  実は自分もよくkumさんの旅行記に訪問させてもらっています。
  何といっても写真の構図やアングル、光の加減がとても美しくて、自分もこんな写真がとれたらいいなぁ…とついつい何度も足を運んでおります。
  特に、つい最近UPされたシリア＆ヨルダンの旅行記、うっとりです〜！
  これからもよろしくお願いします。
  
  さて、レユニオンですが、カリブのグアドループやマルティニーク、南米の仏領ギニア同様フランスの海外県でして、フランス語が公用語、ユーロも普通に流通していて、日本人はもちろんビザなしで入国もできます。
  フランス人はもちろん、位置的な関係からマダガスカル人やブラック・アフリカンもいて、モーリシャス同様インド系の人も多く、宗教もさまざま、建築様式やレストランの種類もいろいろ、多種多様な文化が共存しているだけに、そして熱帯気候ということも相まって、（フランス本土とは違って）旅行客にもオープンな気がします。
  
  そして何よりも、地図で見ると豆粒くらいの小さな島にも関わらず、美しい海と、驚くほど雄大な山々が織りなす大自然がそこにはあります。
  近々、レユニオン最高峰ピトン・デ・ネージュ（3070m）登頂や活火山ピトン・ドゥ・ラ・フルネーズのトレッキングの写真なんかもUPする予定です。
  
  レユニオンにベースを置く航空会社Air Australはバンコクやシドニーからフライトがありますし、バンコク発アンタナナリボ行きのAir Madagascarも途中レユニオンを経由しますので、日本からでも意外にスムーズに訪問することができます。
  マダガスカルからも1時間ちょっとで行けるので、ついでに寄るのも一案かもしれないですね。
  2010年にはレユニオンの織りなす大自然が世界遺産にも登録されましたので！
  （ただ物価が高いのが難点ですが…。島国だから仕方ない?!）
  
  
  旅〜kimama