| Reunion is an island born out of a
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| | from travellers over 1 year of age coming
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| volcano, makes for a rather unusual
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| | from infected areas. Visitors are advised
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| tropical paradise. Reunion is made up of
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| | to take pre-arrival precautions against
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| two great mountain ranges, Peak of the
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| | typhoid, polio and hepatitis A. Other
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| Snows and Peak of the Furnace, separated
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| | health concerns are influenza (risk
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| by the Plains. Unique features are the
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| | extends throughout the year). Tap water
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| black sand beaches and the imposing
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| | is safe to drink.LANGUAGE:The official
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| Cirques, a geological curiosity that act
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| | language is French. Reunion/French Creole
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| as natural amphitheatres.Although a
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| | is widely spoken and Tamil by some.PUBLIC
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| French island, three centuries of history
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| | HOLIDAYS:New Years' Day (1 Jan); Easter
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| have resulted in a melting pot of
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| | Monday (12 Apr); Labour Day (1 May); 1945
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| cultural diversity with inhabitants a
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| | Victory Day (8 May); Ascension Day (20
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| harmonious mix of the French, Indian,
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| | May); Whit Monday (31 May); Bastille Day
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| Malagasy, African and Chinese. It is due
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| | (14 Jul); Assumption (15 Aug); All
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| to this fact that culture, religion and
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| | Saint's Day (1 Nov); Rememberance Day (11
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| cuisine are paramount. The mouthwatering
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| | Nov); Abolition of Slavery (20 Dec);
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| food and potent punches are part of the
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| | Christmas Day (25
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| lifestyle with religious festivals almost
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| | Dec)SHOPPING:embroidery; lace; coral
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| always taking place.Apart from these
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| | jewellery; basketware; local & Parisian
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| assets, Reunion is also known for its
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| | fashion items; wooden sculptures
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| rare perfumes, exotic colours, Bourbon
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| | furniture; rum, vanilla and extracts of
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| vanilla, innumerable sporting activities,
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| | vetiver, geranium and ylang-ylang.SOCIAL
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| year-round warm water and waterfalls. It
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| | CONVENTIONS:Religion is 94 percent Roman
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| is an invitation for everyone including
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| | Catholic, other faiths include Hindu,
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| honeymooners, divers, hikers and other
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| | Islam and Buddhism. While in the Tamil
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| outdoor types to escape to its special
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| | temple, respect its sanctity and don't
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| charm.CAPITAL:St-DenisCLIMATE:Hot,
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| | wear any leather. Business is conducted
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| tropical. The best time is May-Nov
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| | in French and no formal interpreter
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| (cooler, dry season) as Dec-Feb is hot
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| | services are available. Trade literature
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| and wet and cyclones may occur. Rain
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| | should also be in French. A suit is not
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| falls throughout except
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| | usually necessary.TIME DIFFERENCE:GMT
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| Jun-Aug.CURRENCY:1 Euro = 100 cents.
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| | +4TIPPING:Widely practised. Ten percent
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| Major credit cards are accepted in all
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| | is common.TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS
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| major establishments: restaurants,
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| | DESCRIPTION:Saint-Denis:Capital and the
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| hotels, fuel stations and toll booths.
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| | biggest French overseas city; several
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| It's best to exchange currency at large
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| | historical, relgious, cultural and
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| banks in the centre of town or in a
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| | natural attractions e.g. the Cathedral of
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| financial area. If only a small amount of
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| | Saint-Denis, Route de la Montagne, the
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| money is being exchanged, the hotel money
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| | Big Market, the Small Market, Natural
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| exchange rate may be adequate.
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| | History Museum, brightly coloured Tamil
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| Traveller's cheques are recommended in
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| | temples, mosques, Buddhist pagodas,
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| Euro.ELECTRICITY:20 volts, 50Hz. Plugs
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| | Artotheque, Barachois seafront, Creole
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| are mainly 2-pin round.HEALTH:A yellow
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| | houses and Jardin de l'Etat Botanical
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| fever vaccination certificate is required
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| | Garden.
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